The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-12
NO FUSION IN OHIO.
6tsa'sthout Populists Largely in
a<he Majority.
JACOB s, ooxErcoR GOVERNOR.

NAOoo ~ VuA1IoSph tUVEhNUh.
Charges That Anti-TusiSl,sts Had
Been Corrupted by IInnna's Mob Nv
Led to u Row which Necesslt ated a
Call on the Police For Projections.
columbus, O., Aug. 12.-Fusion was
repudiated yesterday by the Populists
OF Ohio In a manner so emphatic as
to leave no chance for controversy re-
garding the future Plicy of the party.
The PopulIst state csnventlon, by an
overwhelming majority severed the al
lance made year agoSwith the DEM
0cats on the free silver issue and NOM
mated full state ticket, headed by
ieeJacob 8. Coxey of "commonweal" fame
+ as the nominee for governor. Turbu-
lent scenes marked the opening of the
convention. The anti-fusionists had
swept everything before them, captur-
ing the temporary and permanent or
. ganizatlon and all the committees, and
they were on their mettle. Nor was
the policy adopted by the fusionsts
had been aroused among the middle-of-
the road delegates The threat of the
fusionists to explode a bomb In the
convention was like Haunting a red
nag, and when the convention assem-
bled the delegates were ready for any
surprise that might be sprung
The report Of the committee on rules
and order Of business brought out the
promised sensation. The report pro-
vided that no speech should exceed
f1ve minutes, regardless of the subject
discussed. Several delegates inmedi-
htely Joined In u protest against this
provision, claiming that it was con-
trary to the fundamental principle of
the Peoples party and an amendment
was offered to strike out Of the report
the obnoxious section.
Finally Peter Witt, of Cleveland, Sc
cured recognition from Chairman Seitz,
and mounting chair proceeded to de-
noupce the committee making the re-
port, and asserted that the convention
had been bought out by Mark Hanna.
He claimed that delegates had been
bribed by the Republicans, and he had
the proof providing he was given an
opportunity to produce it, Tile matter
could not be presented in five minutes,
nor discussed in that time, and he
Charged that the committees report
was aimed to prevent It, AS wilt
waived alolt in his hand q piece of
paper, which he claimed was check
that had been given to one Of the dele
gates by an agent of Mark Hanna, he
launched into bitter invective against
the nnti-fusionists, charging that all Of
them had been corrupted by Hanna
money.
A score of delegates were on their
feet In an instant crowding around the
chair on which Witt stood. When one
of the delegates attempted to pull witt
off the chair the latter struck at the
delegate, and a general melee ensucd.
In which several blows were exchanged
and chairs raised aloft in a threaten.
Ing manner. A policeman, who was
present, rushed in and interrupted the
hostiities. ard. q few minutes later q
platoon OF poliIs reached the hall and
the convention proceeded, after order
had been restored, with blue coat on
guard in each aisle. The police remain
ed until the convention took a final
adjournment.
The anli-fusionists were not in the
least dlsmayed by the charges that
had been made, and the report of the
committee on rules and order of bus-
ness was adopted in It's original form
by vote Of 535 to ITO. which was the
first accurate showing Of the relative
strength OF the factions.
Tho convention than efftrtnI nor.
manent organization. Temporary
Chairman John Seitz was made per-
mancnt chairman. The resolutions
adopted raaflirmcd the Populist plat
porms adopted by the Omaha and St.
Louis conventions Of the party
Before the morning session closed a
resolution was adopted providing for
the appointment OF committee to in
yestigale charges made on the floor
of the convention that delegates had
been corrupted. The fuslonists who
made the charges opposed an inves-
tigation by committee, claiming that
1t should be made In open convention.
At the afternoon session the follow.
ing state ticket was nominated: For
governor, Jacob Coxey: lieutenant gov
ernor, Morris Whitcomb; supreme judge.
y. G. Pomeroy; attorney general, &. A,
Reider; state treasurer, II. M. Morris.
The convention remained in session
until o'clock awaiting the report of
tie investigating committee, but 1t
was not forthcoming, and the conven-
hon adjourned sine die, with the under
standing that the committee would re-
port to the state central committee.
Rev. ]. H, Taylor and Hugo Preyor.
Of Cleveland. both fusionists, were the
principal witnesses before the invesu-
eating committee. Taylor stated he
had heard the Republicans were SPEND
Ing some money to assist the anti
fusion Populsts. and ne determined to
find out the truth of it, He said he
went to Major Charles Dick and told
him the Populists were dissatisfied with
the Democratic campaign and sug-
gested that tho fusion might be broken
up. He referred to Hugo Preyor as
prominent Populist whose services
would be worth securing. and arranged
for a conference later between Major
Dick and Preyor and himself.
At that conference, he claimed. Major
Dick agreed to pay the expenses of
headquarters. literature, ETC., for the
Rntl-fusion Popuists at the state con-
vention. Major Dick asked them IL they
needed any money for expenses, aud
rreyor said he did not. Taylor ac-
cepted SIS and railroad ticket Preyor
stated to the committee he had later
written to Dick for money to pay his
expenses, and had received u check
for $25 signed by Charles Dick and
drawn on the Ohio National bank, of
Washington, d. c., which was sub
mtted In evidence.
TIE VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS.