The Iola register., 1902-01-31
ARE planning FOR FUSION
AnSi-Republicans of Allen County Are
Undecided What TO Call Their
Ticket--ROws Threaten


convene at O'Clock. When the gong
sounded DR.. Hirsch au1 Fletch Will
loughby comprised the entire meeting
and the utmost harmony prevailed. II
was good to be there.
Later others to the total of twenty
three gathered. Republican we ather
nterfered, just as Rs)l1lictl rains
brought good times when the campaign
Cry of "down-trodden masses" seemed
destined to get all the farmer vote A
little business was transacted. The
Democrats organized, Will Hankins
calling the meeting to order. There
was some talk but nothing was done
Then Seth Bartlett called the Populist
meeting to order. 1t was decided to
hold township primaries on Saturday,
February and county convention
in lola Saturday, February Is, the
basis of representation to be one dele
gate for every 200 votes cast for Gov
ernor in 1900, at which meeting dele
gates to the State Convention in To-
peka will be chosen. The Democrats
took no action as to a county conven-
tion or the selection of delegates to
the Wichita convention. None of
those present can tell what will be done.
These frivolous details having been
arranged Will Hankins again took
the chair and the combined commit
tees converted themselves into fusion
love feast. All was we'll with the ex-
ception that the Glove" was missing.
DR.. Hirsch opened the speaking,
mildly and sweetly. Harmony was all
that was needed, he said, to gain a
sweeping victory.
THE 1902 COUNTY ISSUE
Seth Bartlett then took the floor.
He said there was no danger of lack
OF harmony. What was wanted was
an issue. "We must accuse the Re-
publicans of something; no matter
what, just so we accuse them and stick
to it. We will say that they intend to
build $780, 900 court house. There
is some ill-feeling out in the county
now and and if we say the Republi-
cans are going to spend $3.50, 900
whether it is so or not, we will have
an issue to fight on and get votes"
Fletch Willoughby took the witness
stand. He prefaced his remarks by
saying that he is "a Democrat, pure
and simple" He denied that he is
Populist, said he was tired of voting
for something that does not exist, and
advocated a straight Democratic ticket.
He said fifty Marmaton township
Democrats had talked the matter over
and were of his mind.
This of course was not advancing
harmony. John Goshorn arose and
said that Fletch was insinuating
things. So far as he was concerned
the Populists had treated the Demo
Gratis right ever since he had lived
here. Either was helpless without the
other. lie blamed past dissensions
on L. !, Purcell, whose Vaccinations
had caused the two sects to suspect
each other. There is no difference be-
tween Populists and Democrats.
Democrats would be Republican in
many ways nationally, but the Popu-
lists had taught and improved them.
''If we don't get together it means the
Republicans will carry the county by
1900 and the State by $4,000. The
Populist party will disband, but now
is not the time" At the Topeka con-
vention he predicted three divisions; a
straight Populist, fusion and an
anxious-to- be swallowed by the Demo-
Gratis division. Fusion, in some form,
was absolutely necessary this year 10
evade the devilish new law of the
Republicans, get in power and wipe it
out.
Pratt Williamson recalled that the
Republicans had once been beaten.
But the Populists and Democrats fell
out over spoils. He urged the drop
ping of quarrels and thought there
were enough sore Republicans to join
and "break the shackles which the
Republicans have welded on us"
Then Fletch Willoughby arose to
show that all these efforts had not
shaken him. He said that last year
the Populists fell out among them
selves at the county convention and
the Democrats we're asked to endorse
something impossible. But Marina
ton would have straight Democratic
ticket this year, for a change is
coming.
So far was the meeting wandering
from its purpose of harmony that
Chris Ritter deemed it wise to pour
oil on the trouble. He recalled the
time when Willoughby got the com
bined vote for sheriff, but that he has
been sore because he lost Every