Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-13
Action Of the Populists in Putting
Up a Ticket.
4 SPLIT IN THAT PARTY LIKELY
May Affect the Next Congress
sionaI Elections.
RADICALS WILL NOT FUSE

Politicians are deeply interested IN the
action of the Ohio populists in putting up
an Independent ticket for state officers. The
interest in the matter is less on account of
the effect it may have on the Ohio election
than it is on account of the indication of
what is likely to happen when a general
fusion is attempted between democrats.
populsts and silver republicans for the con-
gressional campaign next year and the
presidential election. Little doubt is felt
that the action of the middle-of-the-road
populists in Ohio foreshadows the future.
1t Is very generally conceded that the mid
dle-of-theroad element of the populists
will never agree to another fusion with the
democrats, and that all conventions which
they control, from this time forward until
after the next presidential campaign, will
declare for independent populist tickets.
The important question is as to how strong
the middle-of-the-road faction will be, and
whether or not the free silver populists who
believe in cooperation will stand by their
conventions when they are overruled, or
whether they will cooperate with the
democrats anyhow. This may have much
to do with determining the complexion of
the next House of Representatives.
A Populist Split.
1t is an oren secret that a split in that
party is likely. 1t is expected that the So
called Watson crowd will go one way. while
that element of which Senators Butler and
Allen are the recognized leaders will go the
other. Of course both factions want to get
control of the regular organization, and
is a serious contest inside the party.
1t Is practically certain that whichever con-
trolls in ndtioral n alters, the defeated fac-
ton will refuse to follow. 1t is said by So
called fusionists that none Of their people
will vote for Coxey in Ohio and some say
that they will be glad to let the extremists
of the CoXey stripe, such as are represent
ed by Watson and Bateman, go off by
themselves. At present the fusionists con-
troll the national committee and have an
overwhelming majority in the national ex-
ecutiVe committee; but they understand
perfectly well that If they are able to re-
tain their control over the party organiZa-
ton and shape things toward a general
cooperation in the interest of free silver, it
will be at the sacrifice Of the radical ele-
rent, who will not consent to act with the
democrats, and will not support w. j. Bry-
an for the presidency.
Significance of the Ohio Vote.
The vote cast in Ohio this fall will give
clear indication of how the populists will
divide as between the middle of -the-roaders
and the fusionists. Two years ago. when
Coxey was the populist candidate for gov
ernor in Ohio. he got over fifty thousand
votes. If he should get anything like that
number this time II would insure the de-
feat of the democrats, even If there were
any hope for them otherwise 1t would
also show that the populist voters, in Ohio
at least, are i'll sympathy with the middle
of-the-road idea. Some IF the representa-
he will not get more than ten thousand
votes.