The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-17
DAVID ovERMYER TALKS.
Says, After This, the Populists Must
Support the Democratic Ticket.

Atchison, June 1.-THE Democratic
convention adjourned after nominating
the Populist state ticket, including Ma
jor A NJ. Harvey.
pointed by the Democratic state con-
vention to confer with the Populists
with view to the contamination of
fusion between the two parties, left
here for Topeka there was a feeling
among the delegates that the Populists
would be liberal enough TO grant at
least three places on the state ticket in
return for the support of the Democrats
of this state, and when the committee
returned and made it's report that it
had labored all night with the POpuliSt
committee and the candidates upon the
Populist ticket, and the best that was
offered them was the place of lieuten-
ant governor, there was considerable
surprise and some dissatisfaction.
Some of the delegates would have
been willing to retaliate by nominating
a straight Democratic ticket and others
insisted that the only thing to do
would be to nominate Leedy, Boyle,
Stryker and Allen and fill the rest of
the ticket with Democrats. Half an
hour before the adjournment of the
convention sentiment was altogether
that way, and the delegates began the
cancieS.
Just before the converting of the con-
vention, however, some of the more con-
sentative of the party started the
movement to reject the Populists' Of
fer to a single place and nominate the
straight Populist ticket.
After the delegates thought this over
they became enthusiastic with it, and
by the time the convention was called
to order the movement had gained such
support that it became apparent that
it would carry, and when the roll was
called there was almost a stampede in
it's favor. This is the history of the
convention, but there is a good deal
that can be read between the lines.
he of on he dor ant of fIa
Populist candidates was 273 to 95.
David Overmyer says of the Demo-
cratic convention:
THE final outcome of the convention
as far as lieutenant governor is con-
cerned, is somewhat of a surprise. The
nomination of Major Harvey had not
been contemplated, that 1 know of, by
anyone until half an hour before the
converting of the afternoon session.
THE development of this purpose
arose suddenly after the return of the
conference committee from Topeka.
During the absence of the committee it
developed that the convention was de-
cidedly adverse to nominating a solita-
~ Democrat upon the ticket. The
truth is that the anti-fusion element
aroused this feeling and persuaded
many others that it would be far more
dignifed to nominate the full POpulist
ticket than to accept a single place up
on the ticket. This was worked for all
it was worth. and by the time the COM
mittee returned the thing of fusion had
fusion were convinced that any attempt
to nominate a single Democrat with the
rest of the Populist ticket would be
lost.
1T was at this time that someone
mentioned Harvey's nomination. The
fusionists desiring to end the agony
and produce a satisfactory result, i'm
mediately fell in with this thought, and
it was clear that the gentlemen who
had started the idea of not nominating
a single Democrat were in the position
of that somewhat celebrated man who
yoked himself up with the calf-the
calf ran away with him.
1T may as we'll be understood now
that from this time forth the Demo-
cratic party will hold it's conventions
without reference to the times or places
of any other conventions on earth.
1--WE have now given our POpuliSt
brethren an example of diSintereSted-
ness and civic virtue which will
henceforth call upon them to initiate.
We belong to the only organization
that is the national organization, that
has sufficient power and patriotism to
rake Roadway against the destructive
forces which are fOstered by the Re
publican party. the deadly enemy of
free institutions and popular govern
ment
''Our Populist friends have had time
enough to become acquainted with us
and to ascertain whether or not we are
fair minded men, and to get over their
unreasoning prejudice against the DEM
ocratic name.
IF they will not join US now they
never will join US, and if that be the
case the sooner we know it the better.
All reasonable and patriotic Democrats
will support this ticket, but at the same
time give notice to our Populist friends
that hereafter we will expect them to