Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-01
FOR BRYAN AND sEWALL.


 an electoral ticket consisting of five pop ulists and ten democrats will be agreed on. A meeting of the two party commit tees has been arranged to determine the matter and it will be determined before the Tribune reaches the public. Hon. Thomas E. Watson, referring to this natter says: "Let our popufst friends in Indiana do what they think best; they are honest and patriotic, and know their own situation" MT. Watson certainly covers the whole problem in regard to populst policy toward Bryan. The cir ,cumstances decide the case.
 The most effective support Bryan com mands in Alabama is from the reform democracy who refuse to support Watson and who demand Sewall for the vice pres idency.
 The Tribune's teaching from the outset forward has reached its climax in the candidacy of Bryan. Bryan faithfully and truthfully and adequately represents the denial of Cleveland and Cleveland ism He represents the first and last con- tention of this journal-its Alpha and its Omega.
 The reform democracy in the nomina- ton of Bryan on an enlightened plat form acceptable to him and perfectly consistent with the theories of true de- moeracy, as expounded by populists, merely anticipated the action of the na- tional convention of the peoples party, then due to assemble at St. Louis two weeks later. Bryan would have been nominated at St. Louis regardless or the action at Chicago.
 The only question before the populists of Alabama today is, the support of Bry- an in this state He is our nominee. Our party life depends on his election. The only way to give Bryan the electoral af 1ol h ic fO vice president. As extremely important as it is to the survival and influence of populisn in Alabama that the electoral vote of the state shall be cast for Bryan, it is in the last degree vital to the cause of populism in the United States that Bryan shall be elected, and there is no good reason for supposing he can spare the eleven votes of Alabama. Briefly stated, these reasons compel the Tribune to withdraw it's support from Watson and to advise the populists of this state to vote for the Bryan and Sewal eleven electors. Substantially the same argu- ment that decides our course in respect to electors, prevails with us to support for congress those candidates who appear to us best prepared to support Bryan if elected. Reference to the first column of the editorial page will supply the proof of our policy in this respect.
 Because there are more Bryan and Sewall votes in Alabama than there are Bryan and Watson votes is the plain and final fact that should control and will control the votes of the great majority of populists in this state. From the day Watson was nominated it became evident to all populists that he was their logical candidate for the vice presidency. He is now the logical mind of the peoples party in the United States; he ought to have the office; he deserves it in his own right; he deserves it in the name of the southern people. This reasoning applies to the office of vice president for true populist and southern born, reared and educated statesman. Bryan's prospects demand of us another view. The Tribune has until now contended for Watson, with the hope that the Bryan and Sewall men of Alabama would divide the cleo toral ticket with the peoples party. But there remains no longer any such hope. The election is now only five weeks off; there is no authority any where to change the Bryan and SewaH electoral ticket now out. In other states the fusion for the time being has been accomplished, but it has failed to take that just and reasonable course in Alabama. It is now too late. The statute of Alabama re- quires the candidates for the electoral college to hand in their names to the judge of probate of each county thirty days before the election. The election transpires November 3. proximo. and the time Is too short to perfect any change in the electoral ticket.
 Let no man put his hand to this politi- cal blow and look backward. If populists do not want monarchy they must take the very best and nearest security for free government they can avail them selves of; if they do not want govern ment by injunction. they must put down the influences of plutocracy; if they do not want to degenerate themselves and their offsprings to the state of the peons of Indian and the serfs of Russia, they must overthrow the politics of Cleveland and Sherman. They must not let this opportunity to place Bryan in the pres idency of the United States pass them by. The facts of peril are upon us; the conditions of sacrifice are realized. There are less than 25.000 individuals who own one-half of the assessable wealth of the continental republic. This vast concrete of wealth is rapidly becoming the syno- nym of political control of 7O,000,00O of people. The masses are poor, and daily grow poorer. Republics have arisen, f1ourished and fallen in the history of the world through just the experiences now upon Americans. This republic of ours, half grown only, is tainted with a fatal disease. The voice of Jackson, speaking from the pantheon of fame, warns us: the words of Lincoln remain to warn us; all recorded time warns us. The populists of Alabama have only to seek counsel of their consciences. The day to think is past; the day of action is upon them. We beseech you. fellow coun- trymen, acquit yourselves like men, Bry ! an looms up your redeemer!