The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-20
From The Minneapolis Tribune.

made by his side, and voted down, but Sen
ator Butler declared 1t was carried, and,
ignoring the demand for a division of the
house ON the question, walked out Of the
hall. And as soon almost as the convention
was adjourned the credentials committee
which the senator had said would not be
able to report for several hours, also ad-
journed.
The next day the credentials committee
was able to make a report which gave the
fusonists majority. This vote consisted
of IA fusionist office holders in Nebraska,
and the votes of the Eastern states, to-
gether with the voters of the few fusion
states Of the West, which, it will be seen,
really represents nothing.
Since 1t is evident that split must come
1t Is well that 1t was no longer delayed
To have allowed Senators Butler and Allen
to let the party pursue the course they
have mapped out means that there would
be no Populist party soon. AS it is now,
Populist ticket can be put out on Pop
ulist platform, which Populists can support
and nothing will be left fusonists except
to support it also go back to the old
parties they came FROM
This assures the campaign of 1900 to be
fought for principle, and not to get few
wire pullerS into office. If the people be-
lieve Populist principles are right the party
will again grow as it did before the fusion
deal at st. Louis was made If the people
believe one of the old parties is nearer right
they will support it.
WHAT CAPT FRANK BURKITT SAYS
I'm this hope we have been sadly disap-
pointed, because, as we honestly believe the
National Committee, in defiance Of a sacred
rule of the party, was dominated by the Of
hce-holdlng gang, who gave every evidence
of their purpose to hold to the ma
chinery of the party, though they strangled
1t to death. Senators Allen and Butler
and a number of Congressman left their
seats in Washington and came to Omaha,
where in conjunction with the Nebraska
Bryanites they succeeded by a small major
ity in maintaining the ascendency Of that
old man of sea, fusion, or cooperation as
they now call 1t, and effectually disrupting
our party organization.
THE election returns of 1892 and 1894
showed such a gratifying increase in our
party vote we had hoped that, when a
comparison was made with the deplorable
condition of the party since the st. Louis
convention. these gentlemen would cease
their suicidal policy and allow a reorganiza-
ton on strictly Populist lines, but their
prejudices, or selfish interests. caused them
to refuse with such unamity that we con-
fess we are discouraged.
1T is an undisputed proposition that to at
tain the reforms seek, a powerful ma
tional party proclaiming the doctrines laid
down in the Omaha and st. Louis platforms
must be built up. Nobody honestly believes
such a party can be built up SO long as it's
followers In one section OF the Union will
fuse cooperate with one of the old par
ties, thus forcing those in another section
to make similar dickers with the other old
party or stultfy and humiliate themselves
by an ignominious surrender to their ancient
enemy"
Captain Burkitt then goes on to show how
since fusion was foiSted on the party con-
fusion has pervaded the party councils, and
instead Of acquisitions being gained, thou
sands Of reformers. thoroughly disgusted,
have either returned to their old parties or,
completely disheartened, have retired from
the unequal contest" He continues:
This disintegration must of necessity 20
on so long as the men now controlling the
party are permitted to retain possession of
Its machinery The straight Populists at
Omaha hoped by making these representa-
tfons calmly and dispassionately to arouse
patriotism to the point, that self would be
relegated to the rear and party unity and
advancement be made paramount, but we
regret to say after agreeing on every other
important question, that of holding an early
convention to formulate the future policy
Of the party was peremptorily refused by
the dominant faction on the ground that If
such a course was taken Mr.. Butler would
be forced to retire from the chairmanship.
And thus it was the personality Of one man
made to override the good Of the party, and