The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-01
THEN WHY
Maintain Separate Organizations II There
he Convention Intermingling.
Guthrie, April 80, 100

BE Convention Intermingling.
Guthrie, April 80, 1900.
EDITOR LEADER;-Your criticism of
the selection of Mr.. league Ray as
one of the delegates 20 the Ell Reno
convention calls for a reply, and l
take it for granted that you will pub
lish this. 1t is true the convention
accorded me the privilege Of naming
the delegates. 1t is also true that
did not feel like taking all the re-
sponsibility, but would suggest a list
OF names to the convention, and if
there were no objections the convep-
ton could elect those so nominated as
the delegation, or the convention
cou'd make any changes desired. On
motion, the names submitted were
chosen by the convention, without an
objection. l heard no objection TO
Mr.. Ray or aty other gentleman
named, nor was any opposition made
by any one present.
Mr.. Ray had been chosen by the
Democracy of his township as a dele
gate to the county convention, and
was present and participated in its
proceedings and voted for those ex
CGllhuJ IGSOlu lODSl NOu 81 AZ uly
commend. Having been vouched for
by the Democracy of his township and
knowing his support of Bryan n the
principles of the Chicago PLATFORM, l
Fad no doubt Of his Democracy then,
nor do l entertain any now.
You have advocated fusi- n if Popu-
lists, or any one else, would come in
to the party, and If he has heretofore
been Populist as you assert, he ought
to pass muster, by the standard estab-
llshed or ~contended for by you, and
measured by that test he is entitled to
full fellowship in the party. The fact
that he edits a Populist or fusion paper
does not necessarily make h m other
than a Democrat. Suppose a profess
sional newspaper man should edit a
Republican paper-that would not
make him a Republican If he were
really and in fact a Democrat. The
paper Mr.. Ray edits processes to in
dorse and support Mr.. Bryan and advo-
Gates the principles of the Chicago
platform. Those professions if sim
cere, ought to make him a fairly good
Democrat.
Another thing: Your paper supports
the candidacy of Mr. Bryan for stand
ard bearer of the Democracy in the
approaching presidential campaign.
You believe him to be a wise and saga
cious party leader, a patriot and states
man of the highest order, and the un'
hinching and eloquent champion o
the cause of the people. l quote VIVA
Mr.. Bryan said at Wichita a few days
age to a reporter of the Kansas City
Times:
Mr.. Bryan was asked what be
thought of fusion between the reform
forces. He showed great serio. snes'
at orce and said L believe that co
operation is wise aud necessary. Th'
issues involved in the coming campaign
are more important, if possible, thar
they we're in 1896, and the people wht
are dissatisfied with the Republican
policies cannot afford TO quarre
among themselves and thus keep the
Republicans IN power and defeat any
reform. Republican newspapers car
well afford TO spend their time Great
ing dissensions between Democrats
Populists and silver Republicans. Re
publican editors cannot make vote
for the Republican party by defend
ing the Republican administration, bu
If they can divide the opposition the.
can accomplish the same purpose.
believe that the Democrats, Populist
and silver Republicans are too irtelti
gent, too earnest and zoe patriotic t
be deceived. II a Populist will exam
inc the Republican editorials write
in praise of the middle-of-the-roa
Populists he will find them substan
TALLY the same as Republican editor
ials written four years ago in praise c
gold Democrats. These editorial
would look we'll in parallel columns.
Is not this good ad vice, and ough
not every patriotic opponent of RI
publican policies adopt and act upo
] this advice? For one, ] most hearth
agree, with our great leader in wins