The record-union., 1898-07-13
.FUSIOAISTS SET THE PACE.
ELECT HUTCHINSON CHAIRMAN
By A GOOD MAJORITY.
Levers Are Reversed and Steam
Shut Off to Confer With
Democratic Stars.

The organization of the Populist Con-
VentIon was effected speedily yesterday
morning without any very warm
sreeches or marked symptoms that
Voicano was srnoldering under the sur
face of things.
EoWard l.. Hutchinson, the young
orator from Los Angeles, was elected
chairman without serious trouble by
vote of lf112 to 1897. On its face, and
perhaps in fact, this was great
victory for the Fusonists, as Hutchin-
son is Well known to favor fusion. His
opponent was j. V. Webster, formerly
a candidate for Governor and Popu-
list wheel horse
We are defeated, and the program
OF the enemy will go through" declared
carleton II. Johnson Immediately after
the election of the Chairman. Three
hours later he said: well, it remains
to be seen what they will do, and it is
evident they Will have trouble in carry
ing out the program"
These remarks serve as a fair baro-
meter, for they show how the political
pressure varied during the day.
We have 100 pretty solid votes for
middle-of-the-road work" said Thomas
V Gator, while the enemy has more
than 40 votes that We're for Hutchin-
son, though many of them We're out of
compliment to the man, and forty or
more of them cannot and will not swal-
low Mcguire any way he may be sugar
coated. If they fail it will be because
they are torn by wars among them
selves, while we are unit"
Delegate Bretz, the silver haired old
man from Oakland, was not so mucn
depressed in the afternoon as ne was
after the middle-of- the-road men got
their first loss. BY o'clock he said:
They may be like the boy who ate
green apples before the program is over
they may wish they had not done it,"
And in the evening, after the Demo
cratic Central Committees stars had
arrived on the scene with canisters of
oil TO pour upon the, troubled Populistic
waters, the situation looked even more
grave.
Mr.. Caminetti, puzzled like a doctor
worrying over a doubtful diagnosis,
and wondering What pill or powder 20
give, had to admit at 9 o'clock that the
situation was full of embarrassment.
So the one question was whether TO
nominate Mcguire, leave the Governor
ship blank, or put up a conditional
straight ticket and give a committee
full power to pull down the names in
certain contingencies.
The event of the forenoon among the
-FusiOnists was a long and some
what dashing speech by Mr.. Gator in
which he seconded the nomination of
Webster, and explained that Webster
was right in the stand he took against
fusing with the Democrats in the Bry
an campaign.
while Hutchinson, myself and other
younger men We're deluded by the Sc
ductive pretenses Of the Democrats
that they We're pure, Webster stood
firm as a rock, declaring that he would
stand by principle only. / am free TO
say that Hutchinson and l We're wrong
and l am ready now to sink or swim
with the party, regardless Of these Of
, fers to fuse
This speech was heartily cheered. but
when George d. Gillespie of San Fran
cisco arose and made a reply, wherein
he stated that Gator was once the
strongest of fusionists, there was loud
applause. A voice cried out, Drop
personalities, after which the speaker
seconded the nomination Of Hutchin-
son.
mere Was Qullt d SUI Prise III Tie
afternoon. occasioned by the long de-
lay in calling the convention to order.
The adjournment was until 3 o'clock.
but the speakers gavel did not sound
until after 4:30. There was much spec
ulatior as to the cause of the delay.
and there were rumors that an effort
was being made to unseat Gator He
denied this, however, saying that he
had been given no notice that there was
a contest.
The fact is that the manipulators on
all sides did all they could to improve
the shining hours. The middle -of-the
road men were trying TO decide on
policy. and they finally agreed to keep
still until the enemy showed its hand
There was some talk of nominating
separate ticket, but when the afternoon
session was convened no policy had
been outlined. In the language Of the
prize ring, both parties were sparing
for wind.
After the selection of the Commit
tees on Platform and Resolutions and
on Permanent Organization, it was
agreed to adjourn until 9 O'Clock this
morning This is said to have been due
partly to the fact that il was whispered
that high chieftains from the ranks of
the Democracy would arrive on the
night train.
Some of the straight Populists We're
very angry over the fact that the con-
Vcnt.on should hesitate until Democrats
should arrive. and there We're charges
that the Fusionists were eager to sell
the party to the Democrats for the sake
OF some of the local Offices in the vari-
Gus counties.
NIGHT BRINGS TROUBLE.
Trouble came fast for the fusionists
last night. and their perturbed manner
indicated that the proposed coalition
was beset by many difficulties This
was due to the fact that Messrs. Mad
doN, Gould. Caminetti and others were