The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-25
POPS ANXIOUS To FUSE.
They Want to Pun Out a Candidate
Against Col. Lester.

against Col. Lester.
There is still a prospect, however small,
of Republiean-Populist fusion on can
didate for Congress in the First district
against Col. Rufus E. Lested, the Demo
cratic nominee.
Notwithstanding Mr.. T. F. Johnson
refusal sometime ago to consider the mat
ter, efforts are still being made to bring
him into the field. Both the Republicans
and the Populists appear 10 consider him
the strongest man they could put out so
far as getting votes is concerned. Mr..
Johnson has for years, they point out, been
recognized as a stalwart Republican and
this would ensure him the hearty and full
support of the voters of that party Then
he has many friends among Democrats,
and 1t Is calculated by the promoters of
the fusion movement that he would Sc
cure many votes from among them. A
Populist endorsement, 1t is calculated,
would bring him practically the entire
support of that party, which in some coun-
ties of the district is still strong and in
huential. If Mr.. Harrington runs as an
independent, drawing some hundreds of
movement claim that Mr.. johnson would
have fair show of winning and at least
would make the race a very hot and close
one.
The Populists of the district are seem
ingly very DESTROYS of fusing with the Re
pubIcans on a congressional candidate.
several Pops have been given postoffices
and other jobs under the Mckinley admin
lstratlon, and otherwise feeling of COM
mon interests has been created between
the leaders of the two parties Mr. John
son is acceptable 10 the Pops, it Is claim
ed, and assurances are now being made
to him that he can receive the almost
unanimous support of the third party if
he VIII. consent to run. 1t is claimed that
when Mr.. Johnson declined to allow his
mamie to be considered some time ago he
was under Misrepresentation as 10 the
conditions existing, believing that it was
the intention of the Pops to endorse an in
dependent Democrat. leaving him TO run
alone on the Republican ticket which he
was not willing TO do, knowing that it
meant sure defeat. Some of the Popullst
leaders are to see HIM and lay the case
before him in a different light
In the last election Col. Lester received
S,7S6 votes in the entire district, while j.
F. Doyle, the Republican candidate, re-
ceived AIS, and G. H. Miller, the Populist
candidate, 2,672. The total vote of the
republican ana Populist candidates, was
1858 votes, or but l 1893 votes less than was
received by the Democratic candidate
While Popu.ism in the state as a whole
has gone to pieces pretty We'll it has not
lost much, If any, ground in the First dis
trict, and such a combination with Mr.
johnson as the candidate, would apparent
ly make vigorous campaign on the part
or the Democratic party necessary. No
Democrat will question that the result
DGD1ONra IL Nv
some majority. but it would evidently take
work to insure it. In the counties com
pr,sing the district, Mckinley received 5,6l4
Votes.
1t is expected to be definitely known this
week whether Mr.. Johnson will consent
TO run, and if not whether another candi-
date will be named. The Pops especially
seem to think that with the lack of inter-
est at present In politics generally a fusion
ticket may stand good show of winning