The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-04
FOUR DAYS DOlHGS
MAY CLARITY TO SOME EXTENT
THE TROUBLED ATMOSPHERE
OF POPULISM.
SESSIONS TO BEGIN TODAY,
WITH A MASS MEETING AT MAR
KET HALL, BEGINNING THIS
FORENOON.
SHALL 1T BE FUSION OR NoTs
That Is the Question That Is Per-
picking the Men of the Peo-
pies Party.
SESSIONS TO BEGIN TODAY,
SHALL 1T BE FUSION OR NoTs

The Populist and Alliance element Of
the political atmosphere of Minnesota
will own the town for the next four
days. The Populists Of the state will
| hold mass meeting in the Market
hall today, when they will line up in
! battle array and air their little differ
ences Of opinion on the various issues
at stake. The ventilation of the es-
arrangement Of the two factions Of the
party will continue two whole days,
and things in the vicinity of the Mar
ket hall are likely to assume decid-
eddy lively aspect. Thursday and Fri
day the Farmers Alliance hold forth
at the state capitol with their annual
convention, and it is altogether prob
able that there will be a few lively
incidents there.
Yesterday afternoon there were quite
number Of prominent Populists at
the hotels, and this mornings trains
viii bring in the remainder Of the rear
guard. Among the prominent Popu-
lists who will take part in the fray"
at the Market hall this morning are:
L. c. Long, Magnolia; H. V. Poore,
DR.. Christian Johnson, Willmar; ex-
Congressman Halvor E. Boon, Fergus
Falls; George N. Lanphere Moorhead;
II. P. Bjorge, Underwood; Ignatius
Donnelly, Hastings; A. S. Gardner,
Moorhead; possibly DR.. A A. Ames, of
Minneapolis, and many others from all
parts of the state.
The burning issue which Will occupy
most of the time will be between the
middle of-the-roaders and the fusion
lists. The middle-of -the-roaders want
no fusion, but a straight ticket. The
fusiontsts are determined to carry the
day, but the middle-of-t he-roa6ers
have one card which they will play
and try to win. The central committee
of the Populists Is about evenly divid-
ed upon the issue, and, If anything, the
fuslontsts have majority on the COM
mittee. In this event the fusionist
central committee will not call the con-
vention until after the Democrats and
republicans have held their conven-
lions, and thus further their chances
for supporting a fusion ticket at the
next election. To counteract this, the
m1ddle-o -the-roaders will endeavor to
appoint an auxiliary central commit
tee made up Of members of their pei
suasion, who will issue a call for a.
convention before either of the other
political parties hold their conventions.
IL is upon this point that the Popu-
lists will contend this morning, and
when Mr.. Donnelly who is right in the
middle OF the road, and some of the
opposing faction get into 1t deep the
noise Of battle will hurtle in the air.
There does not seem to be any prob
ability OF an agreement between the
two factions, as each is equally de-
termined to win. The object of the
mass meeting" as a prominent mid
dle-of-the-roader expressed it yester-
day, was to determine what the wishes
OF the Populists of the state were in
reference to fusion, and the course to
be pursued during the next campaign.
The ddle-of-the-roaders claim that
by fusion they have lost many votes
from the ranks of both the Democratic
and Republican parties. By reason OF
the combination made at the last cam
paign they have had to sacrifice many
Of the principles upon which the Popu-
list party was based. They do not
think they should sacrifice the prin-
ciples of the party for a few political
honors. The fusion men are equally
determined to carry the day, and they
think the party has been greatly
strengthened by joining their forces,
and they will voice their convictions
loud and long in the meeting this
morning.
The question is not only state issue
but one of national import to the ma
tional Populist party, as the same con-
ditions exist in every state in the
Union. The national conference Of
Populists, to be held In st. Louis the
18th of January will issue the call for a
national convention, and the same
question will come up then as will
be aired in the Market hall this morn
ing. The fusionist element tried last
week to have the conference postponed
thirty days to give them tim e to con-
slider the proposition Of the middle-of-
the-roaders to join with them, but the
latter did not see 1T that way and will
go on with their little confab at the
Laclede hotel on the 18th. 1t is hard
ly probable that there will be any rep
resentation of the fusionists or what
are known as the Butler party in that
gathering. a5@.5