The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-18
WIDE APART.
Fusion Deal in Seventh District
Falls Through.
P0pulists Name /. p. Campbell,
Democrats Claude Duval.
CAMPBELL MAY QUIT.
Committee Given Authority tO
Withdraw His Name.
Democrats Prevent Their Can
didate From Quitting.

While Populist county conventions
throughout the state are instructing
their delegations to the state conven-
ton to stand by the fusion deal made
by the state committees representing
the Democrats and Populists, the Dem
oerats are going ahead and nominating
their own candidates for congress and
making the plans which will destroy,
ultimately, all hope of success for the
fusion tickets
The Great Bend convention of POpu-
lists and Democrats named two candi-
dates for congress, making a three
corner. fight in the Seventh district, un-
less the Populists withdraw the name OF
their nominee, 1. P. Campbell of W1ch-
ita. Claude Duval of Hutchinson was
named by the Democratic convention.
To prevent the withdrawal of the Demo-
cratic candidate by the central commit
tee the convention of Democrats adopted
a resolution depriving them of that
power. On the other hand the Populist
convention gave the committee repre-
senting that party the power to with
draw Mr.. Campbell'S name, SO if the
race is made a square fight between the
fusionists and Chester Long, the Popu-
lists will be compelled to take the Dem
ocratic medicine.
Strenuous efforts were made to reach
a fusion deal but w. L. Brown, the
leading Populist candidate who sought
the fusion arrangement, was turned
down and L P. Campbell of Wichita
named.
The convention labored until late last
night trying to reach an agreement but
adjournment was finally reached with
Duval and Campbell. the nominees of
the respective conventions.
When Duval was nominated he said
in addressing the convention:
Had the system upon which our gov
ernment was founded-majority rule
been carried out today, I would have
PopuHstS fairly, but, in return, We're
snubbed and run over. Has their con-
duct today shown that they favorfusio
I say no. AS your candidate, shall go
forth and make an active and energetic
campaign. 1 want to serve notice mere
that the Democrats at Fort Scott will
probably map out a course TO upb4lld
Democracy in Kansas, and shall assist
them in doing SO and then work under
their direction during the campaign
The time has come when Democracy
must be given respectful hearing"
This threat set the convention wild.
Just then a committee from the Popu-
list convention reported that CampDell
had been nominated and asked that the
Democratic convention give its commit
tee plenary power to meet the Popu1St
central committee later to adjust the
| trouble. This enraged Bucher, OF Har-
vey. 1.-The central committee has no
| power to nominate a candidate" said
| he. 1T is the duty of this convention
| to do it. We have named our man; now
| let Populists take their medicine. Who
| is L p. Campbell. anyhow? 1t is time
for US to teach the Populists that they
haven't got half as many votes in the
| Seventh as they think they have The
Democrats have been fnsulted enough
It's time to make a change. The Demo
Gratis must have the congressman this
| year"
A committee was then sent to the
| Populists, notifying them that the Dem
| ocrats had nominated Claude Duval fol
| congress. In the meantime, the Populist:
showed signs of weakening by appoint
| ing a conference committee. The Demo
Gratis followed suit. A stormy seen,
was witnessed in the Democratic con
vention when Amos McClain, of Sedg
wick, offered motion limiting speeche
to five minutes. Bucher fiayed McClail
alive. He said that Wichita dudes ant
saloonkeepers who had never earned al
honest dollar in their lives, wer
trying to force an Objectionable candi
date upon the honest old farmers of tn
convention. They hadn't succeeded S
far, and were now working to shut OF
speeches.
I'VE propose to talk just as long a
we please, and the Wichita heeleTs ca
not prevent it, he shouted.
An effort to adjust the differences fail
| cd and the conventions ended.