The herald., 1896-08-24
SILVER SENTIMENT
Said to Be veering in the Direction Of
Watson

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-Speaking
tonight of Mr.. Watson, the Populist
nominee for vice president, Senator But
Ter said that he noticed decided change
in sentiment toward Mr.. Watson, not
only among the Populists In the west,
but among the silver Democrats OF the
south.
"I think" he said, "this is the begin
ming of a change that will continue un-
til the day of election. Probably at no
place in the south is this going on more
rapidly than in Georgia, Mr.. Watson's
own state. The outlook now is that he
will carry Georgia. even If the Demo-
Gratis elect their state ticket. This
change is also very marked in North
Carolina, and the outlook is that Wat
son will get the electoral vote Of that
state.
Every fair minded man honestly for
silver and who puts silver above party,
but who is satisfied with the Chicago
platform and ticket, realized as soon us
our convention adjourned that we had
improved on the Chicago ticket. The
action of our convention showed con-
clusively that the Peoples party was
patriotic and put the cause Of financial
reform even above party advantage it.
self. If the Peoples party had nomi-
mated a straight ticket and had then Of
fered to the Democrats, in order to make
victory certain, to take down our presi-
Dental candidate if they would take
down the vice presidential candidate,
so as to form a cooperative ticket, the
Democrats would have jumped at the
proposition, and every one would have
said it was fair, unselfsh and patriotic.
The fact that we did not take such
action 6or trading purposes. but at once
took the high and patriotic position that
Bryan was as good a silver man as we
would nominate and therefore we would
nominate him, but failed to nominate
Sewall for the reason only that he does
not represents what Mr.. Bryan repre-
sents, has commended the Peoples par
ty to every fair minded American op-
posed to the single gold standard This
put it in position where, with every
mis- AXE of the old parties, it will gain
two recr ITS " ieie L would have gained
one before.
In short, it puts it in position where
the least failure of the Democrats to
cary ut ther pledges y they should
go into power, would make the Peoples
party great opposition organization
TO the gold standard in 1900, and practi-
cai,y wipe the Democratic party out of
existence.
The attention of Chairman Butler was
called to the published statements that
Hon. L. c. Bateman of Maine, the Sec
r-'arv Of TIE PoLuU>: Hiicaiiou com
mittee, was in correspondence with the
members of that committee with view
to fixing a day for the notification of
Messrs. Bryan and Watson of their NOM
ination by the Populist party. Mr. But
Ter, not having official record of the con-
vention showing just what had been
done in the matter of the appointment
of a notification committee, expressed
a disinclination to talk about the meet
ing for publication. He again called
attention to the fact that it had not
been the practice of the Populist party
to notify its nominees. Generals Weaver
and Fields were nominated in 1892. He
said that Senator Allen. the chairman
of the convention, was the chairman of
the modification committee, If there was
one. He again expressed the opinion,
as he did a week ago, that Bryan and
Watson would continue to be the can
didates of the Populist party until the
campaign was at an end.
Advices received by Senator Butler
from Idaho, where the Democrats and
Populists have fused and ignored the
Silver Republicans, show the situation
to be somewhat more encouraging for
the Populists, but still it is for from sat-
isfactory. 1t is evident that the work
done by the Populist committee is hav-
ing it's effect, and the opinion is ex-
pressed that the conference committee
which arranged the fusion may be again
called together to see if some measure
cannot be devised whereby the Silver
Republicans may be recognized. Sena-
tor Butler believes that this should be
done, not alone because of the influence
which it would have in the other west
enr states, but a a matter of equity and
iuStice