Evening star., 1896-10-26
ANXIETY AS TO WATSON
Uneasiness in Democratic Breasts as to His
Probable Course.
Some Fear He VIII Withdraw and
Others Fear He VIII Stay
in the Race,

The last week of the campaign opens
with an increased feeling Of uneasiness in
democratic breasts as to Thomas E. Wat
son. He has been an uncertain quantity
from the first. He Is doubly uncertain
now. His professions Of interest in Mr.
Bryan's success are not considered sincere
by the democratic managers, and the
oftener they are repeated the more they
are distrusted
The Original Proposition.
The original democratic proposition was
that Mr.. Watson retire from the field. No
terms were openly discussed. but left
handed assurances were here and there
held out that he would lose nothing by
such a course. The point was pressed for
a time with vigor Mr.. Watson was sound
ed on the subject as a populiSt leader as
an advocate distinctly of free silver, and
lastly, with sonorous sentences. as an all
round patriot. The hattering opportunity
was held out to him to step in and save
the country. But he stood out against all
approaches, and refused positively to save
the country except in his own way. That
way, of course, was by remaining in the
vice presidential field. and forcing, if pos
sible, his plutocratic rival out of it.
If Watson Withdrawn.
The question the democrats are asking
themselves today is whether Mr.. Watsons
withdrawal now would not do them more
harm than good. Many Of them are actual
ly afraid that he is secretly meditating
some such step. They consider that he will
do whatever he decides is most G;sadvsn-
taseous to them. His hatred Of Mr. Sewall
In political sense, IS far more intense than
his hatred of the republicans. While he CD
poses the republicans, he comedies that they
are standing under ihei- own flag and to
their own guns. He regards Mr.. Sewail as
& suspicious person in Silver's ranks ard
las so denounced him a thousand times.
II he We're to re.i'e. therefore, leaving the
way entirely clear TO Mr.. SewaIrs su, cess
in cas-. Mr.. Bryan succrr icl, the nancuyer
would rlgnfully c:ilise alarm. For ITO
democrat believes that, despite his lrofes-
could be brough. to 10 anything that, even
Indirectly, would benefit Mr.. SewaI.
II He Stays In the Race.
1t is at the same time equally plain that
if Mr.. Watson runs the race out he must
continue to be a serious obstruction to
fusion advantages at several points in the
debatable territory. The wrangling be-
tween the democrats and middle-of- the
road populists there is distinctly due 20
Mr.. Watson's influence. His friends are
simply rejecting in their position his teach
inSs as to Mr.. Sewail They regard Mr.
Sewall, as he does, as out Of place in the
silver camp. They are unable to under
stand how a genuine popocratic victory is
possible with such a man in the field. He
is the fly in the ointment.
Anxiety as to Fusion.
Even where terms Of fusion have been ac-
cepted there Is still uneasiness as to their
strength and durability. They may not
hold until election day, or, holding. effect
then what has been designed. Mr.. Watson
is abroad, talking populism pure and SIM
pie. and reminding his friends that their
cause and his has been betrayed in this
campaign. He as much as acknowledges
that Bryan and Watson, because of this
treatment, cannot win. 1t follows, there
fore, that the real choice Is between Nc
Kinley and Hobart and Bryan and Sewall,
and Mr.. Watson has declared that the
worst blow populism could receive would
be the election of Mr.. Sewall by the aid Of
populist votes.
Mr.. WntsOn's Letter.
Meanwhile Mr.. Watsons letter accepting
his vice presidential nomination is in some
body's hands. There Is every reason to
believe that it is an Interesting document
and there is some reason to believe that
If 1t is not given out at this end of the
line Mr.. Watson himself may produce 1t.
The desire to see 1t is widespread.