The record-union., 1898-07-12
THE FIGHT is ON FUSION.
MAGUIRE PRAISES THE POPU-
LIST PLATFORM.
Prospects of a Lively Fight and
Strong Talk in Conven-
ton To-day.

Sacramento was alive with delegates
to the Populist Convention yesterday.
Every train brought reinforcements TO
that body of politicians that is soon TO
decide upon a platform and candidates
for the fall elections. BY 10 O'Clock
last night, however, delegates had re-
ported from twenty-eight counties only.
Scores of men whose names are we'll
known in political circles throughout
the State hovered in nervous groups at
the State House Hotel, some in the lob
by. some caucusing in private rooms
but all more or less nervous and per-
turbed over questions of moment to
their political ambitions.
Among the more conspicuous figures
seen fitting from delegate to delegate
We're Geo. II. Monteith, whose friends
want him for Governor or Senator, but
whose enemies say he fights too much,
causing trouble when it is unnecessary;
z. B. Stuart of San Bernardino, A. c.
Mouser of San Diego, Thomas Y. Gator
of San Francisco, 7. A. w. Shanahan
of Shasta, E. L. Hutchinson OF Los An
geles, A R. Sprague, Rogers of Napa,
Joseph Asberry Johnson and Carleton
H. Johnson. There were many others
equally as familiar to spectators in
Populist conventions, men like John A.
Dore, Bretz and Fowler of Alameda,
the latter a prominent candidate for
Chairman of the convention.
During the afternoon the middle-of
the-road men were very busy, as We're
the fusionists. Copies of the resolutions
of instruction to vote for straight
ticket and Populist principles, adopted
by the San Francisco convention, We're
freely circulated, together with the
whispered charge that many of the del
egates accepted the nomination with no
intention of obeying the instructions.
These were some of the features of the
day.
1t is unnecessary to say to those who
have watched the trend of events that
the one question uppermost in the
minds of the delegates was, Shall there
be fusion?" This question has also
about shaped itself to mean, simply,
Shall we nominate Congressman Ma
guire for Governor"
1t was plain TO be seen that Judge
Maguire's friends have been busy, for
his praises were sounded by many of
the delegates, who were denounced by
others for their desertion from theranks
It was rumored early in the day that
A B. Kline was in possession of tele-
gram from the Democratic aspirant for
the Populist nomination, and that the
message was to the effect that Mcguire
had decided that he wanted the nom
ination and that he was perfectly suit
ed with the Oregon platform. The fol-
lowing telegram was produced by Mr..
X yinn n -
dle-of-the-road men:
Washington, d. c., July 9Th
"A. B. Kline, San Francisco: The
Oregon fusion platform would be ac-
ceptable to me.
JAMES G.. MAGUIRE.'
The telegram and its meaning were
thus explained by its recipient: I un-
derstand 1t to mean,' said Mr.. Kinne,
that Judge Mcguire is ready to come
into the folds on the terms prescribed
by the famous Oregon platform, and
believe there will be enough votes here
to carry the thing that way
Another strong advocate of Judge
Maguire's candidacy was John A. Dore
of the South, who said: Most Of the
Fresno people favor LaRue, and /
should be glad to see him nominated for
Governor and Mcguire for Senator if
things could be arranged that way, but
as it seems that Mcguire will be strong
for Governor, and as he is willing to
run on our platform, we shall prob
ably be in favor of him for Governor" "
In opposition to Maguire's telegram.
and in answer to the pleas of his
friends, a letter written by him and
published in the Examiner" In fac
simile on October %, 1897, was ex-
hibited to wavering delegates by the
middle -the-road men. The follow
ing, which would seem to be quite an
tagonistic to the fusion idea, is the
opening paragraph Of the letter in
question:
cit is quite probable that my name
will be submitted to the next Demo
cratic State Convention as a candidate
for Governor If nominated I will GER
tainly be pleased to accept, but will
make no combinations, nor will l make
any promises, other than those con-
tanned in the published platform, in
order to secure the nomination"
The opponents Of Mcguire rely on
this letter to neutralize whatever
soothing effects his telegram has had
on the delegates who are wavering.
AS Delegates Dore and Kinne, here
tofore quoted. reflect the ideas of a
strong wing of the Mcguire fusionists
so Thomas Y. Gator and Carletcl H
Johnson stand largely for the spirit OF
the opposition. Speaking of the situ-
alton, with reference to the telegram
from Mcguire, Thomas V. Gator last
night said: