Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-21
AND THERE IS A HEN ON
A Hurried Conference at Demo-
cratic Headquarters.
AMBASSADOR" WASHBURN
HES Himself TEither With Tom Watson's
Ultimatum in His Inside Pocket.
SOMETHING MAY BE GIVEN 0UT TODAY
If the Georgian Gets What He Wants, He'll
Whoop Up Things for Bryan-oth-
erwise He Will Probably
Remain Silent.
" AMBASSADOR" WASHBURN
SOMETHING MAY BE GIVEN uUT TODAY

Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. 20 George r. Wash
burn, the peoples party campaign man
niger in the west, returned hurriedly and
Unexpectedly from Mr.. Watson's home
tonight and Immediately asked for con-
ference with Senator Jones at the Audi
torium annex. The meeting was granted
and at o'clock Mr.. Washburn, as the ac-
credited personal representative of Mr.
Watson, and Senator Jones, in the lat
ter's room in headquarters. Mr.. Wash
burn brought with him an ultimatum in
the form of alternative propositions for
submission to the democratic campaign
committee, and upon the acceptance of
one or the other will depend the attitude
of Mr.. Watson during the closing days
of the campaign. Mr.. Washburn said
that kilograms would have to pass be-
tween him and Messrs Reed and Watson
before the developments of the confer
ence could be made public, and nothing
would be given out until tomorrow.
Just before going to the conference Mr..
Washburn said to a reporter for the
Southern Associated Press; Mr. Watson
would rather be vindicated in his own
town. in his own district, in his own
state and in the nation than be vice presi-
dent. His southern pride is aroused and
the people of Georgia are ra1lying around
him, because he is southerner. The
nomination he received al st. Louis was
forced upon him to unite our forces, and
being at the head of a larger force than
that which elected Lincoln he demands
recognition and vindication, or he VIII
fight / believe that if Watson should
issue thrilling proclamation to his party
to line up for Bryan it would be worth
more than the effort of a thousand
speakers. The danger today is the stay
at-home populists. His pen could bring
out the last man, and now that all others
have given up / have undertaken the
task of bringing this about, ana peneVe
/ will be successful.
"Dd Mr. Watson show you his letter of
acceptance?"
yes, 1 read copy. 1t is interesting
political reading. Mr.. Watson's throat IS
all right. He went today to Alabama and
speaks at Birmingham tomorrow night.
From there he will go to Tennessee, and
then to North Carolina. The character
of his address will depend on the result
of my efforts. He will wait to hear from
me-"
"If Mr.. Watson cannot be vice presi-
dent would he accept a cabinet position?'
"He would not If it was rendered him.
He is only anxious that his party should
come out of this contest in manner that
will reflect honor on 1t. Mr. Watson Will
enter actively into the campaign for the
election of Mr. Bryan If such arrange
ments can be made as will satisfy his
people He thinks there must be an hon
ora Bile union of forces rather than sur
render and that his party must be recog-
niZed in this fight or the fusion arrange
ments in the different states will not be
ra tilted by the people at the polls. His
persistency in claiming the rights OF his
party has placed him in false light. He
will not be ignored
Nv agreement with Mr.. Watson the
democra atic-populist conference at At
lanta today was ignored. Mr. Washburn
going directly to Chicago from Thomson
and Watson going directly to Birming-