The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-06
HENNEPlN COUNTY &
.POPULISTS REOf ::AED
FUSIONISTS OF MINNEAPOLIS EN-
PHATICALLY TURNED DOWN AND
THE FUSION STATE TICKET REPU-
DATED.

Elect In His Place s. NJ. Fatrcht1d,
Mid-Roader, Call an Early City Con-
ventiOn to Shut on Co operation, and
in a Ringing Resolution Repudfat-
ing the Results of the Fusion State
Convention and Denouncing It's
Chairman, z. III. Austin, They Sound
the Death KnelI of the Fusion State
T1cket-MtnnesOtn POpulists VIII Re.
fuse to Support the Fusion Ticket
Because 1t Is Democratic and They
Have n Straight Ticket of Their Own
democrats Have No Ticket of Their
Own and Will Be Forced to suckle
the MOnErel.
Members of the city committees Of the
Peoples, Democratic and Silver Republican
parties held a joint session last evening,
and endeavOred to unravel the tange
which the three parties have gotten into
over the matter of fusing in the city cam
paign. The result was that the Knot was
tied little harder. thereby lessenng the
chances of cooperation.
The whole trouble was primarily caused
by the call for the Populist city conven-
ton, for July 13. This is an unusually
early Udto TIE opening OF a local CdIl-
paign, and as the state conventions had set
the fusion ball rolling, it was hoped by the
other two parties that this method would
also be allowed to prevail locally. This call
has been discussed to a considerable extent
among the members of the parties interest
ed. Its legality was questioned, as 1t did
not bear the signature of Chairman McEl-
roy. And then it appeared to be the earn
est wish of the Democrats, Silver Repub-
licans, and a small contingency of the Pop
asts, to hav>. the date postponed in order
that all three conventions might be held the
same day. The meeting last evening was
the third in series Of attempts to come to-
gether on this question. 1t was held at the
instance of the Popuists.
Present were S. H. Fairchld, H. J. o.
Reed, e. B. Farmer, John Peterson, L. A.
Wiberg, c. w. Linder, A. L. Anderson, of
the POpullsts committee; Z. B. Clement,
Ed Stevens, of the Democrats; H. M. Par
ker, Harry Stocker, Jr., Charles Cheney,
Silver Republicans.
The different factions attended the meet
ing, with the unders anding that some prop
. ositiOn was to be presented by the other,
and for some time the committee members
were at sea. The discussion finally drifted
to the legality of postponing the Populist
convention, now that the call had been pub
lished. Considerable doubt prevailed The
attorneys present were unable to answer
the question intelligently, not having care
fully considered the merits of the law gov
erning such cases. Mr.. Stocker was of the
opinion that It could be, while Mr.. Parker
stated that in case nominations made by
the Populist convention should not be legal,
as far as the Populists were CONCERNED,
their being placed upon the tickets Of other
parties would make such nominees legal
candida tes.
Mr.. Farmer voiced his disappointment at
there not being some proposition from the
Democrats, and stated that he and the
other members Of the Populist committee
had come in the expectation of receiving
one. Mr.. Clement pleaded not guilty, in
that. as chairman of the Democratic city
committee, he had never been approached
on that subject, simply receiving an invita-
ton to attend the meeting.
The silver Republicans present were urg-
ent in their appeals that the Populists post
pone their convention day.
AS 1t WAS apparent that nothing tangi-
BILE could be gotten out of discussion along
the present lines the Democrats and silver
Republicans withdrew from the meeting
leaving it to the Populist committee to take
the mi i-iative in the matter. The withdrawal
was of a friendly nature the committee
members in departing expressing hope that
the convention would be postponed
But this is just what the Populists did
not 90 IN the executive meeting that fol-
lowed. They appeared to be quite agreed
that It was entirely out of the question.
A STATEMENT ISSUED.
The committee adopted the following
statement bearing on the question.
This committee, having met at severa,
inherent times for the purpose of consid-
erlng proposition that, we were Informed
would be offered by the Democratic CITY
committee in regard to the date of tho cit,,
convention, and said Democratic COMMITTEES
1alllng TO appear with a proposition excent
tnat the chairman unoff1cially reouested
that our committee rescnd it's call ana
await the action of his committee And,
ieehng tnat we have amply shown our will
lngness to consider and accept anv honor
able proposition by our several invitations
TO the Democratic committee to confer With
us. we consider it wisest and best to orr
selves and our constituents to proceed with
our call without delav and ho "I'h
dered - 'o VI
per order of the Peonle,s nor+, ,..
committee" 1ieS
me following resolution was also adonted
Dy the committee, and may have some haar
ing on fusion results:
Resolved. That we. the PEOPLES nartv
CITY committee of Hennepin county. as the
legally constituted representatives of 90
party in said Hennepin county should -;
the interest of true Populism and unitv of
purpose and action within our own ranks
puDlcly declare our condemnation of the
arbitrary, unparliamentary and offensively
partisan conduct of Z. H. Austin, as chair
man of the Peoples party convention of
June Is, and our disapproval of the results
OF that convention in fostering factional
strife disrupting our party and defeating
the ends Of true reform, believing such re.
suits chargeable to said Austin and a small
cotere of bitterly partisan, outlawed I'M
lopular and unwise advisers
And we believe that when tho
cooperative sentiment brings to nc old
party voters who stand for partial reforn,
only at the expense of alternating from nc
the founders Of our party and other stall.
wart Populists such sentiment should re-.
ceive our disapproval. as certain to disin.
tegrate our party and defeat the end Of
true reform. -
And in accord with this declaration of
our views, we believe all true Populists
justified IN refusing their support to q
state or other ticket placed in nominati tion
by such practices
silver Republican who read these reso-
lutions expressed 1t as his opinion that f.
was the worst thing the committee could
do In the interest Of fusion. He expressed
the opinion that the somewhat infiamma-
tory statements would arouse the ire OF
many who were delegates in the state con-
vention. and who were in position, if of the
inclination, to do much in the Populist
party to disparage fusion.
AS the matter rests, the Populist city