Omaha daily bee., 1896-09-28
WATSON WARNS BRYAN OF DEFEAT.
Says the Fusion Deal IL n Flat Failure
Now.


Says the Fusion Deal is n Flat Failure
Vow.
NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-Thomas Watson
the populist candidate for vice president
telegraphs to the World a review of the
political situation, I'm which in conclusion he
says; Under present conditions Mr.. Bryan
cannot get the full populist vote. He cam
not get II in Kansas or Colorado. He cannot
get II in North Carolina or Nebraska. In
the friendlest spirit, give Chairman Jones
warning. He will make the blunder of his
life II he listens to the fusion leaders and
believes full populist vote can be had for
Bryan with Sewall on the ticket
"Populist voters are men who have edu-
Gated themselves on political topics. They
will not stultify themselves by voting
against their convictions. They will not vote
for a man who, If MIR. Bryan dies, will
make us another president after the fashion
of Grover Cleveland. They may not be able
to break up the fusion deal, but they can
stay at home. The contract made at st.
Louis for united democratic-populstt ticket
should be carried out In good faith. Demo-
cratic managers should not expect to hold
us to 1t when they ignore it themselves.
"If Mckinley is elected the responsibility
will forever rest upon these managers who
have 1t in their power to control, by fair
means, 10000 600 votes and lose them by
violating the terms of the compact.
"The writer of this has stood loyalty by
Mr.. Bryan throughout the campaign and will
continue to do so and 1t is out Of n sin
cere desire to see him elected that he points
out the weak place in our lines In time for
il to be strengthened.
"Mr. Chairman Jones can do 1t; is under
implicit contract to do 1t, and should, for
Mr.. Bryans sake lose no time in doing it,"
Mr.. Watson says Mr.. Bryan acted honor.
nh in hn In
at the st. Louis convention in telegraphing
Senator Jones that he would not accept
populist nomination unless Mr. Sewall were
also nominated, and adds:
Senator Jones concealed this telegram
allowed the populists to remain in ignorance
of MIR. Bryan's position and permitted the
nomination of Bryan and Watson without
protest His silence. his failure to unde-
ceive the populists operated as an injustice
to them. They went forward and nominated
Mr. Bryan in the belief that the democrats
would meet them on halfway ground, with
draw Sewall and unite the silver force OF
both parties by naming representative OF
both on the national ticket. If the demo-
cratic managers had recognized the neces-
sary conditions to complete union and accept
the compromise we offered, the fight would
now be won.
Instead of meeting the populists half
way and making them feel party interest
in democratic success, they did everything
possible to dissatisfy, discourage and arouse
the suspicious of the very men whose votes
were essential to victory. Intent upon de-
stroying populism in the south and absorb
ing it in the west, the democratic managers
made the mistake of opposing any deal they
could arrange with our leaders which would
be cheerfully supported by the rank and
file. From the county tickets clear
on up to the presidency, this
science of politics has been reduced to the
good old business rule of How much have
you got and What will you take. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that where the bar
gain counter rules the roost in this hilarl-
GUS way principles are somewhat neglected
and undervalued. In states like Indiana and
Illinois, where populists are in the minority,
they get no electors at all. In one state
fusion goes half the distance between popu-
lists and republicans and the other half be-
tween poDulists, and democrats.
"As a grave digger for populism, fusion
with Sewall on the ticket may well be
recognized as a distinct success II not
disturbed in this work, the digger will have
the hole ready by the time the funeral pro-
cession arrives. The menace that endangers
Mr.. Bryans success today is the profound
dissatisfaction which exists among the hum
BILE, earnest pOpulists who have built up
the peoples party. This is not said in any
threatening spirit and antagonism. Every
where ! have advised our people to stand
loyalty to the support Of Mr.. Bryan,
though little credit is given me
for having done so. No democratic paper
has given me the slightest credit for refus-
ing republican fusion in Georgia and com
batting it in Texas. With one accord the
Bryan and Sewall papers have given me
nothing but disparagement, misrepresenta-
tion and ridicule. How much good they
hoped to do Mr.. Bryan by adopting this line
of policy | cannot see Ordinarily abuse
heaped upon me might offend nobody but
the victim, but that editor who cannot see
that in this campaign insults to me are in
suits to the party, whose help Mr. Bryan
must have, is very blind editor.
II respectfully warn Chairman Jones of
the danger Mr.. Bryan is in. The popuist
voters are dissatisfied and suspicious. They
feel instinctively that the fusion policy
which compels them to vote for Sewall is the
beginning of the end Of the populist party.
They feel the principles they love are being
used as political merchandise and that the
populist vote is being auctioned to the
highest bidder. They suspect that populism
has been bought and paid for and is. now
being delivered to those who bought 1t.
rs the populists vote necessary to Mr..
Bryans election? II so, then the sooner
Major Jones realizes that 1t cannot be had
under any arrangement which compels the
populists to make humiliating sacrifice of
the principles in voting for Sewall electors