The record-union., 1898-07-14
ANTI-FUSIONISTS.
They Talk of Boiling and Nominat-
a Straight Ticket.

The only elements lacking IOr
stormy session of the middle-of-the-
road caucus, held during the recess
yesterday, was opposition. The mlddle-
of-the-road people were mad all
through. but as all were agreed, the
only possible vent was a caustic ar
raignment of the fusionists, or Molly
Maguires,' as they were dubbed by
Bretz Of Alameda.
While everybody in the caucus
which was, Of course, executive-Were
satisfied that it was war to the knife,
and the knife TO the hilt, they were at
sea as to just what course to pursue.
Nearly every man in the caucus had
his say, and while on some slight details
the delegates differed, on the main
point-that they should never submit
to fuson-all were united.
Among the bitterest of the orators
was Gilstrap of Tulare County. He at
tackled the fusionists and what he
called their Vaccinations" He con-
sidered Wardall-who, it was intimated,
would be nominated by the convention
and subsequently drawn down in favor
of Mcguire or some other Democrat
to be worse than Mcguire He insisted
on Populists being Populists. and vot-
ing only for them.
Another member informed Gilstrap
that straight-out Populists could never
vote for a man who affiliated with
Democrats or other organizations out
Of the Populist ranks.
no" snapped Gilstrap, you can't
vote for him. but you can give him
h-l!"
Dittmar Of Shasta was curt sharp
and decisive, and the red-hot phrases
he flung at the fusionists were dropped
with a coolness suggesting Mount
Shasta. He was vigorous in asserting
that only true and tried Populist
should be placed at the head of the
middle-of- the-road ticket, and that in
case a Democrat be placed on the ticket
| by the convention another ticket should
be put in the field representing genuine
| Populism.
| The veteran, Jonathan v. Webster of
San Luis Obispo, also got in line, and,
| in his crisp, nervous style insisted on
the nomination of a straight Populist
ticket by straight Populists. He re-
counted a conversation he had with a
| prominent politician, in which he had
taken the stand that fusion with the
| Democrats meant disaster, and that if
the combined forces went down to de-
| feat in the future the Democrats would
spurn cooperation. If, on the other
hand, a straight Populistic ticket were
| nominated and sufficient votes given it
to defeat the Democrats, two years
hence the latter would come to the
Populists, hat in hand, and listen to
reason. The politician had agreed with
him.
Then Gator placidly and coolly put the
whole matter into nutshell. He said
that after the convention is over-pro-
vided a fusion candidate be nominated
the middleo of-the-road Populists ought
Immediately thereafter resolve them
selves into convention, elect proper
officers, appoint committees, adopt a
platform and nominate candidates, and
file the ticket with the Secretary of
State as the regular Peoples Party
ticket. The Secretary of State, he
said, would file the ticket accordingly.
In case of the nomination of a Demo-
crat, his idea was to pursue such a
course, nominate a straight-out Popu-
list ticket, and let the fusonists and
Democrats take care Of themselves.
Gator struck the keynote, and, after
due mention had been made of T. A. w.
Shanahan and his ability to carry the
northern part of the State, the speech
making ceased
Gators suggestion struck the popu-
lar fancy, and was adopted unani-
| mously.