Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-22
WATTERSON EXPLAINS
And Tells Why He Refused to Act on
the Platform Committee.
HIS VOTE Is NOT FOR CLEVELAND.
he Denies That the Kentucky Delegation
Is Solid for Grover,
BUT WILL SUPPORT HIM If NOMINATED

| the source Of many surprises, and to-day
was not permitted to pass without Wat
tersonian sensation. When the Kentucky
delegation assembled this morning they
were informed by the brilliant Kentuckian
that he must decline absolutely to serve as
Kentucky's Representative on the Commit
tee on Resolutions and Platform, and SO
another man, Hon. James A. Mckenzie,
was named for the place. Mr. Watterson,
when approached by an Associated Press
reporter for an explanation of his action,
made the following explanations:
l have for some time regarded the nomi-
nation OF Mr.. Cleveland as assured. II he is
nominated, he and his antecedents will be a
platform in themselves. His annual mes
sage OF 1887. in the matter of the tariff, and
his silver letter OF 1891, with his many utter
ances upon the antf-coinage side Of the sill
yer controversy, will constitute in reality
the issues on which the campaign will have
the record and to make the situation log
1cal. But, with my well-known opposition to
the nomination Of Mr.. Cleveland, If should
go upon the Platform Committee and urge
such a course, should at once be charac-
terized by the free coinage Cleveland men
with the purpose to make trouble by my
extrenism, while, on the other hand, If I
should propose free coinage plank or a
lands eastern supporters with purpose to
handicap his election In advance.
He Doesn't Want to Be Misjudged.
Take either horn Of the dilemma, 1 should
be suspected and distrusted in the be-
ginning, to be made in the end and in the
event of disaster answerable for a result 1
am powerless to influence or control. In
other words, should be required to assume
grave responsibilities without the conf
dence and support of the gentlemen imme-
diately back OF Mr.. Cleveland. 1 felt myself
position, and so refused 1t.
MI. Mckenzie, whom MI. Watterson pro-
posed for the place, was unanimously
elected. Mr.. Watterson considered his ap-
pointment especially appropriate, he being
an original Cleveland man, which amounts
to great deal.
MI. Watterson explained that his re-
fusal to serve on the committee had only in
an indirect way explained any relation to
disapproval of Mr. Cleveland's nomination.
He continued:
If Mr.. Cleveland is nominated, no one will
support the ticket more heartily than
shall. lam his friend. not his enemy.
came here for peace, not for war. But am
not the man who ought to place Mr.. Cleve-
land upon his platform, and I cannot con-
sent to be party to placing him on plat
form SCult11y1n0 MIN as TO the RECORD. AS L
said, Mr.. Cleveland is platform to himself.
Both his personality and his opinions are
above reproach. and even if we desired to
straddle the silver issue, he could not mount
or ride our straddle with any grace or
safety.
He Won't Vote for Grover.
Mr.. Watterson stated that he had offered
his colleagues that eff they would pass a
resolution 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 commit
tee and do my best to serve the party and
the country. This the delegation very
properly and wisely declined to do, and
there the matter ended"
Mr., Watterson stated that the meeting
had in every way been harmonious-in fact,
a veritable Cleveland love feast. II shall
not vote for him in the convention, how
ever" he concluded. 'If Mr.. Boies' name
is presented my vote shall be cast for that
gentleman. If no other name but that of
Mr. Cleveland is mentioned, ] shall not
vote. I do not know what the balance
of the Kentucky delegates will do, but GER
tainly Mr.. Cassellman's claims that the
solid vote of Kentucky will be cast for. Mr..
Cleveland is certainly unfounded. That is
all 1 have to say"