People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-10-30
Mr.. I'll. w. Reed, of Georgia, to
Chairman Butler.

MY DEAR SENATOR-I reached MOI { |
today and have been in consultation
with Mr.. Watson since my arrival
| sent you telegram this afternoon as
follows: "IIave just seen WatsoD'
unless Kansas and Colorado situation
Strengthened on basis last vote or
committee recognize stright ticket
Immediately there will be trouble
Better act promptly. l await your
answer here"
The occasion for this telegram is
that Mr.. Watson wishes to complete
his letter of acceptance, II justice
is to be done the PopuliAs on fusion
plan it must be done now, otherwise
Mr.. Watson will be forced to con
slder fusion failure and dictate his
letter accordingly. Let me review
the situation as Mr.. Watson views it.
When cur committee had COM
pleted its work and an executive
committee had been secured as we
consid sred favorable to the Populst
cause, this committee held a meeting
and decided unanimously upon
vigorous support of our ticket and
platform. Breidenthal and other
Western members agreeing to see
that the Populjsts OF the Western
States workedunitedly for this ticket
The only fear then expressed was
that we might have trouble in getting
Texas into line. At that time you
agreed to carry on the necessary
correspondence until next meeting,
and to see that no stone was left IN
turned in securing the proper racog-
milton OF Populist electors. You re
to meet Senator Jones on Tuesday
night following our meeting Sunday
and find out what would DO favor
able to our party and at the same
time secure union Of reform forces.
At our next meeting, which was
delayed until three weeks had elapsed
you reported no results from the con-
ference with Jones, but stated that
YOU had not overlooked the matter
of proper recognition oE our ticket in
he West ard had set the necessary
machinery in motion to effect tho
proper result. In the meantime the
papers were filed with accounts Of
fiall sorts Of trades and fasions in the
Nv est that seemed to be made in
many cases without regard to sny
RdefDita. system or uniform plan,
= = MS olu oUmiuiUSee aLh0uhe0u D
Alan for general guidance in the vari-
6as States, and that plan was that in
electoral fusions the PopuEst party
must have just and proper represen.
tation and that in any State where a
fusion had been arranged that did
not accord Us such just and proper
* cognitiou, cur committee would
recognize straight Bryan and Wat
son electoral ticket. in the mean
time Mr.. Watson had asked to be
sent West by tho committee in order
to strengthen the Populists in sec1r-
ing just recognition, but you thought
it IN wise for him to 60 and stated
that you were handling the matter
and shaping ii in the right direction.
We still found that in somo States OF
the West no attention was being paid
to the committees actions even by
our own leaders and then It was that
l urged you TO meet Mr., Watson IN
Atlanta. You came and gave ii as
your opinion that Mr.. Watson should
not 20 West for three weeka as the
thing was working Itself out and by
that time would be all right. 1t was
finally agreed, however, that we
should go West, AID when we reached
Kansas we were informed that we
had arrived too late, that if the com
mittee or Mr. Watson had taken tbs
matter up three weeks sooner, ii
could have been arranged satisfac
toriiy, and Mr. BGiedenthal took the
ground that only the Democratic
Chairman, Senator Jones, could
straighten it ou., thus admitting that
we were in the hands of the Demo.
Gratis completely and fi7aIly and that
our committee was powerle,s to help
itself.
1t is we'll known fact that tbs
organized Democracy would rather
whip the Popplisss than secure free
silver. They have whipped Ms in