The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-26
AN OBSTACLE TO FUSION.
The State Law Allows n Name on Only
One Ticket.

Tom Maloney. OF the Democratic
state committee: James Hamilton
Lewis or Seattle; II. j. snively
and the other Democratic fusion push
ers have struck q firmly inbeddei
snag. which threatens TO erectuaiiy de-
stroy their long cherished plans FOR COM
binatioa OF the Peoples party with the
Democrats and silyeriteS on state and con-
gressionai tickets this fall. The impedi-
ment which has brought dismay and grief
u law passed by the legislature OF 1895
which prohibits candidates name from
being placed on the ticket more than once
IL a candidate for, say governor, IS nomi-
mated BY both the Democratic and Popu-
list parties. he must elect under which
banner he viii trot, one or the other. IL
ne choose 20 be called a Democrat. then
the space for the nominee for governor
under the head OF the Peoples party ticket
on the ticket is left HANK
Here Is where the trouble comes IN.
When the loyal Peoples party man walks
up To the polls and. designing TO cast the
full weight of his vote for the nominees
OF his party. puts a cross after the words
Peoples Party Ticket" the fusion eandi-
date for governor. II he be termed Demo-
erat on the ticket. gets no benefit from
the vote. The same thing happens. OF
course. we're the fusion leader to call HIM
self a Populist. when the Democratic vote
would be lost. AS for getting people to
understand that In voting the fusion ticket
they must mark not only the ticket they
wish 90 vote. but also the nominees as they
come on the ticket. the fusion promoters
are In despair because such an undertake
Ing Is conceded 10 be most impractical BILE.
II not wholly impossible. The best they
could hope 20 do would be TO save half OF
the vote of the party indorsing the gube.r-
natoriai nominee OF the other party.
rssx. L..
amendment TO section 379. OF volume !.
Hiirs code. on page 2s7. OF the session
laws OF 1896. Section OF chapter 1S. on
the page named. amends section 37s as
follows
IAN ballots prepared under the provi-
sions of this chapter shall be OF good quail
ity OF white paper. and the names shall
DO prlntei thereon In black ink. Every
ballot shall contain az the head the
names Of all recognized political parties.
In the order following. to-wit: Republic
an Ticket. Democratic Ticket. Peoples
Party Ticket, Prohfbssion Ticket. and any
other party placing q fun ticket in NOM
nation. In the order In which the same
shall be fled In the Office with the clerk
of the beard OF county commissioners.
Every ballot shall contain tho name OF
each candidate. once only. whose nominal
ton fer any office IS specified or fled ac-
cording to law. and no other names. All
nominations OF any party or group Of Pc
titsonerS shall be placed efter the Title OF
such party or group OF petitioners as
designated by them in their eertificate ~
nomination or petition flrStsfilei. Proyid-
et that any candidate who has been nonn-
mated hy two or moro political parties
may. unon written notice filed with the
clerk OF the board % county commission
ess az least twenty DAYS before any eiec-
tsor is to be haid designate the political
party after which tltle he desires TO have
hts ua~e placed.
Some one brought M thls statute ~ the
meeting a. the state committee st the Ho-
tei Chaherg this afternoon. The commit
Tee had done nothing bat discuss the ap-
porsionment Of delegates. and had fsnally
decided 10 make the same aoportonmsnt
as was made FOR the delegate convention
In This city last May. Then the commit
tee took tif the statue referred %. which
j. held to De an inhshtian against ths
corlhlnat Hon of political parties. After
spending much the3ght and most Of the
remainder q che meeting discussing the
proe. bic effects of the law on the propos-
"a combination ard joint convention. the
committee referred the whole question 30
F.Asyer snivelv. " Yakima lie VIII pre-
mare a hrtef for the use OF the committee.
and Viii endaavar 20 point oat way 10
get around the faw.
the l.fst effect 81 TIE aiSeoNcFN OF ttsts
obstacle "a fusion hiss been 80 delay the
calling % the state convention To Caair-
man Drum. SECRETARY Malonfv aud Com
Fnltte@tnan Jolsn Cegiins. of Seattle. WAS
lefs the power q set the time AMI rlare
Ter holding the convention. ~ IS under
Ktsod that the matter was ivft n tbs
shane - that negotiations wifh the Peo-
pies party leaders may be opened looking
to = coalition OF the two parties u1der one
name ard banner. While the sasGoa pro-
sno.ers ere trying 20 cnaiesce. srranEe-
rnsnts fer The Feoale's party convention
a. E-ilenssarg FASTENED 10 frsitloa. 80
that Il looks very much as II tss Popuisst
state glrkef vousd ~ fairly launched b.
fore the Democrats. leaders are ta form
10 40 business.
While fhey viii not admit H. tie re isc-
ton ~ Candidate Sswafi ~ ths PogsiGss
convention at 81 Leafs has thrown
sAr7rer on she plans o< tns fuziosssss. In
thfs csty there are plenty OF raasiss-cs-the-
road peeNaa'S party uen who rstases AZ
shs rejection of 'nsAtpcracv% al -. Lesxfs
aud thsv sF@ enabled 60 make = hraxs.-
ssewinx before sn@.r week-kac-s hrsgs1-
rsn who sing the charms eE lna0n- Tn4s.
together ~8th tive cseNe~ narrower eXe-
cmtesi ~ Chairsaan BgsEer. NJ the FoR-
uglss state committee. 1arkenS Tire cat
lock for fusion