The San Francisco call., 1896-08-27
.FUS|ON|STS IN
A SAD PLIGHT,
Party Extinction in Store
for Either Democrats
or Populists.
ONE MUST STEP OUT.
Secretary of State Brown Gives
Secretary of State Brown Gives
His Understanding of the
State Law.
NAMES MAY NOT BE GROUPED.
The Organization That Surrenders It's
Name Relinquishes Political
Rights.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Aug. 2.-''I find
that l have been misquoted by the press,
said Secretary of State Lewis H. Brown TO
q CALL representative to-day. Il have
never said to any one that would refuse
to put any nominations on the electoral
ticket, nor do propose to take any party
or political advantage, but shall do what
l dee N right under the law. Where doubt
exists. shall defer to the opinion OF the
General. It Will be impossible
for me to anticipate in what form election
certificates will be presented for fling.
and until I receive them / cannot say
what action / will take, but / shall follow
the law to the letter.
s'In studying the law governing elections,
/ find that several questions will arise
which are OF paramount interest to the
voters OF the State of all political par
ties, as the Popuiists and Democrats have
decided on fusion.
The first OF these questions is: Sup
pose that the Democrats file certificates
for five electors as nominated oy their
convention, and the Populists file GER
tihcates for four electors as nominated by
them. Now, the law OF 1898 makes an ex-
cepron in the case OF Presidential electors
over the case OF individual candidates, by
under the mead OF the party they represent,
and such heading shall be in large letters.
We know OF but four parties-Republican,
Democratic, Populists and Prohibitionists
and party 10 be a party under the iaw
must poll at the preceding election 3 per
cent of the vote OF the State. 1t
seems to me to be impossible to
group the Democrats and Popuhsts
under one heading and together
bacause each of their present conventions
must certify to its own nominees, and
there is no provision in the existing law
which empowers the Secretary OF State
to group. As they as distinct parties full
filled the requirements OF the law by cast
ing per cent of the State vote each, they
should not at this time form new party
under a fusion heading, shut must each
group by itself with its individual party
head, as there is no law that l am aware
OF that admits of consolidation.
The main question regarding fusion Is
as to whether the same names can be put
upon the ballot twice, once under the
name of the Democratic party and once
under the name of the PopulIst party.
Should this be declared possible, then
fusion might be possible, but otherwise
cannot see how fusion as to electors is
possible. In my judgment one or the
other of the parties desiring TO fuse must
surrender its party organization and have
all nine electors called all Democrats or
all PopuIists. The party doing this would
be wiped out of existence as. no votes be-
ing cast for it under the party name, it
could not present the necessary per cent
vote of the State required by law at the
following election. In other words, if de-
sirous in the future of making State nom-
nations. it could not do so, having for
feited party rights"