The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-24
THE PoPuL1sT CONVENTION

Up to April, when the Populist state
committee met and arbitrarily laid down
the rules and conditions upon which
fusion could be made, there had not been
the least uncertainty as to the favorable
result of coalition. No sooner, however,
had this committee sent it's ultimatum
broadcast than the elements of discord
began to show themselves, and what. by
common consent, had been an assured
fact, soon changed to a mere guess. If
fusion shall be unfavorably affected the
Peoples party may justly be charged
with being the cause Of it.
It may seem strange to some that the
representatives of the Peoples party
should arrogate to themselves the right
to dictate the terms of fusion. They at
tempt to base this right upon princi-
pie, claiming that principles are Of vastly
more Importance to them than offices.
This is laudable indeed, but the repre-
sentatives of the Peoples party must re-
member that the Democratic and Silver
Republican parties also have principles
at stake. They have not thus far used
these principles as a means of gaining
an advantage in any fusion.
The real facts of the 18th Of July blum
der are not that the rank and file of the
Peoples party have had anything to do
with the scheme, but that few cum
ming members Of their party got control
of the state committee and succeeded
in running things to suit themselves, and
Of course, in opposition to the well-known
wishes Of their party. These individuals
are known as middle of-the-roaders.
They are opposed to fusion. and while
some of them may be sincere in their ef-
forts to secure a Simon-pure Populist
ticket there is not lacking evidence that
all of them would rather prevent fusion
and thereby make possible the election
Of the Republican state ticket than to
permit fusion and insure the election of
the reform ticket.
This bold and defiant stroke on the part
of the middle Of the-roaders has aston
ished the members of the Peoples party.
as we'll as those of the other silver par
ties, and the former have just come to
realize that, while they have been theoriz-
ing about fusion and assuring the other
silver parties that there were no obstacles
in the way of fusion, the other fellows
have secured control of their committees
and are now in full possession of the party
machinery.
The Populist situation may be summed
up by saying that while ninety per cent
Of their members favor fusion, their
party is now dominated by the middle-of
the-roaders, the other ten per cent, and
they have already improved their ad-
vantage by practically forestalling any
attempt at fusion.
The Democratic and Silver Republican
parties are thus confronted with situ-
alton entirely unsupported, and one for
which. 1t would seem, the rank and file
Of the Peoples party is not responsible.
AS the middle of-the-roaders have ma
jority of the state committee, there is
not the least hope they can be induced
to postpone their convention to a later
date. In order to effect fusion the con-
ventions of the three parties must be
held at the same date. The Democrats
and Silver Republicans, therefore, must
consent to hold their conventions July
18th, the date suggested, or give up the
fusion scheme entirely. Which shall ii
be?