The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-05
LAVERTY TALKS
About Matters Political in Ok
lRhOma-WIchita Eagle
Interview.

course, the attempt Will pe mAue, out
I believe that IL will fail. Many of
the Democrats are against It and ]
know that large part of our people
are opposed to IL"
These are the words Of Rev, L. f.
Laverty, Of Guthrie, ex-chairman of
the territorial Popullst committee, who
10 in Wichita at present attending the
poultry exhibition.
Mr.. LNverty is the one man who
knows southern Kansas almost by
heart, for as Methodist minister he
served over good part of IL In the
days gone by Many of the old Wich
itans will remember him for he cover
ed the East wichita district way back
In the '7O's.
"Was there not an agreement at the
convention which nominated Keaton
that in 1900 the fusion nomination for
delegate should go to the Populists?'
Mr.. Laverty was asked.
Eyes; there was such an agreement
"Was II written or verbal9"
''It was tacit understanding. Fus
ion At that time was only accomplish
ed under difficulty, You will remem-
ber that the Populist convention only
agreed to fusion with the understand
ing that IL the Populists supported a
Democrat sor the congressional nomi-
nee the Democrats were TO reciprocate
by giving the Populists a majority of
the Legislative nominations, with the
view OF giving the Populists majority
In the legislature. The Populists car
ried out their part OF the agreement.
The Democrats broke their contract.
Some Of the very men who made the
contract for the Democrats, Thos. II
Doyle and Mr.. Mackey, hustled back
20 their districts and announced them
selves as legislative candidates.
what representation did the Popu-
liste finally get in the Oklahoma leg
islature?"
"Well. practically none. The legs
lature was Republican and Demo
cratic"
--s'Is the present chairman of the
Populist territorial central committee,
Mr. French, for fusion?"
81 believe he is"
"Do you look for the Socialist party
to cut much Of a figure Ia the next
election in oklahoma2"
No; do not think they will cut
much Of q figure"
"Why2"
"They are late in getting organized
Organization counts, and while there
are many in Oklahoma who believe
with the Socialists, it takes time TO
get them together and to acting in
unity"
Speaking further OF the probabilities
OF fusion Mr.. Laverty said c.
"You will notice that there Is CON
siderable middle -of-the road Demo
cratic movement in the territory. Tom
Doyle is middle t-the-road Demo-
crat. Almost the entire Democratic
press of the territory is for independ.
emit Democratic action"
"1sn't It fact that there is always
a good deal OF talk about fusion not
being liable unhl the conventions
meet, when it is effected, all predic-
tlons to the contrary notwithstAnd-
ingP"
''Yes; that 10 true. The parties have
= way OF getting together when their
conventions are in session. But do
not believe they will make fusion go
This time in Oklahoma"
"Is there any likelihood that Calla.
han win again DO n candidate for con
gress?"
"Not that know OF"
"At the time Callahan was nominal
ed for congress was there an agree
ment between Callahan and the Dem
ocrats that the two years following !
Democrat should have the nonina
tlon2"
~ have always thought So Callahan
once told me there was not
Mr.. LAverty, 10 the old time Wichi
ia people, seems as young and active
as ever, though his residence here
dates back TO 1878, He is bright OF ey'
and brain and agile OF limb, and doe
not look over 40. He came 10 Kansas
from Iowa, 10 1863. having bsen sol
dler Ia the civil war He located a