New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-18
POPULISTS NOT AGREED.
THE QUESTION OF HEADQUARTERS
LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE FAVOR WASHINGTON; OTHERS CHI
CAGo-FUsIoN's CHANCES IN GEORGIA
fsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. Aug 1.-THE Executive Committee
of the Populst National Committee will meet to-
morrow at noon at the Shoreham Hotel. The CON-
mittee is composed OF nine members-Senator Mar
ion Butler North Carolina, chairman; NJ G. Rankin.
Indiana. treasurer of the National Committee ]. A.
Edgarton. Nebraska. secretary Of the National
Committee: George f. Washburn, Massachusetts,
r. W Reid. Georgia. DR.. c. F. Taylor. Pennsyl-
vania: J. r. Sovereign, Arkansas; J. W. Breiden-
thai Kansas, and John s. Dore, California. OF this
number there three members now in the city
Messrs. Edgarton, Washburn and Reid. The other
six are expected tonight and tomorrow morning
The object Of the meeting, it is said by Secretary
Edgarton is 10 decide upon place for National
headquarters. to arrange the plan of campaign and
transact vast amount of preliminary political
work.
Will the question OF fusion of electoral tickets be
brought up?" Mr.. Edgarton was asked to-day.
1T may" he replied. But fusion has been ar
ranged in all but five six States. These States
are all in the South" Then Mr. Edgarton said that
Georgia. Texas and Alabama were among the
States where fusion is yet he arranged. He
thought there would be trouble in North Caro-
lima and probably not in Alabama. He did not,
however. name the States where there might be
trouble. He said that I'm some of the States the
State committees making all arrangements for
fusion
The indications that the committee will be
badly divided on the question of headquarters. The
committee II is said. IS in position similar to the
National Democratic Committee The Western
members want Chicago or some other Western city
selected. The Southern members are In favor of
Washington. Mr.. Reid OF Georgia, wants Washing
ton selected. lie say this city is more convenient
TO the Southern members than Chicago. Some OF
the Eastern members are also said TO favor Wash
ington Mr. Reid was asked this morning If there
was any probability that the committee would order
Mr. Watson to withdraw.
There is no danger Of that" he answered I'm
the first place. the committee has no power TO do
that and. in the second place. Watson is going TO
make the race and win. He will carry Georgia with
out trouble A large number OF Democrats there
have come for him A number of influential
Democratic papers backing him The ticket of
electors which supports Bryan and Watson will
carry the State II will beat the Bryan and Sewall
ticket
Mr. Reid did not know whether anything would be
done about fusion OF electors in Georgia but did
think II likely He said there chance for the
Republicans the State whether there
fusion or not He certain there would be no
fusion unless the Democratic electors would support
Watson. "'Thc Populists of Georgia." he said
have never FUSED with any party. The $1,000 votes
they cast two years ago all cast by Populists
We need no fusion 10 win in the State"
Secretary Edgarton agreed with Mr.. Reid that
the Executive Committee had no power TO withdraw
Watson II there any inclination to do so. The
National Committee alone had that power He said
the National Committee might be called together
but not for that purpose or anything like Il.