The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-26
GAME is over.
POpulists and Democrats to
Fuse No More.
Both Sides Give Up and Go
Home.
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
That is Where the POpulists
Propose to Stand.
Call State Convention to BE
Held June "a.

The Populists and Democrats in Kan
SaS will not fuse. The leaders of the two
parties put in a full working day of
eight hours at the Throop Tuesday and
finally agreed to disagree. The Demo-
Gratis will hold their convention May %
at Wichita and the Populists may hold
theirs any time they please.
The hope of E. r. Ridgely that the
two parties could be united met an un
timely DEATH The Democrats called off
all negotiations and the Populists called
their state convention for June "A, but
left the place open.
The Democrats announced that they
intended to place a ticket in the field
and that the Populists would likely vote
for it anyhow, fusion or no fusion.
David OVermyer, who was looked upon
as the strongest man for the sacrifice
on the Democratic ticket for governor,
was on hand early in the interests of
the plan to postpone the conventions
and hold them jointly. He soon found
that the scheme did not meet with
favor from the Democrats and he did
not spring it at the meeting but con-
tented himself with handshaking in the
lobby.
The Topeka Commercial club endeav-
ored to boost the thing along with an
offer of money and music for the joint
conventions to be held in Topeka but
the offer did not tempt the Democrats
although it suited the Populists.
The Joint conference was held in the
afternoon. All was diplomacy until f.
E. Murphy exploded the bomb by tell
ing the Populists that they had had
since February to decide about the ac-
ceptance of the invitation to join the
Democrats and that no more time
should be granted. This made W. J.
Rabb angry. He said that the Populists
should nominate their own ticket and
stick to- it. The Democrats, he said.
could do nothing without the Populists
and a refusal to fuse would bring about
a closer union in the next campaign.
Taylor Riddle was the shepherd who
had failed to land the Populist flock in
the Democratic fold. but even he stood
firmly with other Populists for the con-
cesSion asked, that the Democratic con-
vention be deferred.
Secretary J. H. Curran of the PopuliSt
committee like others is firm and almost
defiant. Mr.. Curran said today:
There is no hope of fusion in Kansas
this year. The only request we made
of the Democrats was that they post
pone their convention. 1t meant very
little to them and much to us. They
refused to do so and this stops the
whole plan The Populists will meet
and nominate a straight ticket and we
will be in the field to the end.
There might be a chance to fuse by
the PopuliStS accepting the Democratic
ticket nominated at Wichita but this
will not be done, am certain We have
come to the parting of the ways.
POPULISTS ISSUE STATEMENT.
The following statement to the party rel
alive to the conference of the Democratic
and PopuIist state committee has been is
sued:
To the Peoples Party of Kansas:
We, your state committee, feel it our
duty to present to you a clear statement
of our efforts with the Democratic state
committee to arrange to continue the har-
mOnious cooperation with the Democratic
party in our efforts to prevent the Repub-