Evening star., 1896-10-02
No Definite Information Here of
His Withdrawal.
IT WOULD NOT CAUSE SURPRISE
Leaders at Loss to Understand the
Georgian's Course.
WOULD INJU RE BRYAN

The report from Atlanta, Ga, that Tom
Watson is about 10 withdraw, is not con-
firmed by any Information at political
headquarters in Washington, yet a general
knowledge of the situation and Of Mr.. Wat
soE's temperament leads to the belief that
he might at any time withdraw in pet.
1t is positively stated that no effort is
now being made tc have either Watson or
Sewall withdraw. The withdrawal of either
| one CT both would have been received with
great joy earlier in the campaign, but IL is
| regarded as too late for any new move in
| the adjustment of vice presidential candi-
| dacy.
The democrats and populists have per-
fected fusions I'm all the states where they
| confess that fusion is desirable, except in
| West Virginia, and that has been prac-
ucally settled. This the managers on all
sides of the Bryan combination believe dis
| poses of the question of adjusting the vice
| presidency. 1t is known that Sewall will
not withdraw, and it is apparently not the
wish of any one that Watson should with
1 draw at this stage of the campaign.
| WOuldn't Cause Great Surprise.
| 1t is this very fact that opens the possi-
| bili;y, in the opinion of some, that Mr.
Watson may intend TO withdraw Watson
| has been extremely perverse, and IL would
| not cause great surprise If he should with
| draw, now that his withdrawal would con-
| tribute TO the confusion of the campaign.
VIXEN both sides became convinced that
reither of the vice presidential candidates
| would withdraw they proceeded on that
assumption, and everything has been done
with the idea of there being Two candidates
| in the field. The withdrawal Of Watson
| would add confusion
| The course of Watson has excited the
| suspicion and open criticism of the intense
| silver men of all three of the factions. lie
| mas undoubtedly done Bryan great harm
| already and some regard ii as possible
that he might even go far as to get off
| the ticket if his advisors thought that
would hurt Bryan still more. He might
| Withdraw, and with letter declaring
| lack of confidence in Bryan, or he might
make his withdrawal contingent upon
| Sewall doing so also, knowing that Sewall
| would not accept the challenge. This would
then give an opportunity TO accuse the
| democrats of bad faith. and possibly cost
Bryan some populst support.
Populists do not believe that this is Wat
| sons intention.
| -'- Conference Last Week.
Mr.. Reed the populist national cJmmit:ee
| man of Georgia, who is personal friend Of
| Watsons was here last week in conference
| with Chairman Butler. What they talked
about is not positively known, except that
it related to the course to be followed by
| Watson during the rest of the campaign,
and that the Two agreed on that point
| From what has gone before, however, ii
is easily inferred that the course suggested
for Watson was to cease exciting trouble
between populists and democrats, and say
ing things injurious to Bryan. But just at
the time this conference was liz progress
| between Reed and Butler watson wrote
the letters to a New York paper which
/ rhH
than anything he had previously sad.
Ycstcrdny's Conference.
The conference in Atlanta yesterday be-
rise to the report that Watson would with
. draw, was undoubtedly a conference with
Reed who had just returned from Wash
ington. 1t is quite likely that what Reed
| had to say was not agreeable to Watson.
. | or at least not agreeable to his advisers,
who credited with exciting all the
trouble, and it may be that trouble arose
| in the conference which might make the
| Georgia candidate withdraw in a pet.
| Whether this is true or not none of the
| officials here informed, but IL Is ac-
4 knowledged that Watson's withdrawal a,
this time would indicate purpose on his
| part to injure Bryan.
. What is wanted of Watson now is as
much silence and inactivity as possible.
Can't Account for Watson's Action.
1t is difficult to account for the action OF
| Mr.. Watson, and it is causing uncasiness
among democrats, populsts and silver re-
publicans alike. Those populists who dep
| recate Watson's course do not charge hin
> with being in sympathy with Bryan's enc
mics, but think that he is influenced 10y mer
| who profess great friendship for him, and
= | securing his confidence, induce him 10 ID
:. | things Injurious to the ticket he professe,
to Support An indication of how SONS
pCpulsts feel about the matter is given II
a letter from Col. Kolb of Alabama, IL
e | which, after declaring that Alabama 1.
l.. | sure for Bryan, he says that only a fey
| leaders no are at heart for Mckinley ar
> making any trouble.