The San Francisco call., 1898-06-21
Maguire's Friends De- wise a Bold Scheme.
OTHER DEMOCRATS EXCLUDED
PEOPLES PARTY ASKED TO SUP
 PORT HIM.
A Plan to Introduce a Resolution That May Bring About the Con- gressman's Nomination for
 Governor.

The friends of Congressman Maguire, who have taken 1t upon themselves to as- sist him in his efforts to secure the Dem ocratic nomination for Governor are making a last desperate effort to regain the ground that has been so rapidly slip ping from beneath their feet during the past two months. The attempt embraces an endeavor to secure partial control of the Populist party through some of its leaders, the control to be manifested in the interest of Mcguire to the exclu- sion of all other Democratic candidates on the State ticket.
 Within the past week the men who have charge of the Congressman political campaign have made overtures to the Populist leaders in this city for the pur- pose of bringing about a secret joint con- ference for the discussion of the follow ing proposition: That the Populist party refuse to entertain any fusion proposi- ton from the Democratic party as applied to the State ticket; that when the Popu- list State Convention meets in Sacramento on July 12 it shall nominate George w. Monteith for Governor; that the conven- tion shall adopt a resolution providing that in case the Democratic convention shall nominate Mcguire for Governor, then Monteith shall resign his candidacy and the PopuliSt vote for Governor shall be given to Mcguire; that Mcguire on his part shall enter into pledge Stipulat- ing that in ease he be elected he will, in the distribution of the patronage of the office, give certain of the places to Pop ulistS.
 The promoters of this very pretty scheme naturally believe that if the Pop ulists can be induced to carry out their part of the programme the fact can be used a powerful lever to induce the Democratic convention to give Mcguire the place at the head of its ticket. All hope of fusion on any such plan as was carried into effect at the last general election has been abandoned by the lead CTS of both parties. This being so, the Democrats would more than likely grab at q chance that would possibly secure them the election of a Democratic Gov ernor, even if by so doing they would be forced to swallow so bitter pill as Ma guire. Patronage is none the less sweet because it is dealt out by an unpopular hand.
 The individual fusion plan may there fore be looked upon as a good one, and the friends of Mcguire would have just cause to feel jubilant were it not for the fact that its success is conditional on the consent of Monteith and the men who will have control of the Populist conven- tiOn-and this Is where the shoe IS likely
 Monteith says he would not object to the honor of being selected by the Popu- lists as their leader in the coming cam paign but he has d decided objection to being made a catSpaW wherewith to haul Maguire's chestnuts out of the ire; He admits that he has been approached with a proposition to go before the Popu- list convention as candidate for the place at the head of the ticket, with the understanding that in case he should se- cure the nomination he will abide by the provisions of a resolution making his can didacy contingent upon the failure of the Democratic convention to nominate Ma
 .'The proposition seems to me to be |. plan to use the Popuist party as a club to force the Democrats to nominate Ma guire for Governor said Monteith yes terday. While 1 am friendly to Mcguire
 
 dacy, I have the interests of the Popu- list party too much at heart to become a party to any scheme that would work injury to the principles which we repre- sent. Such a scheme l believe this to be. Although 1 am personally opposed to fu- sion, still if the Populist party as par ty should agree to some plan of fu- sion with the Democrats 1 am not pre- pared to say that 1 would not abide by it. But this is not a question of fusion on any such broad ground would rem der it acceptable to the honest and intel Hgent men of our party. We are sim ply asked to prostitute our principles for the personal benefit of a man who is the representative of another party and other political beliefs"
 Other Populists who are looked upon as leaders in the party assert that the at tempt to bring about a conference be- tween any representatives of the party and the friends of Mcguire the propo- sition of fusion in the interests of the Congressman will probably meet with no results. The Gator following is known to be opposed to fusion and antagonistic to Mcguire. The middle-of-the-road Popu- lists are just as firm in the belief that the only way in which the party can be held together is to steer clear of all alli-