The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-16

OLYMPIA. Jan. -Sneeial--Another
meeting cf the uldGIe-oG- he~rnad Pupullst
leaders WAS held tonight 70 formulate plans
for a uniacaIon OF me party In the iegis-
lasEre on a senatorial candidate. AatAor-
ity 20 conauct negotiations looking 20 -
meeting of the fusion forces in caucus has
been lett 80 a committee OF prominent Pop
ulist members OF both houses. one of the
commistes told the Post-intsilixeneer cor
respondent tonight that no effort would bs
ma de % hold a caucus before Tuesday.
Today the legislature adjourned untii
Monday afternoon al o'clock. This had
the effect OF afgording The pariisans or the
various candidates opportunities for the
making OF combinations. bat no concerted
action can be looked for until Monday. as
number OF the members OF the legislature
have left the city over Sunday.
\ lively skirInish arose today between
the winsor and the Clark Davis forces.
The middle of tae-rOad leaders having an
nGunced that none hug an oid-iine Populist
need ask for support OF the Popultst eau
Gus for the senafosshfp. NinsorS friends
Immediately began an agitation directed
against Davis on the ground that he be-
came member Of the Popudst party only
during the campaign OF last fall. Mr..
Davis friends retorfed that he had been
engaged in reform work for seven or
eight years past. and was in every sense
q flill-fiedged Populist.
iEe 4NNu% OF t'apHust fcfeTFeu
to In t0day's PosI-Inle.ligencer is very
actively engaged in working out a solution
of the senatorial tangle into which the
party has gotten Itself. Spoilers have been
sent out hy the lobby 20 watch Populist
members OF the legislature who are sus-
pectsd OF weakening and of having lean
inrs toward Turner or Squire. The lobby
lists are suspicious of every one, and re-
ports as to the actions Of members are
made daily.
Tonight George Turner addressed mem
bers OF the lobby at the Popu!ist head
quarters in the Chambers block He
made genuine speech, stating that hs
favors the issuance by the government
OF sufficient money for the needs OF the
people advocated government banks and
government ownership OF lines OF trans
portation telegraph. etc. The speech was
well received. Turner spoke at length ON
his position on the railroad question as
TO railroad rates.
Various reports have been circulated as
to the action of the Populist caucus last
night II can he authoritattvely stated that
no general caucus has been called. and
that the meeting last night WAS not repre-
sentative OF more than the middle-9f-the-
road faction No ballot was taken. and no
effort was made to obtain n pledge from
the members OF the legislative assenb,age
10 refrain from voting for other taan a
Poullfst. The object OF the meeting was.
however, tha formation Of plans by waich
the party can be united. That the leaders
will be able to effect this seems out OF the
question. :,
The present complicated situation Is all
due ia the presence of large number OF
Populist candidates. none OF whom have
a sufficient following to influence the sup
port of any OF the others. II can be pre-
dleted that Frank II. Baker. Riohard
winsor. Clark Davis and Lieut. Gov.
Daniels will 80 before the legislature.
each with some followers. They will not
be induced to give up the fight as long as
the image OF possible success floats before
their fancy.
Thus there are but two solutions 10 the
problen. either the election of a POpulist
who has as vet taken no active part In
the fight. or a protracted deadlock.
The plan OF some OF the midfie-of the
road leaders 20 get the fusionists together
in caucus and then 10 drop the candidates
receiving the lowest number % votes on
each ballot has been rejected by a large
number of Populists and win be sban-
dOned.
Gov Rogers has accepted the resigna-
ton. received today. % "a 4. Williams,