The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
ADDRESS TO POPULISTS
NO FUSION TO BE PERMITTED WITH
ANY PARTY HEREAFTER.
"Middle Of the Readers" Determined
to Have No Allfances-Slap at
Marion Butler.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May I.-An address
to the Populists of the country was issued
here tonight by the national organization
committee of the Peoples party with the
Endorsement of the National Reform Press
Association. These two bodies, whose COM
mon object is to keep the Populist party In
the middle of the road. avoiding fusion with
other political parties everywhere, had been
in session here since Tuesday morning. and
the adoption Of the address concluded their
labors. All was not harmony between these
''middle-of-the-road" leaders, and only aft
er long and heated discussions was an adj
dress agreed on. A hard fight was made
to secure the Endorsement of Wharton
Barker and Ignatius Donnelly for President
and Vice President in 1900. but this the
committee refused to recommend. Instead, a
thorough organization Of the middle OF
the readers in every section OF the coun-
try is urged, with the understanding 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 national convention, the
middle Of the readers shall bolt and begin
an active campaign TO carry out their prin-
ciples.
The alleged f~usionist tendencies of Marion
Butler. chairman of the Populist national
are provided against In a clause
which authorizes the national organizauon
to call q national convention IL
they shall be convinced the national cnair-
man or national committee are playing into
the hands of the fusionists. r.
The address, among other things says: III
the State convention Is controlled In the IN
terest of the fusion and against an honora-
BILE and straightforward Peoples party pol
icy, as soon as this Is determined the mid
dle-of-the-road delegations shall leave the
convention, and, uniting with the contesting
delegations. shall hold another State con-
vention and send a contestirg delegation
from that State to the national convention:
Should the national convention be controlled
by straight Populists all delegates sent un-
bound to nominate those candidates for
President and Vice President recommended
judgment of the national organization COM
mittee there shall hav been SUFFICIENT or
ganization TO make such a vote both prac-
ticable and representative OF the VIII OF the
party.
Should the national convention of 1900 be
controlled In the interest of fusion the
straight delegations shall leave said conven.
ton and join the contesting delegations sent
under this plan in a straight convention and
there carry out the will of the Populists OF
the Nation without regard to the fusion
convention. In this case the national organ
ization committee and the several State, dis
trict. county and precinct committees or
ganized under this plan shall be recognized
as the only committees having any authority
In the affairs of the Peoples party.
eff 1t should so occur that the national
committee fail to issue the call for a ma
tional People'S party convention within due
time. in the discretion of the national or
ganization committee. said organization
committee shall then proceed to issue a cali
for a national convention.
I'VE offer this plan OF action nowing
that 1t will: First. show to every Populist
that we are willing to remain in good fell
lowship with our fusion brethren with
whom We have differed in the past in ac-
cept'ug distasteful allegiance with the enc
mics of the Peoples party, provided they
will. with US, stand squarely on the original
principles OF the party and the line OF ac-
ton intended by it's founders who declared,
in Omaha. i'm 1892, that the two old parties
were Jointly responsible for the miseries Of
the people and the unjust legislation which
oppressed them; second, If they refuse to
do SO, that we wish them TO know that We
adhere to the grand principles Of untainted
Populism than to traffic in those sacred
principles for personal or political dvance
ment and gain.
voters who have oun themselves in the
past forced to vote for candidates not in
sympathy with each demand of the Peo-
pies party platform, and urge them to dill
gently work in the future to avert any repe-
tition of such complications.
We recommend that an earnest EFFORT to
carry out the request for the referendum
vote asked for by the Cincinnati conven-
ton be made so that the fullest expression
ON the question may be obtained.
"In order that States using the national
precinct referendum club system of party
government may be made most effective We
recommend that these clubs be prepared TO
tons between Oct. /, 1893, and Jan. l. 1900,
and send tabulated vote Of same by States
to Hon. Milton Park, chairman national or
soon as practicable. shall certify national
results of same to the public