The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-10
POLITICS WARMING UP
Three State Committees to Meet
in Helena.
THE QUESTION OF FUSION
Sentiment Is Divided in Silver Bow.
Failure to Fuse Means a Division
of the Forces of the
Silver Party.

The meeting of the three state political
committees in Helena tomorrow will
start the fall political campaign in
Montana and 1t is probable hat at this
meeting il will be determined how the
lines shall be drawn for the fight. Two
years ago there was a fusion of demo-
Gratis, populists and silver republicans,
and they had the state To themselves
Each party had its own committee and
these three committees will meet to-
morrow. when it will probably be de-
termined whether the fusion of two
years ago shall continue or shall be
dissolved and each party go into the
fight on it's own merits.
There is a very divided sentiment on
the question of fusion in all the parties.
so far as Silver Bow county is on
cerned. Among democrats there are
many who favor a union of all silver
forces until such time as silver is tri-
umphant, following the plan of Chair
man Jones of the national committee.
They consider that a failure to fuse
would merely mean a division of silver
forces and work injury to the silver
cause. other democrats here are OPP
DOSeu u luSibH vi Aht SlouluS AhdA ~
is merely dividing the offices when the
democrats could have them all II they
would only VI a full ticket of their
own, and that while it is desirable to
have the silver forces united, there is
no excuse for n other silver party to
exist so long as the democrats are he
recognized silver party.
Among silver republicans there Is ais
a divided opinion. While very many of
fhann fa Nyor fusion some are faNnrinR "A
union of republican forces. They con-
slider that the silver question has been
temporarily obscured by the war and viii
not be the issue this fail. They think
the great question now is as to imperi-
alism or non-imperialism and they favor
uniting with the Mckinley republicans
on this issue.
The populists are pretty generally in
favor of fusion. yet there are "A num-
Der of middle-of-the-road popuiists who
consider that there are planks in the
populist platform more important than
the silver question and they favor run
ming the party by itself.
With all these differences of view II
is likely that the conference at Helena
will be a lively one. and whatever Is
done all plans are likely to be upset
after the primaries are held and the
| conventions meet. If the committees to-
morrow should decide for fusion the
state conventions may refuse to listen
TO their advice.
j. j. Haggerty is democratic commit
teeman from Silver Bow county and is
COINS over to Helena tomorrow morn
ing. w. A. Shifelbin is the populist
committeeman and will also go over in
the morning. Senator Mantle, chair
man Of the silver republican commit
teee. and w. II. SWEET, secretary, will
also go over. George w. Irwin, vice
chairman, will not go. but viii be rep
resented by A. h. Keith.
Mr.. Haggerty Is I'm favor of holding
the democratic state convention about
the middle Of September. lie favors a
short campaign. In some sections of
the state expression has been In favor
of a convention early in August. Mr.,
Haggerty favors Anaconda as the
place for the state convention. the con-
vention not having been held inerc i'm
10 years.