The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-31
HOT I|NE DIE Today
At the Oklahoma Fusion Con-
Vention.
JOINT CONFERENCE HELD
Settles on the Plans for a
Joint Convention.

Oklahoma City, o. T, July 30-With TO-
days experience as criterion the Dem
ocrat and PopuIist conventions tonlor-
row promise to be hmot time through
which it Will re q uire the most sdIIfuI
guidance to avoid split in comparison
with which the late disagreement at Ell
Reno viii be a simple fracture. The ad-
vance gathering Of delegates is unusually
large and with the aid of two bands and
street demonstration tonight there is
spirit Of enthusiasm manifested 1t is
apparent, though, that while the Popu-
lists are united on a definite line Of ac-
ton and disposed to hold forth the olive
branch Of peace, the Democrats. as usual.
are sadly divided. without leadership. and
acting as senselessly as a lot Of cattle
in western round up
This lack Of self confidence on the part
Of the Democrats was deplorably in evil
dence at meeting Of the Joint confer
ence committee at the North Side hotel
this morning. The Populist confereps
showed plain inclination to allow. the
Democrats to have their own way, pro-
Vided they were accorded decent cour-
tesy, and proposed that instead Of two
conventonoos there should be a joint
ahair While they did not reject the
offer the Democrats showed their lack Of
organization by begging for further time
for consideration. Among, the delegates
however there is a growing sentiment
IN favor of a joint convention. They
take 1t for granted that inasmuch as
3 the Populists evlnce 4 disposition to az
fliate with the Democrats, in name as
well as in spirit, they should also be
permitted to share in naming the nomi-
nee for delegate The matter will have to
be finally settled by the joint conference
committee, however.
The Sipes-Jaobs ontrnversy over the
national committeemanship is still alive
with interest, and promises an ugly fight
before the close is witnessed Sipes IS
confident that he will be maintained az
the choice Of the Oklahoma Democracy
and Jacobs Is equally confident He said
this afternoon that he would go into to-
morrow's convention with a net gain Of
nineteen votes over his FL Reno vote
and that a resolution would be adopted
sustaining the action of the regular con-
vention at FL Reno. There is considera-
bic talk however, Of a compromise man
being forced.
There are three active candidates on
the Democratic side for the nomination
for delegate in congress: Colonel r. r.
Forrest Of FL Reno, Leslie P Ross If
Norman and William Cross Of Oklahoma
City, the travelling mans candidate. Bob
Ray Of Woodward is here and has an
nounced himself as a receptive candidate
provided the nomination comes harmon
iously.
on the Populist side the names of w.
D. Cromwell of z mid. J. Y Callahan of
King1sher and Bob Neff Of Newkirk are
most prominently mentioned for the
nomination. It is rumored also that r.
f. Bray Of Enid, the Populist National
committeeman for Oklahoma, IS a can
didate, which Is regarded as an attempt
T. divide Cromwell's support in the Gar
field county delegation. Out Of the con-
fcting elements an attempt will be made
T. secure a harmonious choice and al
ready there is talk Of Colonel Roy Hoff-
man rs suitable compromise candidate.
II IS urged in his behalf that he is pos
sesse5 of fine oratorical powers, is a
good mixer. with a wide acquaintance
over tho territory: that he has a fine mil
itary record, and. the most tempting
qualification Of all, that he has plenty OF
the coin Of the realm With which to lend
enthusiasm to the campaign.
Jesse Dunn. the we'll known Populist
leader Of Woods county and a member
of the territorial executive committee,
said today that the Populists were pre-
pared 70 make any reasonable conces-
sion 70 the Democrats to secure har- !
mony. He believed, though. that the in
terests Of fusion and party success this |
fall would best be sustained by the NOM
tnation Of Populist who could hold the
vote on the west side. which otherwise
might be led astray Under the influence
of the free homes bill.