The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-04
No FUSION.
OkIahoma's PopuIist Ex-Chair-
man Thinks 1t Unlikely.
DEMOCRATS FOOLED THEM
Promised Legislature But Did
not Deliver the Goods.

81 do not believe that there will be
fusion in Oklahoma this year. OF course
the attempt will be made, but I believe
that it will fail. Many of the Demo-
Gratis are against it and 1 know that a
large part of our people are opposed to
it."
These are the words of L. F. Laverty
of Guthrie, ex-chalrman of the terri
torial Populist central committee, who is
in Wichita at present. attending the
poultry exhibition.
| Mr.. Laverty is one man who knows
southern Kansas almost by heart, for
as a Methodist minister, he served over
a good part of it in the days gone by.
! Many of the old Wichitans viii remem
Der him for he covered the East Wichita
district back in the '70s
Was there not an agreement at the
| convention which nominated Keaton
delegate should go to the Populists?"
Mr. Laverty was asked
Yes. There was such an agreement"
was 1t written or Verbal2''
1T was tacit understanding. Fusion
at that time was only accomplished I'M
der difficulty. You will remember that
the Populist convention agreed to fusion
with the understanding that if the Popu-
lists supported a Democrat for the con-
gressional nominee the Democrats. were
to reciprocate by giving the Populsts a
majority of the legislative nominations
with a view to giving Populism a ma
jority in the legislature The Populists
carried out their part of the agreement.
The Democrats broke their contract
Some of the very men who made the
agreement for the Democrats, Tom
Doyle and Mr.. Mackey. hustled back to
their districts and announced them
selves as legislative candidates"
What representation did the Populists
get finally in the Oklahoma legislature?"
Well. practically none. The legisla-
ture was Republican and Democratic"
rs the present chairman of the Popu-
list territorial central committee, Mr.
French for fusion?"
81 believe he is
DO you look fer the Socialist party to
.Nut iHuClI VI d inquire III tIS llSAt Sl6CllON
in Okahoma?'
''No.'eT do not think they viii cut
much Of figure9
'Why ~ II s'ee
: They are late in getting organized.
Organization counts. and while there are
many in Oklahoma who believe with the
Socialists il takes stime5to get them to-
gether. and to acting in unity
Speaking further of the probabilities
of fusion Mr.. Lare"ty' said: ''You Will
notice that there Is a considerable mid
dle-of- the-rdad Democratic movement in
the territory, Tom Doyle is a middle-of-
the-road Democrat. Almost the entire
Democratic press of the territory is for
Independent Democratic action.
Isn't ii fact that there is always
a god deal Of talk about fusion not be-
ing liable until the conventions meet,
when it is effected, all predictions to the.
contrary Notwithstanding"
Yes That is true. The parties have
a way of getting together when their
conventions are in session. But I do not
believe they will make fusion go this
time in oklahoma"
is there any likelihood that Callahan
will be a candidate for congress again -
Not that 1 know of
''At the time Callahan was nominated
for congress. was there an agreement
between Callahan and the Democrats
that the two years following. Il Demo-
crat should have the nomination."
Il have always thought so Callahan
once told me there was not
Mr.. Laverty. to the old-time Wichita
people seems as young and active as
ever although his residence here dates
back to 1878, He is bright of eye and
brain and agile Of limb and does not
look over 40. lie came 10 Kansas from
Iowa in 1869 having been a soldier in the
civil war He located at Girard In at
tending conference he once rode horse
back from Elk county TO Emporia. He
preached at Elk Fails in 1871 and built
the first church in old Howard county, at
Longton He also built the first church
in Newton lie was stationed at Great
Bend in 1915, Peabody in 1861. East
Wichita In 1STS-79. He had a full pas
t,rste in Arkansas City In 1850. iH-health
forcing him to leave the ministry. When
in Wichita he preached in Minneha
township, at Valley Center and q Pase
now Derby. where many Will remember
him AT one time he came within one
vote of being made presiding elder of the
Independence district.
Mr.. Laverty now has fine farm near
Guthrie through which the new Okla /
bona and Eastern railroad passes 1t is +
located two miles from Campbell. He
has served q term as county treasurer .
Of Logan county in Oklahoma and, as
above stated has been chairman Of the /
territorial Populisg central committee. I
He is prosperous and c5Rtented.
Mormo a.sn1.
This is a question that should interest /
every one. 1t IS q blot upon our fair land i