The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-12
To REPUBLICANS.
Middle-of- Readers May Throw
Support TO Opposition.
To Take Referendum Vote on
Dale and HOch.
WATERBURY'S SCHEME
National POpulist Committee to
Organize Watson Clubs.
Says Will Be No Straight Popu-
list Ticket.

The position of the middle of the
road PoDulists in Kansas has not been
definitely settled, according to the
statement of Judge E. s. Waterbury
of EmDoria, who was one of the
strongest opponents of fusion as it
was finally accomplished in the recent
state Populist convention.
A referendum vote is to be taken of
those who will pledge themselves to
vote for Watson for president to as
certain whether the majority of the
Watson Populists over the state are
for the fusion movement If they
are, that will end it. If they are not,
another vote will be taken on the diff
ferent candidates on the Republican
and Democratic tickets to ascertain
which candidates shall receive the en-
dorsement of the middle of the road
Populists.
To hold the balance of power is the
most desirable thing the middle of the
readers can hope to do at present, ac-
cording to Judge Waterburys ideas.
Judge Waterbury returned today
from attending the Populist state
convention in Nebraska and a. meeting
of the executive committee of the
Populist national committee, of which
he is member. He was made a
member OF the executive committee at
the meeting just closed at Lincoln.
There will be no straight Populist
ticket put up in Nebraska, according
to Judge Waterbury, and the Lincoln
papers give the Kansas Populists
credit for stopping such action. Up
wards of hundred middle of the
road PoDulists walked out of the
Populist convention after the vote on
fusion, but Waterbury advised against
new ticket, but suggested that they
choose between the various candidates
on the Republican and Democratic
tickets.
The situation in Nebraska is much
the same as it is in Kansas said
Judge Waterbury. "They have two
electoral tickets there, but the Popu-
lists who opposed the fusion arrange
ment do not feel themselves bound to
support the fusion ticket unless they
wish to do so. The fusion candidate
for governor is strong Populist as
they are good men.
LAS to the Kansas situation, the
Watson element has not and will not
now repudiate the Dale ticket. We may
give it our cordial support That re-
mains to be seen.
Il contend that the way in which
fusion was brought about was illegal,
but we may support the fusion ticket.
We do not feel that we are bound by
it-that is, we who voted against the
fusion arrangement. OF course those
who voted for it will doubtless stand
by it and we expect them to do so.
ed that the thing to do is to organize
straight Populist clubs-Watson clubs
in Kansas. We are looking ahead to
the fight four years from now. Then
we will take referendum vote of
those who pledge themselves unquali-
hedly to vote for Watson, on the gem
eral fusion proposition, as between the
Dale ticket as a whole, and the Hoch
ticket. If a majority should oppose the
Dale ticket as a whole, we would then
take a vote on the separate candidates
on the two tickets and those who re-
ceive the majority of the votes will be
endorsed as the candidates of the mid
Populists. 1 am not in
favor of any straight Populist ticket on
the official ballot.
This vote will be taken under the
direction of the national committee.
and we hope to complete it by the first
of October"
According to this plan there is a pos
sibility that some of the Republican
nominees will receive the support of the
readers.