The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-05
Mr., WATSON EXPLAINS.


Representative Watson of Georgia. the
generally accepted leader Of the independent
representatives in the House, this evening
declared that the reports Of the past few
days were but the artifices of the enemy.
1T is very easy to understand that the re-
ports as to dissensions among us PEOPLES
party congressman were intended to injure
the Peoples party movement all over the
country" said he, therefore. when the
statement was sent out by those who sought
to lnJure us that any Of our men had joined
the organization of either of
the old parties we felt called
upon to correct it in the most positive and
public manner. AS matter Of fact. from
the time We frst met at Senator Peffer's
and was selected as the candidate of the
Peoples party for speaker, there has never
been any division between the nine Peoples
party congressman. We have differed as TO
whether it was wise TO meet with the
Livingston conference; some of us
have thought it very unwise; all OF us
now think so, with the possible exception of
McKeighan. 1t seems TO ME that where a
| certain number of congressman are willing
to go upou record as saying that they will
| adhere to the Ocala demands, independent of
either Of the old party caucuses, and Ger ain
| congressman are not willing to 90 upon re-
cord as supporting those demands, or make
| assertions to that effect, there is suoh
| vital difference between them that
squabbles naturally arise. As mat
| ter OF fact. they arose every time
we met, and they arose because OF that very
difference on that vital question. When
Livingston and those who follow him say
that they are for the Oce la demands. but
| will hold them In subor1ination to the
the democratic caucus or the democratic
party machinery, they certainly take very
different view of the necessity for those
measures from those taken by us when we
say that independent political action is alb
solutely necessary to bring success to our
platform.
THE reasons for our belief need not
be discussed here. Il is not even
honest i'll our opinion than Livingston is in
his. l simply state that where nine gentle
men agree as to certain laws, and say they
will fight for those laws, no matter what
any party says. it liz very difficult for them
to act in concert with other gen.
tlemen who say they are for the
Democratic party, or Republican party.
first. and these demands next. To maintain
their position they have to fight desperately
for the Democratic or Republican party, as
the case may be, and to maintain our posi-
tion we have to fight just as desperately for
the Peoples party. Therefore. while the
laws % seek to have passed are essentially
the same, yet the method of obtaining those
laws is so radically different that conflicts,
mutual distrust and irreconcilable differ
ences naturally arise. Upon that ground
we have ceased to meet the Livingston ele-
ment."
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-The caucuses Of
the farmers alliance democrats, held weekly,
differ from the regular congressional party
caucuses in that they are open to all
friends OF financial REFORM" as the caucus
call describes them. Their weekly caucus
last night, for example, was attended by
Representatives Johnston OF South Caro-
lima, Pierce OF Tennessee, Long of Texas
(democrats), and Pickler of South Dakota
republican,, as well as the regular demo-
cratic alliaucemen, headed by the Geor-
gians, with Livingston managing it all.
President Polk OF the alliance, who is
trying to make Livingston believe,
against his will that he did not
speak disrespecttully of Livingston and the
thoug he had not already sent his formal
deniel OF the interview TO Livingston,
neither were Tom Watson and Jerry Simp-
son and their half dozen straightout al
liancemen. They have broken with the
Livingston following, asserting that they
would just as leave attend a democratic
caucus out and out as Livingston caucus.
LlVlHRbJOu TelOrIS UndU bne hcIlOn OF bn0
m.and-Jerry" following shows that It is
their third party as political organization.
and not financial reform, which they hold
dearest. He also congratulates himself on
getting rid of these quarresome fellows.
AS yet the caucuses have pro-
duce nothing tangible in the way of
proposed legislation. They are awaiting
the favorable report expected from the
committee on rules, and as soon as the rules
are adopted, for Livingston's resolution
providing for committee to investigate