The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06
L0UCKS ON FUSION
The South Dakota Mid-ROader Figures
Out That the Party Can Win
ON a Straight Ticket.

ABERDEEN, 8. D., March 26.-In this
weeks issue of the Ruralist H. L. Loucks
pours hot shot into the ranks of the fu-
sionists. devoting six or seven columns
Of space to the subject. He says:
We have frankly admitted that fusion
will win in the state convention. The
mid-roaders have no dread of the party
lash. We cannot be whipped into line
like old party voters. II beaten fairly
we may lay down. If beaten unfairly
we will fight to the close of the polls;
fight to finish. The leading fusiOnists
having stated that a perfect fusion"
was necessary to beat the Republicans.
Mr.. Loucks further says, there cannot
be perfect fusion. There are large
number of earnest Populists who realize
fully that fusion with Democracy means
absorption by Democracy. They know
that plutocracy has just as firm a con-
troll Of Democracy as it has of Republi-
canism- These men are fully persuaded
that it Is impossible to reform a rotten
old party from within. They believe
that an Independent reform party is cs-
sential If this republic is to be preserved.
Therefore when fusion succeeds at the
state convention the combination will
cease to be the Peoples party, and those
who are opposed to fusion
will become the Peoples par
ty OF the state and do the
best they can to preserve the party.
Can the fusionists hope to win without
these votes? To do SO they will have
to win more from the Republicans than
they lose from the Populists Can they?
We think not. Those dissatisfied Re-
publicans would prefer to unite with the
Populists, who stand for principle,
rather than with the fusionists. Now,
on the other hand, can we win without
fusion? We do not say that we can, but
we believe we would stand q better
chance. Just as soon as it is known
there will be no more fusion, the prop
uganda work will begin again and con-
verts will be made by the hundred. We
will poll the full free silver Republican
vote, for they have declared they win
support such ticket. We will poll that
portion Of the Democratic vote which
prefers principle to party, and we be-
lieve that comprises a good majority
OF them In this state. We will lose the
machine part Of the Democratic vote,
but If we do not fuse the Democrats will
have ticket in the field and Will prob
ably poll that portion Of the Democratic
vote which voted with the Republicans
In 1896, fully one-third. Suppose we
should lose one-half the Democratic
vote, the Republicans would lose as
many who voted their ticket In 1896 and
the result would then be a stand-or.
The only other factor to be considered
would be the Populists and Republicans.
There would be no factional fight In the
Peoples party. 1t would be an enthusi-
astic and aggressive party fighting for
principle and could not fail to increase
its voters. On the other hand, It is we'll
known that the Republican party Is bad
ly torn up over the distribution of pat
ronage. the open charge of the admin
istration against bimetallism and the
rapid growth Of trusts. Thousands of
Republicans are looking for a new home.
They are men Of principle who would
prefer to stay at home rather than be-
come assistant Democrats, but who
would gladly unite with a genuine re-
form party. One thousand such uniting
with the Peoples party would mean a
complete victory. We believe there are
5000 of them. When they come to us
they will remain with us, and will not
have to be bought for every campaign
or party measure. For these reasons
we believe our chances for a victory
are much better without fusion than
with 1t.