The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-03-13
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
New, from Boise Concerning the Recent Ae.
ton OF the Populists.


ton Of the Populists.
Boise, March 5.-The only political de-
velopments in the capital city of recent
date has to do with the populist party.
Some little general knowledge concern
ing them has been disseminated over the
state but nothing like an understanding,
based on inside information, has been
given.
Your correspondent has been able to
obtain some information that will give a
clearer insight into the latest populist
movement than anything with some de-
gree of certainty the position of the popu-
list party at this time. The fight that
has been waged within the populist
ranks has been between the fusion and
anti.fusion or middle of.the road element.
To make long story short, the middle
of-the-roaders have won the day. The
official organization of the populist party
is in the hands of the antl-fusionists.
For the first time in the history of the
party in Idaho, it has gone on record
against fusion. Moreover it has de-
clsred in ringing tones, that fusion has
been responsible for the disintegration of
the party. If we might line the oppos-
ing factions up under different names,
we might call one Heitfeld and the other
anti .Heitfeld. The Heitfeld faction be.
<t,o
had not openly joined the democrats.
have been read out of the populist party
for affiliation with the democrats. The
anti-Heitfeld element is in possession of
the legal machinery of the party. Those
who have been read out Of the populist
party for dallying with the democracy
are some who have been very prominent
IN populist circles-members of the
state committees and of county COM
mittees. All have been weeded out, the
leaders in the Heitfeld faction having
been specifically bounced by name.
The origin of the fight is generally
known. Senator Heitfeld joined the
democracy and issued proclamation
advising all populists to go and do like.
wise. Some did, but many did not.
When it was seen that the ti-Heitfeld
men intended to continue oburately in
the middle .of-the-road, the Heitfeld men
took steps to land those in the tureen.
A meeting was called, to which some of
the populist state committee responded.
Chairman Andrews was declared ousted
and Judge Sample, of Blackfoot, was
elected to his place. However, the large
majority of those who attended the meet
ing-men who had been members of the
populist committeeman been removed
by Chairman Andrews for afiliating with
the democrats, so the committee did not
have legal majority by good deal.
Chairman Andrews repudiated the
action of the Heitfeld men. He de-
clared with much emphasis that he had
been elected by body created by the
state convention and no lesser power
than that which gave him his title as
Chairman could wrest it from him.
Furthermore, he stated, the convention
was the only body having power to dis
solve the populist party. He, therefore,
held the Sample committee referred TO-,
entirely illegal; proclaimed that he was
still chairman and that there was only
one brand of genuine, name. blown in
the-bottle populist-that headed by him
self. He called the other fellows all
sorts of pet names for their attempt to
disrupt the party, naming some of them
personally and denouncing them as po-
litical grafters and shysters whose only
interest in any party was to feather their
own nests. Among those SO named were
Martin Jacobs, state mine inspector, w.
H. Taylor Of Canyon, Senator Heitfeld
and others.
So far as the legal aspect Of the cause
is concerned it is conceded by the best
attorneys here that the organization
headed by Mr.. Andrews is the only legal
populist body in the state. Then how
about fusion?
Chairman Andrews called his com.
mittee together. His action in removing
democracy tinged members from the com
mittee was approved, as, in fact. were ali
his acts, and moreover, he was granted
plenary power to proceed with the re
organization of the party. He was given
power to remove, not only state com
mitteemen, who might have been guilty
of flirting with the democrats, but to re
move county chairman and county com
mitteemen, appointing straight up popu
lists to take their places In addition