The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-18
WATSON MAY COME DOWN.
interesting Political News Expected,
From Gcorgin soon.

A"'ercstiNg P"ifticnl News Expected
From Gcorgin soon.
THOMPSON. Ga. Oct. lit 10 proba-
PIE that the next forty eight hours will
iurhlsh some interesting political news
from Georgia. When the fast ti.nin fron,
atlanta reached Thompson last night
MT. NatSonS carriage was in wai;inc 70.
at the station ana three ganilcn,en'
VINO emerged from the trairi. entered
me carriage ana were rapidly driven 10
MT. w atSon's home. They were Evan
u. Howell. James NJ. Robertson and j.
j. Hunt, Democratic electors from thn
State at large
AH they entered the carriage they were
;.ccoSted by representative of the
Southern Associated Press. bufdecIo,.nd
there was absolutely nothing Tor pmbli-
cation In their visit They did not leave
on the midnight train, but spent the
hiSht at Mr.. Watson's home and he
accompanied them TO the depot this
morning The visitors and Mr.. Watson
both declined to speak of the subject of
tneir conference. but the visit follow
ing Immediately upon the proposition
from the Populists for fusion in Georgia.
IL was generally surmiSed that this Was
the topic of discussion.
since their departure ii has been gath
cred, a word here and a hint there tba
the scope of the conference covcred n
broader field than Georgia fusion. and
hau IN View bringing Watson and Chair
man Jones, with possibly other mem
bers of the National Democratic Com
Inlttee together in Atlanta onlMonday.
Mr.. Watson when questioned about this
rumor said: VS.
II the gentlemen who called upon
me declined To say anything about the
purpose OF their visit manirestly ,it
would be improper for me to do So
it IL Is true that you are going to
atlanta on business on Monday will
Messrs. Reed and Washburn wait Won
,Aere. or Will they come on to Thomp-
SOM"
Il expect them here tomorrow morn
ing ana have so telegraphed Mr.. Reed
TO Atlanta. where he will be tonight. .
IL Chairman Butler does not rive
your letter to the press to-day will you
then make 1t public?"
VIII not make any statement con-
| corning 1t until after my. cs,,ference
| win the members of the National Dem
ocratic Committee from Chicago"
| III Chairman Butler has not. in the
| meantime made your letter public will
you do so after your conference with
Alessrs. Reed and Washburn?'
| II cannot say"
| rms ended the interview, but there
| can be no question about the contem-
| plated conference between Chairman
Jones and Mr.. Watson in Atlanta and
| there is reason to believe that il has
something to do with the situation In
! Kansas, and possibly to getting MIR
| watson to go back there and make
| some speeches. bringing the Popuists
ana Democrats together Chairman
Jones agreeing to a fair basis OF fusion
| in the State.
Atlanta. Ga, Oct. 17.-George T.
Washburn and II. w. Reed. members of
the National Populist Executive Com
mittee, arrived here tonight on their
way To see Thomas T.. Watson They
will spend the night here and will 90
down in the morning 10 Thompson,
both Mr. Washburn and Mr. Reed de-
| clincd To discuss their mission beyond
saving that there were certain politi-
cal matters corning which they desired
To consult with Mr.. Watson Mr. Reed
| said that he signed the recent addr.ss
10 the Popuist party because at Tho
TIME II was the best thing that could bc
done
Neither he nor Mr.. Watson were sat
isned with the fusion arrangements
made in the West by the Populist lead
ers, but Mr.. Reed has come to the CON
clusion that an attempt to break 1t up
would injurc Bryan and the silver
cause. one purpose of their visit to
georgia is 10 chcckmate the efforts Of
me Republicans TO get fusion with the
Popu!sts. If il had not been for Mr.
Watson and Seabornc Wright. the re-
cent Populist candidate for Governor in
| this State, there would have been fu-
sion on Congressman and electors be-
tween the Republicans and Populsts
| this week. Mr. Reed believes Mr.. Wat
son VIII accept the situation when he
| gets the account from Mr. Washburn.
a movement Is on foot now between the
Democrats and the Populists of Georgia
to fuse. This will be discussed at the
conference between Watson and Wash
burn and Reed tomorrow
Mr. Watson's plans are now plastic.
He may so out on the stump in the West
| next week. Everything depends on the
result OF the coming conference. He has
wired eX-Governor Buchanan, OF Ten
| nessee. not TO take any steps before next
Tuesday prominent POpulist here
says: "Mr. Watson would come down
| i'll minute If he could advance the Sill
| Yer cause and properly protect his party.
If he were to retire the first cry of his
| own party men would be that he had
| sold out"
UTnN