The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-01
MORE FUSION.

The POpuliSts OF Virginia met the
other day in convention, and modestly
nominated a candidate for lieutenant
governor, leaving all the other places
on the state ticket vacant They then
appointed a committee to go before the
Democratic state convention, and polite
ly and humbly request that in considera-
ton of the considerable vote they had In
the state, the Democrats would put their
man on their ticket for lieutenant gov
ernor; and hereupon every Populist vote
in the state would be given to elect the
remainder of the Democratic ticket
The Democratic convention turned up
it's nose at them, shifted at them, spit
at them, and kicked them out of the
convention; and now the poor discred-
tied devils, bound to marry somebody,
propose to effect a fusion with the Re-
publicans.
This action of the Democrats is in
accordance with the foolishness they
have manifested all along the line-they
don't seem capable of any far-sighted
generosity. If they think they have
votes enough of their own, they are go
ing to grab everything in sight, while
stealing the principles of the party
which they ignore. Virginia has been
carried time and again by the independ.
ent anti-DemOcratic movements under
the lead of General Malone and others;
it may be carried again in the same way,
but the Democrats care nothing for all
this; they are as greedy of office and
the spoils of Office as a Minnesota usur-
er is for his 40 per cent per annum.
1t seems that the Republicans of Vir-
ginia have about concluded not to put a
ticket in the field, but to turn in an6
support the Populist ticket. We find
the following telegram in the Mime
apolis Journal:
Washington, Aug. 23-Ex-Representa-
tive Bowdin of Virginia, who is now in
Washington. says that he believes the
course of the Republicans of that state in
deciding not to put up a state ticket this
year is wise, and that no convention called
by Lamb. the deposed chairman of the
state convention, can have any important
results
1.-The situation" said Bowdin, lis this
There is no hope of our carrying the state
at this time as party, and it would be
futile for us to attempt it, Our only hope
is for the future. If we can secure honest
election laws and fair counts of ballots
after that is accomplished, we can carry
the state. The Republicans of Virginia
stand ready to combine with and to as
sst any organization which will make fair
elections an issue, and the only thing
which will ask is that that be made
the issue, and pledge given to carry out
the policy if successful at the polls The
Populists, after nominating a lieutenant.
governor. adjourned their convention to q
later date in hopes that the Democrats
would take up their candidate for lieu
tenant governor. and combine with them
This the Democrats did not do. and the
Populists will meet and complete their
ticket In all probability. The Populists
and ProhibitionistS have both heretofore
stood for fair elections. and If the Popu-
lists make strong declaration at this
time for fair elections. and will combine
with the Republicans to make that the
issue, all the Republicans of Virginia will
cooperate with them heartily and try to
secure the election of the POpulist ticket
We have a committee appointed to con-
fer on this subject We will not ask for
any candidates the ticket, nor any
thing else except one thing that the ques-
ton of fair and honest elections be made
the issue, and that If succeed meas
ures shall be adopted to overthrow the
election methods now in vogue in the
state J. S. Van Antwerp
The natural tendency Of this illiberal
course upon the part Of the Democrats
is to drive the Populists and Republi.
cans in the South into cooperation.
Common sense is the most uncommon
thing in the world.