The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-20
NEW PARTY NEEDED.


Editor Rober, A. Turner. Of the E!lens-
burg Dawn--Mr. Turner Is a Populst-
known as the Union party. He desires
10 see IL formed from the remains of the
several parties which were defeated in
1896 and In 1898, and he proposes that
the organization take birth upon July
Of next year.
Mr. Turner acknowledges with charm
ing candor thai the two recent state
and national elections were more than
a defeat-they were crushing and hu-
initiating" He finds that the people are
divided, calling themselves all sorts OF
names. Populisis Middle-of the Road
Populists, Democrats. Anti-Fusion Dem
ocrats, Silver Democrats, Silver Repub-
licans, etc; and that II is folly to talk Of
fusing all these different organizations.
Fusion is dead" he concludes.
AS a remedy for the situation. MIR.
Turner proposes:
Let all who are favorable TO the forms-
ton Of the Union party meet
aEa after discussing the matter. elect dele
gates 10 county conference
These In turn to elect 10 stale conference,
etc All delegates should be elected not on
account Of oratorlcal ability, but for their
honesty and capacity 10 think and act wise
~. Select men who viii abide ny the viii
% the ma jority and pledge yourselves 10
abide By the result " tne4r combined wis
dom. The state conference could
elect TWO or three such men 10 a national
conference or July I, 1889, % be held. not
FOR the purpose OF nominating Il prcsiden
tal ticket. but for the express purpose o.
making short and vigorous platform and
mapping out line OF work leading up 20 a
thorough organization. Tais would cons,i-
tuto the platform Of the Union party"
There is always hope for the man who
will be so honest as 10 confess that ne
has been whipped. There is still more
hope for the man who, after he has been
whipped. wants II get together" ana
talk business. as does Mr.. Turner. While
acknowledging that fusion Is dead Mr.
Turner still cherishes in his honest heart
some vague feeling that there is some
thing OF a fusable nature upon which
the members OF the various defeated
parties could harmonic. lie doesn't
know just what it is. III his own words.
1t is about this w hat do the pc pie
want? What measures of relief do they
desire enacted? Who can answer these
great questions? Can an answer be
found in the platform Of any political
party OF to-day -
1t is extremely important that there
should be light thrown upon such a crit
icai situation as this. and MIR Turner
should have the cooperation az all
thinking men Of the defeated parties in
arriving at 81 way out Of thc difficulties.
The defeated parties cannot unite ON
silver, because the -Popul,sts aekno,sl-
edge that the silver issue 81 dead Thev
cannot unite On the new auti-expans on
issue. because the Democrats are iii
,iled upon the question. They cannot
unite upon Bryan. because Bryan has
declared his opposition - expansion.
They cannot unite upon free trade he
cause that would alternate the Saver Re
politicians. Yet as Mr. Turner apt,v
says. Here is a se0-evi8snt PROPOSE
tion: II the factions which compose thc
reform movement cannot unite for Vic
tory. then they do not know enough e.