The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-05
ALLIANCE MEN EXPLAIN.
Origin of the Report that the Peoples Party
Representative Had Quarrsled.

Origin of the Report that the Peoples Party
Representatives Had Quarrsled.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4.-The Peoples party
of the House of Representatives 10 intact
as political organization and united as to
the party measures which it is to press
upon the two Houses of the Fifty second
Congress. In the caucus which met before
the organization of the House and nomi-
mated Representative Watson of Georgia
as the candidate of the Peoples party for
Speaker of the House, the nIne Indepeud-
ent Representatives then assem bled de-
cided to preserve their political autonomy
on all questions to the end of the session.
Within the past few days various reports
Of alleged dissension in the ranks Of the
nine Peoples Representatives, have been
current, and the third-party men tonight
complain that these rumors have been In
spired by politicians of the other parties
and telegraphed through the country pure
ly for political effect To silence the in
sidious rumors in their inception the nine
regular Representatives of the Peoples
party to-day ISSUED the following address
TO the country;
"To correct an erroneous account vhich
has appeared in the public prints. IN refer.
ence TO dissensions in the ranks of the Alli-
ance Congressman. we make the following
statement: At no meeting of the Alliance
members of Congress was motion or sug-
gestion made that they should Join the
Democratic party or cast their lot with IL.
The disagreement occurred because certain
of the Alliance Congressman thought that
the contest should be made through the
old parties and others thought that inde-
pendent political action was necessary.
There has been no split between the Peo.
pies party representatives We are united
now. as We were at the opening
of Congress. w. each believe that
independent political action is nsc-
essary. We hold our conferences as we
did at the opening of tho session and they
are harmonious. The only dissension that
has come among the Alliance members
came when we had conferences with Con.
gressmcn who adhere to the old party
lines.o
The above was signed by ThomasE Wat
son. w. A. McKeighan, John @. Otis. X.
Halverson. o. NJ. KEN, Jerry Simpson. John
Davis, William Bannock and b. III. Clover.
Representative Watson, of Georgia, the
nominee of the Peoples party for Speaker
and the generally acc epted leader of the
independent representatives in the House,
this evening. declared that the reports of
the past few days were but the articles OF
the enemy. ut is easy to understand that
the reports as to dissensions among us Peo-
Piles party Congressman were intended
TO iniure the People's-party movement all
over the country" said he. Therefore
when the statement was sent out by those
who sought 10 injure 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
positiv and public manner. As a matter
of fact. from the time we first met at Sem
ator PETERS and l was selected as O cam
didate of the Peoples party for Speaker
there has never been any division bet ween
the nine Peoples party Congressmen. Wa
have differed as TO whether 10 was wise TO
meet with the Livingston conference.
All of us now think so, with the possible
exception Of Mr.. McKcighan. liz seems 20
me that where q certain number of Con-
gressmen are willing to so upon record as
saying that they Will adhere 70 the Oeala
demands independent of either Of the cd