Evening star., 1896-10-30
Democrats, Populists and Silverites
All Seem Anxious.
WATCHING THEIR OPPONENTS CLOSELY
Fear of the Use of Money Has
Now Disappeared.
ABOUT WATSON

Anti-election surprises are giving demo-
Gratis, populists and silverites more concern
now than any other thing connected with
the contest that is to be fought out on next
Tuesday.
What may the republicans do on Mon
day and Tuesday which may take their
opponents by surprise?" This question is
being asked by many supporters of Bryan.
and they are cudgeling their brains to
think Of every possible move that might be
made to take them by surprise.
So much has been said about the general
use Of money in the central western states
in order to throw this section surely in the
republican column, and the idea of such a
possibility has been SO thoroughly talked
over, and warning against it having been
SO generally scattered over Indiana, Ohio,
Michigan, Illinois and other sections where
such a possibility is feared. that now the
democrats and populists beginning to
feel comparatively safe from such danger.
Some of them are even wondering whether
the talk of the wholesale purchase of the
election that has come from within their
ranks has not been something of a straw
man. But still an uneasiness is constant
ly noticed among them, and every day
some new danger is limited at. The sug
gestion has been made that while SO close
a watch Is being kept on Ohio and other
central western states, 1t might be that the
enemy may throw its influence in states
regarded as solidly democratic, about which
nothing Is being said, because of a desire to
carry still hunt" in hope of doing
more effectice work.
Anxious About Watson.
While populists do not believe that Tom
Watson can do any more harm because of
the small following he has among that
4 =, = h..
read" men. yet they are watching the news
papers in order to discover ary move ne
might make in a moment of desire for
vengeance, which might give the opposition
an advantage over Bryan. 1t Is generally
argued that it is now too late for Mr.. Wat
sen to do anything to injure the chances
of Mr.. Bryan, and but for this fact there
is no doubt that he would be greatly feared
for the possible influence he might exert
In the doubtful states. Even those people
who condemn the course pursued by Mr..
Watson have something to say in exten-
uation of his rather erratic policy since his
nomination for the vice presidency by the
pcpulists. They recall the bitter feeling
that has always existed in the southern
states between the democrats and popllists
and they say they realize how hard it
would be for man of Watsons tempera-
ment who had been fighting democracy for
years to rush into the arms of the people
ne had so long denounced, throw up his
personal ambition for Office and work mere
ly for the supremacy of the party he had
so long opposed with all his force. There
ere men who believe that if the election
We're one month off it might be possible
for the republicans to make terms with
MIR. Warson whereby his followers would
make such fusion on state and electoral
tickets as to give them a good opportunity v
to carry at least two or three southern
states for Mckinley.
Too Lnte Now.
OF course, it is now too late for such a
condition to be brought about, and Mr..
Watscn's friends declare that their candi-
date would not be guilty of such treachery.
On the other hand. Mr.. Watson has claimed
that he is the victim of treachery, and while
in Kansas he warned the democrats If thew
left Tom Watson out of their calculations
| they might lose Texas and Kansas While
it is believed that Tom Watson is muzzled
for the balance Of the campaign, yet he will
be watched with eagle eye until next Tues
day.
Senator Faulkner did not reach demo-
cratic headquarters today until late in
the day, having gone to Martinsburg W.
Va, the day before to speak at a political
Meeting last night. Senator Faulkner has
been in great demand as a public speaker,
especially in his own state since the cam
paign opened, but his duties as chairman of
| the democratic congressional committee
nave been sufficient to cause him to decline
nearly all invitations to attend political
meetings. His speech last night was made
at the personal solicitation of delegation
democrats from his state.