New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-04

Every day gentlemen who call on Mr.. Bryan
come away to express opinions concerning his
two running mates. One man says Sewal! IS
sure to stick and that the Populists will for the
most part vote for him. Another Is convinced
that Watson Is nearer the heart OF the people,
and that he will have 10 be reckoned WIN
Meanwhile Mr. Bryan, having first declared
that he could not take Populist nomination
that did not include Sewall for VicePrcsdent,
rests content with his later Delphic utterance
10 the effect that he would try to arrange things
10 the general satisfaction Senator Jones says
that he Is not afraid Of Watson's bluffs, but Mr..
BRYAN himself curbs his eloquence and makes
no sign.
II Is difficult 10 see just how he can arrange
things to the general satisfaction. He cannot
do Il by the sacrifice Of Sewal 1t does not look
as II he could even placate all the Populists by
the acceptance Of Watson. To arrange any hon.
orable fusion by which he shall be Sewall man
In one State and Watson man in another Is
a problem for juggler. 1t transcends the
anomaly by which the Queen is Presbyterian
In Scotland and Episcopalian in England
Either Mr.. Bryan must go through the fight
dealing canddy and honestly by his fellow
nominee of the Chicago Convention or he must
desert him entirely. He cannot link their for
tunes in one place and have them antagonlstic
In another Such an arrangement would give
the lie to every pretence OF manly light Tor
principle and turn his campaign into selfish
and cynical scramble for place. To have the
electors In Georgia pledged to Bryan and Wat
son, and in Maine to Bryan and Sewall, would
be to throw both Vice Presidential candidates
overheard.
Likewise any compromise by which the fight
between Watson and Sewall Is 10 be ended at
the polls and their strength concentrated on
whichever is leader can be arranged only with
extreme difficulty, If at all, IN good faith to
both those gentlemen Two electoral tickets are
impossible, as they would divide the Bryan
vote fusion ticket made up of some Sewall
and some Watson men would be as fatal to the
chances Of either as a similar arrangement in
differen. States since the VicePresidential votes
would be divided. The hope Of the managers
must be in an agreement that Watson and Sew
all in every State shall submit to the nominal
ton of the same electors, all Of whom shall be
pledged TO Bryan and 10 whichever running mate
shall have the greatest number Of his partsans
elected to Congress. No fusion Is possible that
does not provide for the final concentration on
one man OF all DemocratPopust electors, and
that is what il is now said will be planned The
basis of that concentration however. Is ulnlcut
to arrive at AS the people have no chance at
the polls 10 indicate any preference between
candidates but must leave the whole question
10 the electors, there Is no direct way for the
electors TO get light as to the popular favorte
on whom they are to unite The vote for Con
grcssmen and State officers Is the only guide
Yet that Is not trustworthy because of local
complications and the fusion Of the POpulistS
with different parties in different localities on
State questions And even IL that indication
could be followed safely, ii is hardly to be imag
ined that either candidate will thus submit TO
being made second fiddle In the campaigns Of
asplrants for petty offices. Also the carrying
into effect of such n scheme would surely in
volve endless disputes in making up the totals
Of preferences expressed. The committee which
should attempt after the election to settle the
dispute will not have an enviable time.
Before Mr.. Bryan gets his two running mates
together into harness he will probably wish that
his heroic devotion to Sewall had not oozed out
and that he had been content with one nomina
ton. The chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee begins to wish Mr.. Bryan's telegram
putting himself and Sewall together had not been
suppressed. and to regret that he was so anxious
TO secure a Populist Endorsement for his can
didate. But Mr. Bryan having coquetted with
the people who named Watson and talked com
promise with him, 1t is too late for him again
to mount the pedestal Of stern virtue.
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THE LAST RESORT AGAINST CUBA