The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-07
MRS. DIGGS FOR FUSION
Seys Such Policy No More Indi-
Gates Greed For Office
Than the Demands of One Party
For All Offices.
Believes Fusion VIII Win in 1900
But One Great Party Left to
Fight, She Says.

Mrs. Annie L. Diggs has declared for
fusion and says a division of offices up
on a combination ticket is no more Of
an Indication of greed for office than
demand of one party for all of the Of
fees through the medium of a so-called
straight out ticket.
In declaring herself in favor of this
plan of campaign, Mrs. Diggs says;
The difference between my past and
present attitude and utterance arises
from the fact that 1 do not believe that
we now have two old parties in the ma
ton.
Leaving out the Palmer and Buck
ner gold standard residuum OF one OF
The old parties as too inconsequentlaI
to include in the statement of the prob
lem, L believe we have but one old par
ty left. believe that the agitation and
discussion OF the dominant issue of
POpulism. j. g, the money question,
which had become universal in the
years following the formation of the
national Peoples Party, had created a
popular demand for free silver too gen
uine and too strong to be suppressed at
the national Democratic convention at
Chicago. The progressive leaders OF
the Democratic party utilized this pop
ular demand and unified sentiment
among the masses Of their party and
seized the opportunity to wrench 1t
from the grasp OF the IQODOLJOliSL1C IIldt-
chine which had been managing in the
interest of corporate greed by precise
ly the same methods employed by the
machine which exploited the national
Republican party.
"I believed and do now believe, in the
integrity, the devotion and the ability
of the Democratic leaders-A1 essTs-
Bryan. AltgeId and Sibley, who were
the main factors in rescuinSthat Dem
ocratic convention from Messrs. Hill,
Whitney. ct. al. / believe in them and
their determination TO compel the
Democratic party to grapple WITH prob
lens and adjust difficulties as certainly
as believe in any Populist living. AS
/ watched the progress of that great
convention of Democratic people at
Chicago. l saw q warfare between the
old and the new. between the cham
plOnS of the present wicked order OF
things and the champions of the new
and good time of equal opportunity for
all sons and daughters of the republic.
AT the first nomination of candidates,
1 judged that the reform strength had
been spent in the struggle for platform
victory. 1t is too good to be true, [
said, that Bryan or Altgeld or Sibley
viii be named. Less than one OF these
men would have been defeat
But when the marvellous news flash
ed along the wires that Bryan had
been named and that the voice of the
people at Chicago had really been heard
and needed, 1 sent up such thanks to
the God of Nations as my anxious soul
had not rejoiced in for many weary
months
y believe the people of this republic
won a great victory last fall. a far,
I far larger vote was registered for lib
erty and justice than my most san
guine moods anticipated. I believe that
the vantage ground won and the pro
gress registered for reform at the last
election has been more than held There
is steady, wholesome gain, and I be
heve that 1900 VIII see the federated
,F +,
banner of free silver and the initiative
and referendum with open field to-
ward all good legislation for the peo-
PIE. and the mighty and invincible
force will achieve not only a moral and
educational victory, but full and en-
tire power to enact wise laws and Sc
cure just government.
Il wish further to state that / be
live innumerable conversions have
been made and incalculable good done
by the fraterniZing of POpulists. Dem
Ocrats and free silver Republicans [
do not consider it at all a lowering of
the tone Of party morals Ct am as sOlic-
itous for party morals as any Other)
to divide the offices upon a ticket [
fail to see wherein fusion which asks
only for part of the official places is
more indication of greed for spoiIs'
than the straight out party action
which demands all of the Offices Next
to a large party sure of winning by it
self consider the happiest situation
that of the present. where three con
ventions. meeting at same time and
place agree with the best OF spirits to
make common cause against common
enemy. each working along the lines
deemed most important
Unless the national political status
quo is deranged, 1 believe that 1900
must be won by the same methods we
see in miniature in Nebraska. in Iowa
and in Kansas. The crisis is too near
and the danger too great, to await the
slow process of upbuilding of a single
party able to save. Moreover. believe
the day of large, arrogant. all-controII-
ing partyism with all its attendant evils
viii have forever passed away when
the federated forces have OVerthrOun
the Republican British gold standard
party The party of the people I care
not what name it rallies under will in
1900 dethrone the party machine and
enthrone direct legisla ton -,