The San Francisco call., 1898-07-12
AHEAD OF
 PEOPLES PARTY
If Fusion Wins Many Delegates Will Walk Out of tbe
 Convention.

SACRAMENTO, July 11.-That there will be a spirited and hOtly contested fight over the fusion proposition when the Populist Convention meets to-mor- TON mornilg ill the Assembly chambers at the State Capitol is now evident Judging from the tenor of the remarks of some of the delegates there is every indication of split in the Populfst ranks. If an open rupture is avoided It will be due to the radiance of some guiding star that has not thus far ap- peared on the political horizon.
 Quite a number of the delegates from the southern portion of the State are in favor of fusion. With them fusion is synonymous with Mcguire. The fine work of the Gallagher Mcguire wing of the Democracy is now showing. The southern fusionists want to see Con- gressman Mcguire nominated for Gov ernor, as they believe that it will strengthen his fight in the Democratic convention.
 From the counties of the north dele gates have been sent who are opposed to Mcguire and fusion. They hope to See Shanahan, the tall Sycamore Of Shasta head the State ticket, and they are not overlooking any points in the political game. With them 1t is Shanahan or nothing. They will not listen for a moment to any suggestion of fusion. They think that an out-and- out straight Populist ticket should be nominated, and that the party should go before the people on purely Populist lines. Mcguire, they say, has become so adept in straddling the fence and dropping off on the side that will bring the greater number of plums to his friends that they have no faith in him. They say that he could take a Populist platform for breakfast and swallow a Democratic platform for dinner, with out feeling the least disquietude, no matter how diverging might be the blanks.
 The Popuhsts stand to-day on the brink of a precipice. If the fusion idea obtains there is certain to be trouble and probably a disruption of the party. With Maguire in the front there will be many Populists dropping out of the ranks. In fact some of the interior delegates have been instructed to vote against the proposition of fusion, and their instructions go further. If the fusionists carry the day the delegations are to withdraw from the convention. These instructions will be carried out. With fusion and Mcguire there is a stormy time ahead of the Populist party.
 Until the question of fusion Is set tied the delegates are at sea. The hght of the convention will come on reSo- lution pledging the delegates to not nominate or indorSe any candidate for a State, legislative CT Congressional of- flee who will not unequivocally sup port the platform of the Populist party. If this resolution prevails Mcguire will be out of the race, for there IS certain to be conflict on some vital points De- tween the platforms of the Populist and Democratic parties.
 If the anti-fusion forces carry the day Shanahan will find a strong rival in J. Y. Webster who ran for Governor four years ago. Webster is one of the leaders of the anti-fusion forces and has a host of friends
 George w. Monteith, a San Francisco attorney who ran for Congress two years ago, is mentioned as a guberna- torial candidate. Whether his name VIII go before the convention will de- VolVe on the fusion fight His friends believe that if fusion prevails he will stand good chance in race with Shanahan and Webster. Shanahan has lost considerable ground because of a ruInof that he does not want the gu- bernatorial nomination flor keeps" It is charged against him that if nomi- mated Cn an anti-fusion ticket he would fall from his lofty perch to drop into place on the Democratic ticket as nominee for Lieutenant Governor.
 So 1t is that the divided forces are watching one another as closely as does a cat watch a mouse
 In the struggle over the fusion propo- sition the offices on the State ticket are being to some extent overlooked. There are hosts Of candidates in the field. but none or them Know which way to turn until the question of fusion is settled.
 Charles Eidelman of Orange County