The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-31
TON WATSON AGAIN.
Out in an Editorial Declaring He
Won't Withdraw.

Atlanta. Ca. July 31.-Thomas Wat
son is out in a strong editorial in his
paper stating his grounds for accept
ing the nomination for vice president
from the Populist national convention.
He refers to Mr. Sewal1 as an individ-
ual of standing and a free silver Dem
ocrat, but adopted the argument elab-
GRATED on at st. Louis that the nomina-
ton of a PopuIist for second place was
necessary to preserve the autonomy of
the PopuIist organization, especially in
the south. The editorial is accepted
not only as d letter of acceptance, but
also an official ultimatum that PROPOSE
lions for withdrawal will not be consid-
cred by Mr.. Watson or the Populists
and that the case now rests with Mr.
Sewau
This announcement is made in a sign
ed editorial 1t virtually demands the
withdrawal of the Democratic candi-
date for vice president. Throughout
the editorial insinuations are made and
where it seems to analyze the situation
develops the fact that Mr.. Watson is
making a strong demand for his i'm
mediate recognition as Bryan's run
ming mate. In part it says:
With such a large number of ex-
per1enced workers organized and we'll
of both Bryan and SeWall the fate of
the party was in the highest degree
critical The middle of the road men
were the more numerous, but less uni
ted. They could not agree upon lead
erS. In the vice presidential nominal
ton, they We're divided between sew
eral different candidates, while the
SeWau men were a compact body which
threatened to become a majority by the
mere failure of the opposition to con-
centrate.
things which 1 witnessed with keen
anxiety and which caused members of
the Georgia delegation to telegraph me
to allow my name to be used to restore
harmony and save the party. Upon that
express condition, I consented and the
object was obtained. Sewau was de-
feated, the Populist factions harmon
lied, and the Democratic programme
checkmated. This condition of things
was not of my seeking. If now the
Democratic managers should refuse to
make any concession at all it would
show that our efforts toward unity
have all been thrown away If they
continue to demand that the Populists
shall go out of existence as a party
they will prove to all the world the idea
in adopting our platform was not so
much to get free silver as it was to
bury the Populist party.
"A correspondent of the Atlanta
Journal attempts to make it appear
that there has been a collision between
Senator Butler, chairman of the Popu-
list national executive committee and
myself. This is all wrong. That cor
respondent in company with several
other gentlemen called on me at my
residence and we had what supposed
to be private conversation. Something
was said about the plan of campaign
and was asked if I had heard from
Senator Butler. In reply I stated that
had a telegram from him suggesting
that go at once to Alabama, and sta
tin gthat letter explaining matters
would follow. remarked that it seem
ed to me we had better wait awhile
and see what the situation was going
to be. Mr.. Bryan would have to re-
spond to our nomination in few days
or the executive committee would meet
on August and take some action con-
corning his silence. Besides this rea-
son there are others. One of them is
that our convention meets on August
9th and it might be well to wait and
see whether the party will endorse 4
what was done at st. Louis. It is by
no means certain that the party will do
So There are mutterings of discomfort
all along the line and if Mr.. SewalI de-
clines to retire for harmOny's sake the
rank and file of our party may break
away from the leaders and refuse to
vote for Mr. Bryan at all. Therefore.
my own opinion is that we had better
go slow until the atmosphere clears it |
self little.