The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-14
No FUSION THIS YEAR
Unless a Last Desperate Ex-
pedient Wins.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT POPS
Nor Pops Democrats in Okla
hOma This Campaign.

Oklahoma City. o. T, July 13.-(special)
The forebadings of evils and dark mis-
fortunes which are popularity attached to
"unlucky -" apparently had no supersti-
tious terrors for the democrats and pop
uusts when they called their conventions
to meet on the 18Th of the month, but it is
safe to predict that in the future they viii
know better than 10 fly in the face Of a
time-honored tradition, especially when
the delegates 90 home and meet the
cr0aker with his "I-told-you-sO." When
the sun descended below the western nor
i'm last night it was apparent that fusion
was in its last throes. and when It appear
ed again this morning as a fiery red ball
in the eastern sky it seemed to be weep
ing tears of blood over the scene Of car
mage and des0Iation and the fragments Of
fusion. which were so badly scattered and
mutilated as to preclude the hope of a
decent burial.
For once the voice of the rank and file
Of democracy and populism was heard
and needed That voice was vociferously
against fusion at the sacrifice of princi-
pie. and although the politicians sought
10 stem the tide their arguments, their
tears and their pleadings were all in Nsin,
and the delegate from the county with his
lusty lungs ruled both conventions.
In vain did Keaton plead with his fol-
lowers to consent TO a joint convention;
in vain did he assure them that he had
everything fixed; that Callahan would
Withdraw in his CKeaton's) favor. The
delegates told him that while they were
pledged to his support they would vote for
him only as a. democrat and as the stand
ard-bearer Of democracy he must stand
or fall. irrespective of what the populist
convention might do.
Eauallv successful was Callahan with
his populist brethren, whom he begged
for q. harmonious fusion. They Stubborn
" insisted that they would no fuftneT
sick with the dem )crats and if he Gal
la-an) insisted Upon withdrawing IN me
hope Of giving the nomination to dem
ocrat they would simply heave him over
board and nominate some other populist.
Callahan really has endeavored TO act
fairly with the democrats and has made
every effort to carry out the promise made
to Jerry O'Rourke, Dan Peery and other
west side democrats that he would stay
in the race in order to keep the popuist
forces from scattering and at the prcper
time withdraw in favor Of democrat
Blu. he found il impossible to carry out
the agreement owing to the bitter oppo-
sftion of two-thirds of the populists to
fusion with the democrats. PopuIists. high
In the councils Of the party, strongly ad-
vlsed him against Withdrawing, as 1t
would prove his political death. 1t was
Cauahan's idea to make a bargain with
the democrats for their endorsement of
popul.st for delegate two years hence, but
he sadly confessed TO the Eagle CORES
pondent just before the convention met
this morning that it was ris opinion that
fusion was dead.
There vas no mistaking the sentiments
Of the democrats feminist fusion from the
moment the convention was called to or
der There was no opening prayer. It
would have been out of place in a gath
ering where every delegate had blood in
his eye. Tom Doyle. jim Digs and Frank
McAIaster. all Keaton delegates, had front
seats from which place Of vantage they
took a crack at every fusion head and
every feat Of this nature was greeted with
howls of delight
tn7rleN NTlgh[Srnan OF HaWnee couu-
ty. who had ben selected by the Keaton
forces for temporary presiding officer,
made the usual concilatory talk for dar-
mony upon assuming the chair and mo-
ment later me convention became a howl
ing mob when Colonel Johnson, of Okla
homa county. moved that a committee Of
FIVE be appointed to confer with a similar
committee from the populist convention
20 arrange terms Of fusion 4 storm of
noes" swept through the han, which
changed into a Wild yea of approval when
Tom Doyle raised the point of order that
this was a democratic convention and
not a populist adjunct" and again when
Doyle shouted that ne would appeal to
This convention Of democrats" after the
chairman had overruled his point Of or
der.
Chairman Wrigh.sman started 10 say
that this convention would be distinguish
ed from past conventions in this respect
but he could so no further amid the cries
Of sit down" shut up and with jim