The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-18
POpULISTS WHO
WILL NOT BE IN
LINE FOR BRYAN
Plans OF the MiddIe=Of=the=RO
Men for Defeating All At
temptS at Fusion.

KANSAS CITY, May 17.-An address to
the Populists of the country was issued
here tonight by the national organiza-
ton of the Peoples party with the in
dorsement of the National Reform Press
Association. These two bodies, whose
common object is to keep the Populist
party in the middle of the road, avoiding
fusion with other political parties every
where, had been in session here since
Tuesday morning, and the adoption of the
address concluded their labors.
All was not harmony among these
middle-of-the-road leaders, and only
after long and heated discussions was an
ADDRESS agreed upon. A hard fight was
made to secure the Endorsement of Whar-
ton Barker and Ignatius Donnelly for
president and Vice President in 1900 but
lnlS the committee refused to recon-
mend. Instead a thorough organization
OF the mfddle-o f-the-roaders in every sec
ton of the country is urged, with the
understanding that they shall enter the
next national campaign with the present
Populist organization, but that wherever
fusion shall gain the day, whether in
county, State or nation, the middle-of-
the-roaders shall bolt and begin an active
campaign to carry out their principles.
The alleged fusionist tendencies Of
Marion Butler chairman of the Populist
National Committee, are provided against
in a clause which authorizes the national
organization to call a national conven-
ton if it shall be convinced that the Ma
tional Chairman or National Committee
are playing into the hands of the fusion
lists.
The address of the committee in sub
stance follows:
That the voters of the nation may feel as
sured that the Peoples party shall not again
be betrayed in national convention or its work
ms forces passed into the hands of the enemy
and to inspire confidence among the masses in
the integrity of our acts and sincerity Of our
demands for Independent action party,
respectfully submit to the Populists of the
nation the following plan of action:
First-That the national organization com
mittee hereby instruct its chairman to pro-
coed with the formation of Peoples party pre-
cnct clubs in all the States, the plan rec4
commended by the Cincinnati convention of
September, 1898, or some relative plan and TO
appoint in each State not having members al
ready selected three members of the national
organization committee and with the assist
ance and advice of these committeeman to Sc
lect State organization committee Of the
same number of members the then existing
State committee, and through these commit
teemen to organize far possible organi-
counties and voting precincts Wherever IL is
positively known that those members of
tional. State and other committees now exist
lug unquaihedly opposed to fusion with
either of the old parties and for independent,
straightforward action by the Peoples party
they are 10 be selected as members of the sew
eral organization committees.
Second-It shall be the duty of these several
committees to use all honorable means to
cure the selection of delegates to the various
conventions leading up to the nominating
Presidential convention of 1900, who OPP
posed to fusion; and failing in this, to provide
for and send contesting delegates to the sew
are opposed TO fusion unfairly dishonor-
ably treated in the county convention, they