Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-20
W. j. STONE SUGGESTS THAT STEru-
EMS AND COOK SHUT u.
ARE DOING THE PARTY NO GOO[
III SION DISCUSSION ILi-TIMED AND
OUT OF PLACE
His rN-GoVrrnnrship Thinks. How
ever. Thnt Both .Wi>.Inm and
PutriotiSm'' May Demand
IL Union of Forces ut
the Proper Time.

St. Louis. Dec. 19.-Governor Stephens
interview, in which he declared further
fusion between Democrats and PopuliStS
out of the question because he considered
1t impracticahle and impossible. has not
met with approval hy The leaders OF his
party III Missouri, some Of whom are open
i'll their opposition to the governors att
tude and chagrined at his preCipitancy of
an issue OF party policy which has been
left to the future for determination.
Sam l.. Cook, chairman of the state Dom
ocratic committee, is particularly severe i'll
his denunciation OF the governor while
Ex-Governor Stone member of the national
Democratic committee for Missouri, adj
vises both Cook and Stephens td stop the
public discussion and quit scattering seeds
OF discord. Mr.. Stone says in Il letter to
the IostDiSpatCh:
You ask my view OF fusion between
the Democratic and the Fopuiist parties
/ have no opinion to express. Last Sunday
| read AN interview, said TO have been Civ
en- out 10y Governor Stephens. apparently
in opposition to fusion. Thursday l read
an editorial in the Mexico lntclligencer,
presumably written by Chairman Cook,
which, while not advocating fusion, was
a criticism of the governors utterances.
Until | read the interview and editorial re-
ferred 10, | WAS not aware that fusion was
a subject OF serious ulSCuSSluli III e4tii'i
the Democratic or Populist parties. 90
not believe it has been discussed 10 any
considerable extent. How far discussion
may be provoked by the governors inter-
view and the Chairmau'S editorial remains
To be seen. The less the better.
| presume no one imagines that either
party coutemplates abandoning its organ
zation. ON the contrary, everybody sup
poses that both parties Will 90 on as usual
on some questions. notably the colndSe
question, the Democrats and PopuiistS are
agreed, while on other questions they are
not agreed. But because of the very i'm
portant points of agreement between them
the two parties united last year ON the
presidential ticket. For the same reason
they co-operated in one way or another i'll
many states and congressional districts:
and for the same reason they co-opcrated
again during the present year, notably so
in Nebraska and Iowa, where complete
fusion was had on the state tickets.
What either party may do in future |
cannot tell. OF one thing | fee! sure, ana
that is that the battle OF 1896 will be fought
over again. l am more concerned about
that than | am about who shall hold some
petty office in Missouri. 1t is reasonitbly
certain that Republicans and CleEelandites
will unite in 1870, they did in l>Ai. al
though 1 believe a large number who fol-
lowed Cleveland last year will return TO
absolutely sure that our enemies Will do
everything possible TO prevent union OF
the forces opposed to them. 1t Is more
than probable that both wisdom and pa
triotism will again demand union OF DEM
ocrats, FopuliStS and Silver Repu ublicanS IN
1893. Ii our opponents combine. why should
not the friends of bmetalism combine?
But the combination of parties, however
desirable. is n thing always difficult 10 ac-
complish. Every experienced man knows
how difficult it is to unite forces which in
though there is every apparent reason for
temporary cooperation II requires pa
tienCe. skill and good Judgment on the part
OF al! to bring it about. To what extent
cooperation may be possible or necessary
in future, or to what extent and upon what
basis attempted, If at all, is question OF
too great Importance to be lightly dis
posed of. | regard it as unwise and ex-
tremely impolitic TO do anything now that
may increase our difficulties hereafter.
With all due respect to the governor
and the chairman. | think Il newspaper
controversy on the subject of fusion ill
advised at this time. Especially is that
true if the controversy is to assume Il
personal phase. l am the friend of both
gentlemen and know both as good. loyal
Democrats. ! expect the difference between
them. after all. is more seeming than real
The governor and chairman should pull
together, not apart; - The rank and file
of us should pull together and avoid con-
troversics over side issues. We have
fine organization in Missouri, which both
done much TO build up. We are all right
in this state If we do not blunder. Blum
ders are sometimes worse than crimes. 1t
is easier To tear down than to build Up.
! am sure it will he better for all If we
Democrats will Just let other people alone
and 20 earnestly and aCti.elv to work or
ganiZing own forces. Let us strength
en- our own lines, and let other parties
alone for the present. only maintaining
amity and good will with our former allies
If Populists and Republicans Will do the
same. the future will take care of itself
/ have doubt all will do what may seem
timed and out of place. | move that the
debate be closed and the further Consid-