The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-27
FUSION CAUCUS.
From the Minneapolis Tribu


After a few more body blows it may
reasonably be expected that fusion, so far
Hennepin county is concerned at least
will become dead issue. 1t made It's APP
pearance once again at the meeting Of
Democratic candidates held at the party
headquarters last evening" and as soon as
1t showed its hoary old head, became the
target of an attack which carried it off it's
feet, with the prospect that one or two ad-
ditional doses of the same treatment will
serve to end it's career.
The subject was brought up by John T.
MCGOWAN. of the First ward, a candidate
for the state senate, who offered a reSolu-
ton by the terms of which he proposed to
have committee Of seven appointed from
among the candidates to confer with the
Populists and endeavor to bring about "
sion. incidentally Mr.. MCGOWAN made the
remark that there were several vacancies
upon the county ticket which could be
traded in a manner that would greatly aid
the effort to restore the old relations exist
ing between the two parties. This remark
was objected to by E. A. Stevens, the can
d1date for coroner. who defied the speaker
to prove that one vacancy existed rpon the
ticket. Mr.. Stevens volunteered the fur
Their information that, while he was can
didate by proxy, with the intention of retir-
ing when suitable successor had been Sc
lected. he would not retire to make room
for any Populfst so long as Mr. Cation re-
manned upon the Populist ticket as the
congressional nominee. Furthermore, Mr..
Stevens informed the candidates present
that cooperation could now only be se-
cured upon the Artemus Ward plan-each
man would be willing to sacrifice his first
wife's relations, but not his present family
or himself In other words, it would be
impossible to secure the amicable with
drawal of enough candidates to fix up a
combination which would be satisfactory
When Mr.. MCGOWAN had been informed
that the new county committee had been
instructed with plenary powers in regard
to removals and the filling of vacancies
upon the county ticket he veered about
and offered different resolution, the Sec
ond one requesting the new county commit
tee to meet with the Populist committee
with view to bringing about fusion, but
he was met with a substitute offered by
Mr. Stevens that the new county commit
tee, in the event Of any vacancies arising,
should be requested not to fill any vacancy
with candidate not in full accord with the
Democratic state, congressional or county
ticket, or with the city or judicial ticket
yet to be nominated. This was a strong
play. 1t simply meant that no Populist
fighting under the banner of T. J. Cation
should receive the Democratic Endorsement.
Mr.. Stockwell protested against such ac-
ton as contemplated by the Stevens SUBJ
stftute, saying it would be an insult to the
intelligence of the new committee He had
Ho peTSOHdi interests 10 serve, but he
thought fusion was to be desired. He ad-
united that there was a time recently
when the Populists had intended to hold I'D
the Democrats and make them stand and
deliver. The Populist party was then in
the hands Of few men who had forced
Caton's nomination for congress. The sit
uatiOn had changed since then and the
better Populists were in control, and he
believes there were just as good Populists
as there were Democrats.
Chairman Gallagher took hand in the
proceedings and endeavored to help out
Stevens. saying that he believed it would
be the height of bad politics to force the
candidates to put themselves upon record
on this subject. 1t could safely be in
trusted to the new committee, who could
settle the matter without bringing the can
didates into the fuss. He was personally
opposed to further attempts to bring about
fusion, and thought cooperation would lose
the ticket as many votes as it would gain
Finally Mr.. Stevens, in order to cut eff
this dire possibility, made a motion to ad-
Journ, but the chair allowed some further
discussion, during which F. B. Long placed
himself on record favoring fusion When
the vote to adjourn was put it was car
ried to A.
And yet John Lind thinks that the
Populists, after being spat upon by the
Democrats in this fusion are going to
vote for him, and against that brilliant
orator and gallant soldiers, L. C. Long,
His gall or his credulity is great.