The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-12

COLUMBUS, O., Aug. 11.-Fusion
was repudiated today by the Populists
Of Ohio, in a manner so emphatic as to
leave no chance for controversy re-
garding the future policy of the party.
The PopuliSt state convention by an
overwhelming majority, severed the al
lance made a year ago with the De-
mocracy on the free silver issue and
nominated a full state ticket headed
by Jacob CoXey, of "commOnWeaP
fame, as the nominee for governor.
Turbulent scenes marked the opening
of the convention this morning. The
anti-fusionists had swept everything
before them, capturing the temporary
and permanent organization and all
the committees and they were on their
mettle. When the convention assem-
bled. the report of the committee on
rules and order of business brought
out the promised sensation. The re-
port provided that no speech should
exceed five minutes. This raised a
protest Of several delegates and an
amendment was offered to strike out
the obnoxious section. Finally Peter
Witt, of Cleveland, received recognition.
He claimed he had proof that delegates
had been bribed by the Republicans
and he had the ability providing he
was given an opportunity to produce
it. The matter could not be presented
in five minutes, however, and he
charged that the committees report
was aimed to prevent it. He launched
into bitter invectives against the anti
fusionists. charging that all of them
had been corrupted by Hanna money.
Scores of delegates were on their feet
in an instant. crowding around the
chairman. One of the delegates at
tempted to pull Witt off the chair, the
latter struck at the delegate allu
general melee was started which was
quelled by a number of policemen who
were summoned to the hall.
The anti-fusionists were not dismay-
ed by the charges that had been
made and the report of the commit
tee on rules and order Of business was
adopted in it's original form by a vote
OF 535 to ITO, which was the first ac-
curate showing Of the relative strength
of the factions. The convention then
effected a permanent organization,
Temporary Chairman John Seitz, Of
S. Lightwalter being made permanent
officers. From that time on the fusion
lists, though in the minority, were very
much in evidence, but their efforts re-
suited in nothing except to delay the
proceedings of the convention. The
resolutions adopted reaffirmed the
platform adopted by the Omaha and
ST. Louis conventions of the party
and took issue on several matters OF
local interest. Before the morning ses-
sion closed a resolution was adopted
providing for the appointment of d
committee to investigate the charges
made in the convention that delegates
had been corrupted: At the afternoon
session the following state ticket was
nominated:
Governor-Jacob Coxey, Stark county.
Lieutenant Governor-Morris Whtcomb
Tuscarawas county.
Supreme Judged. c. Pomeroy.
Attorney General-C. A. Reider. Wayne
county.
State Treasurer-F. M Morris, Auglaise
county.
Shortly after o'clock the conven-
tion adjourned sine die with the un-
derstanding that the committee ap-
pointed to investigate charges would
report to the state central committee.
Rev. Taylor and Hugo Preyor, of
Cleveland, both fusionists, were the
principal witnesses before the investi-
eating committee. Taylor stated that
he had heard the Republicans were
spending some money to assisting the
anti-fusion Populists, and he deter
mined to find out the truth of it. He
said he went to Maj. Charles Dick and
| told him the Populists were dissatis-
| fed with the Democratic campaign
and suggested that the 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 on.
At that conference, he claimed Mai.
| Dick agreed to pay the expenses Of
headquarters, literature, ETC., for the
anti-fusion Populists at the state con-
vention. Taylor accepted $25 and a
railroad ticket. Preyor stated he had
also received a check for $25 signed
by Charles Dick and drawn on the
Ohio National bank at Washington,
D. c., which was submitted in evil
dence.