New-York tribune., 1900-08-16
PERILS OF THE FUSION HABIT

The embarrassmentS which Colonel Bryan is
encountering in his Presidential canvass are
traceable TO no other influence so clearly as to
his fatal propensity for political fusion. Nothing
is more captivating to the average politician
than the prospect of uniting for his own tempo
rary advantage party groups or followings with
no fixed views or interests in common. Success
in planning and directing such haphazard com
binations has always been accepted as the only
test Of genius in that school of leadership which
Sprang from the Democratic party's original
coquetry with Populism in 1892. Mr.. Bryan
took his first political lessons in that school
and 1t only natural that with his triumph
at Chicago in 1895 fusion should become the
very watchword of Democratic policy and the
negotiation of brittle and ephemeral alliances
the mania Of the party managers Democratic,
Populist and Silver Republican. whom the
Nebraska leaders coalition programme had
brought 10 the front.
OF all the practitioners who for four years
have enjoyed Colonel Bryans cOunses and
sympathy none has applied his theory of fusion
with more dash and thoroughness than Senator
Marion Butler. of North Carolina. In the
North Carolina Legislature OF 1895 Mr. Butler.
then rising Populist leader, struck a bargain
with the Republicans by which he obtained one
of the States two seats in the Senate and Jeter
though ardenty supporting Bryan as the Presi-
dental nominee of the Democratic -Populist-
Silver Republican alliance, he forced the choice
OF Thomas c. Watson a separate Populist
candidate for Vice-President, and then went
home 10 North Carolina to arrange a fusion
with the Republicans for State Offices and Rem
resentatlVes in Congress. A year later when
Mr. Prtchard's term expired, Mr. Butler at
tempted, though fruitlessly, 10 defeat his re-
election by a Democratic Populist union; yet
the very next year he was found again COM
bining TO send to Congress a delegation half
Populist and half Republican. This summer.
though beaten for reelection the other day bv
Democratic Red Shirts" and even driven bv
threats Of personal violence from the stump.
Mr.. Butler is talking again of arranging a
Democratic-Populist fusion on Presidential
electors-a proposal which the "Red Shirt"
leaders will probably reject with contempt
Colonel Bryan's own record as a political
pluralist pales somewhat beside that Of his
North Carolina friend and follower Still, he
has never yet appealed for Office except as the
beneficiary Of some sort of political fusion. He
ran for Congress in 1890 and 1892 as a Demo
crat with POpulist approval and Endorsement
His first Presidential canvass-made ON the
paramount issue of silver infiation-drew to his
support three distinct National organizations,
the Democratic, the Populist and the Silver Re-
publican, This year, with a paramount issue of
free coinage for the Far West and paramount
issue Of government with the consent Of the
governed" for the East and the Middle West.
he is angling for the votes alike of Silver
Democrats Populists. Gold Standard Demo
Gratis. Silver Republicans, Democratic expan-
sionists and Republican anti-imperialists All
are legitimate fish for the Democratic Presj-
Dental candidate If he can only land them bv
a judicious juggling with the contents of his
bait basket
Varying the bait too frequently and too