Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-06-22
WHY wATTERsoN DECLINED.


He Tells why He Could Not Serve
ON the Resolution Committed.
CHICAGO. June 22.-The feature of the
meeting of the Kentucky delegation yes
terday was Henry Watterson's dechna-
ton to serve on the platform committee.
The delegation insisted upon Mr.. Wat
terson accepting, but he declined and
another man was named. Explaining
his action afterward to United Press
reporter Mr.. Watterson said:
II have for some time regarded the
nomination of Mr.. Cleveland as assured.
If he is nominated he and his ante
cedents will be a platform in them
selves. His annual message of 1887 in
the matter of the tariff and his silver
letter of 1891, with his many utterances
upon the anti-coinage side OF the silver
controversy will constitute IN reality the
issues on which the campaign viii have
TO be fought to square the ticket with
The record and to make the situation
logical. But with my well known OPP
position to the nomination OF Mr.. Cltve-
land, if should go upon the platform
hnd urge such course / should be at
pnce charged by the free coinage Cleve-
land men with the purpose to make
trouble by my extremeism, while on
the other hand, If / should propose a
free coinage plank or a straddle / should
be charged by Mr.. Cleveland's eastern
supporters with q purpose to handicap
his election in advance. Taking either
horn of the dilemma / should be sus-
bected and distrusted in the beginning,
to be made in the end, and in the event
of disaster, answerable for q result
hm powerless TO influence or control. In
other words should be required to as
sumo grave responsibilities without the
confidence and support of the gentle
lnen Immediately back of Mr.. Cleve-
to take any such false position, and so
refused it.
"If Mr.. Cleveland is nominated no
nne will support the ticket more heartily
than / shall. l ann his friend, not his
enemy. / came here for peace, not war.
But am not the man who ought to
place Mr.. Cleveland upon his own plat
form, and / cannot consent to be party
10 placing him on platform stultifying
him as to the record. In 1884 we had a
war candidate on the peace platform; in
1868 hard money candidate on a soft
money platform; in 1872 Republican
bu Democratic platform, and In 1880
protectionist on a free trade platform.
In each instance disaster followed.
sAs said, Mr.. Cleveland is a plat
form to himself. Both his personality
and his opinions are unacceptable, and
kven if we desired to straddle the silver
question he could not mount or ride our
our straddle with any grace or safety.
AS / have opposed his nomination
could not go upon the platform COM
inittee without incurring the suspicion
Of each party to the silver controversy
In the Cleveland camp"
Ibid yen offer your delegation any
hlternativeY
Eyes, / did. In response to the con-
tinued and very gratifying importuni-
ties of my colleagues / finally told
them that if they would pass resolu-
lion instructing me to vote to embody
Mr.. Cleveland's great tariff message of
1887 and his famous anti-silver letter of
1891 into the platform ! would go upon
the committee and do my best to serve
the party and the country. This the
delegation very properly and very wisely
declined to do and the matter ended"
1t was reported that at the meeting Of
the delegation Mr. Watterson had made
y speech declaring for Mr.. Cleveland.
Mr.. Watterson last evening denied very
emphatically this statement and said:
II certainly made no speech in which
said that would support Mr.. Cieve-
land in the convention. / only stated,
and stated very plainly, that would
support him IL nominated. / shall not
vote for him In the convention. If Mr.
B0ies' name Is presented my vote shall
be cast for him. If no other name bat
Cleveland is mentioned shall net vote.
1 do not know what the balance Of the
Kentucky delegation win do, but GER
tainly the claim that the solid vote Of
Kentucky win be cast for Cleveland 10
unfounded. That is all have to say