The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-23
Watson Says He Is Guiltless and Will
Not Run from His Opponent Nor
Debate with Him.
INTERVIEW WITH BOTH MEN
JOHNSON AT RICHMOND REITERATEs
HIS FIRST CHARGES.
Friends of the Richmond Candidate
Threaten to Run Him Independent
If Watson BE Nominated.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW CASTLE, Ind, March 22.-Hon.
James E. Watson will be here tomorrow
morning, when Hon. Henry u. Johnson is
expected from Richmond, and will do moth
ing to avoid meeting with Mr.. johnson
if it be the desire of the Richmond man to
have an interview. When Mr. Watson ar
rived here for short stay to-day, on his
way to his home at Rushville, he was
quickly besieged by his friends for some
reply to the attacks made on him by Mr..
Johnson in the interview printed in yester-
days Journal. Nothing that has occurred
in Henry county politics in years has caused
so much excitement as the present affair.
All sorts of rumors about possible personal
meetings have filled the air, and in fact until
to-day, when Mr.. Watson announced his
policy, it was greatly feared by many that
serious trouble could not be averted. Mr..
Watson was in excellent spirits to-day. and
his well-known good nature and cool-headed
manner in dealing with difficulties soon set
at rest all fears of a personal encounter be-
tween the rival candidates for Henry coun-
tvs vote in the coming Sixth district con-
veuton.
Mr.. Watson had read the Johnson inter-
view and had also read the stories in to-
days Journal from Winchester and Rush.
vile, wherein the authorship of the scandals
on Johnson was properly located at Rich
mond several years ago. He said he thought
about all the news had been published and
that the people of the district understood
the nature of the stories as well as where
and how they first became public. He dis
claimed any responsibility whatever for their
circulation, and said he should refuse to
engage in joint campaign of Henry county,
as he could not see the necessity of It. His
political managers have his time all en-
gagged for the last week before the Henry
county convention meets April 1. When
asked for some statement on the johnson
interview, Mr.. Watson said:
'I have never, at any time, in any pace
or under any circumstances, given utterance
TO single one of the things which Mr.
him, and l have at all times advised my
friends to refrain from saying anything
derogatory to his personal character. The
charges TO which Mr.. johnson refers are not
new. They have been made against him in
other campaigns notably his first campaign
for Congress. when L was one of his warm
est supporters. and they have always been
worked by him for all they were worth 10
excite sympathy for himself. BY wrong
fully accusing me of circulating these stories
Mr. Johnson cannot draw me into personal
difficulty with him. L have no fear of him.
personally or otherwise. have not believed
and do not now believe, that indu.ging I'm
personal abuse is proper way conduct
a campaign in an intelligent community like
Henry county. i have conducted my cam
paign in a clean and honorable manner and
/ expect to fight 1t out on that line. / be-
lieve that Mr.. johnson has been deceived by
his overzealous friends in making these
charges against me, and when he comes here
and finds the facts to be as j have stated
them, believe he will, as an honorable man,
acknowledge his error and set right be-
fore the people of Henry county and of the
country at large
Mr.. Johnson through his friend, Mr. W. H.
Elliott, editor CT the Courier, has challenged
Mr.. Watson TO joint debate Regarding this
challenge Mr.. Watson said he should send the
appended letter:
wv. H. Elliott. Esq.-Dear Sir: In refer
ring to your letter inviting me to joint
discussion before the people of Henry coun-
ty, permit me to say that / am a Republican
and as such believe in the following prin-
ciples: Among others, I believe in the Nc
kinley tariff modified to suit the exigerc.es
Of the times: believe in the restoration of
the reciprocity treaties; / believe in interna-
tional bimetallism as defined by Gen. Benja-
min Harrison: believe in the enforcement of
the Monroe doctrine; L believe in just, liberal
and patriotic pension laws; L am for Cover
nor Mckinley for President, as / understand
the people of this district TO be. IL Mr. John
son does not believe in these doctrines he
Of Congress. If he does believe i'm them
there is no disagreement between us, and
nothing TO debate in joint discussion. /
therefore decline to enter into such a dis
JAMES f. WATSON"