The herald., 1898-05-23

TOO DICTATonIAL ny HALF
Our Populist friends have the habit of
doing whatever they conceive win SUBJ
serve their best interests, irrespective of
the other silver parties. and Afterwards
expecting the other parties to conform
to q cut-and- dried program. The exec
utive committee Of the Peoples party
have called their state convention for
July II. 1898. No sooner had they called
their convention ana adopted resolutions,
In the form Of an ultimatum than
they at once set about planning for
fusion. Of the silver forces in the state
campaign. They insist that any fusion
made must conform to the rules which
they have laid down, and that the several
conventions must be held on the 18th day
Of July. since they will not change their
date and since fusion would be impossi-
BILE except all of the state conventions
are held on the same day.
Such proceedings may be good strategy
in actual war between enemies. where
one Of the contending parties usually
whips the other. but they hardly comport
with the rules governing allies fighting
shoulder to shoulder In q common cause.
Good sense as well as fairness would
seem to demand that before one Of the
silver parties takes any important Step
in state politics, where all are vitality
concerned, It should do so only after con-
sultation with an approval blythe others.
Do our Populistic brethren hope to
profit by their indiscreet commencement
Of the campaign Of 1898? Are they pro-
ceeding upon the principle that the early
bird catches the worm? If they are they
should reflect seriously upon the dire
results that happened to that "early
bird" who himself was caught while
waiting for the worm.
AS we h0ve said, the executive COM
mittee Of the Peoples party have called
their convention for July 18th. and the
effect Of this can will probably be that.
in order to fuse. all Of the conventions
must be called for the same date. Now
the question arises, Why was their con-
vention called for this unusually early
date? Why have the presidents OF the
last twenty years been set aside? What
excuse or argument has been offered for
this midsummer convention?
It has been the Judgment Of all people,
irrespective Of party, that our cam
paigns hitherto have been too long. and
that instead Of holding our state conven-
tions in the latter part Of August, they
should be held in September. forno other
purpose than to make the campaign
shorter. with state convention In July,
It means that we are to have a four
months campaign, and II anyone has a
rational excuse to offer for prolonging
the contest beyond two months, he should
come forth and have his name recorded.
/ We believe that ninety per cent of the
Democrats Of this county, and probably
like per cent Of the state, are in favor
Of fusion of the reform forces. They
favor this fusion because they believe
1t is the only way to bring about success
at the polls and to accomplish necessary
reforms. But they do not propose to be
tricked into fusion, or forced into fusion,
or compelled to swallow pills rolled by
adroit hands, and, last Of all, they will not
meekly bow before early-made images,
or blindiy follow any and every path
which fresh guides may point out.
If our Populistic friends desire to fuse
with the Democrats upon common prin-
ciples against a common foe, there need
be no difficulty in accomplishing this
fact. but 1t is we'll to have 1t understood
that before any fusion Is made the Dem
ocrats propose to have their say about It.
It.
Under the circumstances. It is the duty
Of the Democratic state executive COM
mittee to urge upon our Populist friends
the advisability Of adjourning their state
convention to later date, II a plan Of
fusion can be agreed upon which will
be acceptable to the rank and file of the
party, and If no plan of fusion can be
agreed upon, then call the Democratic
convention not earlier than September
first.
i,