Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-08-05
FUSIONISTS WON OUT.


each party had nominated its electoral ticKe''
the Popuists deliberately walked into the Dem
ocratic camp-and this, too, after a solemn
agreement among the Popuist delegates, last
April, that, in the event of the nomination OF
Parker, Cleveland or any other gold'bug, trust
ruled candidate by the Democrats they (tne
Populst delegates) would meet in convention
on the sd day of August and place straight
Popuist state ticket in the field. And the very
fellows who were most vehement tor straight
ticket in April were on the floor of the conven-
ton last Wednesday, tearing their shirts tor
fusion. Among these was Col. Fred Close
who, in the language of Jake Sheppard, OF Ft.
Scott, formerly "stood in the middle OF the
road and bawled" for straight ticket. Some
of the other delegates who had faced about had
been nominated for representative or some
county Office at home, probably with the under
ing that they should gig back-repudate their
April agreement. Colonel Harvey, the chair
man of the convention, the Democratic nom'
inee for congress in the First district, was
charged with being unfair and aiding the fusion
lists, by several delegates, because ne is the
Democratic nominee.
The Populst convention selected a commit
tee of fifteen to confer with like committee
from the Democratic convention as to some
plan of getting together. The Populist CON-
mittee submitted three propositions, one of
which was that each convention should noml-
nate its own presidential electors, and that the
state ticket be divided between the two parties
and placed under the Peoples party emblem.
But the Democrats turned down all oil the prop
ositions. They, in turn, made some PROPOSE
tons to the Populist committee, which were
declined. The Populist committee, after re-
naming out all day, returned about O'Clock in
the evening and made its report, which report
was accepted and the committee discharged.
Then came the Democratic committee with
proposition like the one mentioned above, only
that ticket must 60 under the Democratic head.
This suited the fellows who had been jamming
wind all day in favor of going into the Demo.
cratic camp, and they got their wind'pumps
going again. Judge D.. M. Dale was asked to
address the convention, which invitation he &C.
cepted with alacrity, and he made strong plea
for fusion, though in very calm and dispas.
sionate manner. G.. c. Clemens, the Socialist,
made lengthy talk, in which he advised the
Populists to go to work and build up strong
national organization and let the state take
care of itself. While this was very thin argu-
ment, it had its effect When the vote came,
the fusionists were victorious, nearly twothirds
of the votes being cast for the proposition.
When the result was announced, number
of old true-blue, time-tried Populists, who are
Populsts for principle, and not for pie, walked
out of the convention and repaired to the senate
chamber, in the capitol building, for the pur-
pose of comforting with each other as to the
best course to pursue. We are unable at this
time to state what was done. meeting was
held yesterday morning, but we cannot now
give the result, being compelled to leave To-
peka before the meeting was held.
1t must not be inferred from the above that
the Popusts who were opposed to being swal-
lowed by the Democrats were opposed to get
ting together in an honorable way. Even the
most radical were in favor of this plan: Each
party to name its presidential electors; then
both parties, in joint convention or otherwise,
n nominate state ticket and place it under
an independent head, or some new name that
might be chosen. This plan was acceptable to
those who did not want to be swallowed by the
Dsmocrats. and it was also acceptable to large
~,.,her of Democrats, but 1t was not acceptable
to Tim Orr, Jim Fike, J. Mack Love and 9th