Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-07-31
WATSON WON'T COME OFF.

WATSON WON'T COME OFF.
Since the Populst convention at St. Louis,
good deal has been said about the withdrawal
of Tom Watson. Some leading Populists favor
his withdrawal while others are bitterly OPP
posed to it. Lewelllng and Harris say the
Kansas Populists should endorse the Bryan and
Sewall electors without taking into considera-
ton the action of the ST. Louis convention.
COL Harris is reported as saying: '"The
Kansas plan is for the Populists, i'll their state
convention at Abilene, to endorse the Bryan
and Sewall electors whom the Democrats will
name at Hutchinson the preceding day. 1t is
generally understood that there will be fusion
in Kansas this year, although there have been
no conferences on the subject and, consequent
ly no plans have been formulated, but fusion
is in the air My idea is for the Democrats to
name their candidates for electors and telegraph
us the result. We will nominate our candidates
for state offices and telegraph the Democrats
the result. They will endorse nominees,
and we will endorse theirs. con-
ference of the forces may give us better plan,
although the result will be the same, and DEM
ocrats and Populists will be satisfied with the
arrangements"
L. D. Leweling says: ''We intend to allow
the Democratic state convention to put in
nomination a set of electors for Bryan and
Sewall, and the following day will nomi-
nate the entire set as the candidates of the
Popuist party In this way the same electors
will be upon both the Democratic and Populist
tickets IF THE TWO TICKETS ARE RUN. doubt
if two tickets will be run l believe the friends
of silver will unite ticket from head to
foot in Kansas. l expect to see Tom Watson
retire from the field, and am sure l would if
were in his place. If he persists in running,
or the national committee formed al St. Louis
does not exercise the power given it by the res
olution and take him off, he is doomed to HUI
initiation, for he cannot poll one 1.-THE OF the
Pobulist vote. 1t was we'll understood among
the northern and western delegates that Sewall
was to be voted for, regardless of what the
convention might do. | believe that when
those southerners cool off, they will see the
utter folly of trying to force Sewall off the
track or dividing the vice-presidential vote,
with the result OF throwing the election into
the United States senate, aud consent TO the
withdrawal of Watson"
This reminds us of the efforts OF Lewellng
and others in the St. Louis convention to force
the nomination of Sewal. When the southern
delegates 'kicked,' Lewelling said, "We'll
MAKE them do it, And this is the same plan
he and his supporters are trying to work i'll
his gubernatorial candidacy. 1t is their inen-
ton to try to MAKE the convention nominate
him for governor. II is the rule-orruin prin-
ciple However, the Popuists Of Kansas are
pretty independent and they will have thing
or two to say about what shall be done at the
state convention
But, let us return to the subject. Speaking
of the withdrawal of Tom Watson, Chairman
Bredentlal says:
''In my opinion, there is but one thing for
the Populsts of Kansas to do, and that is to
endorse the action of our national convention,
and nominate Bryan and Watson electors. Any
other course at this time would place the party
in Kansas in the false position of repudating
the action of the convention. The Popuists
of the south are confronted by condition
which compelled them to have either cand-
date of their own or unite with their oldtim
enemy the Democrats. These two parties
have been at war in the south ever since the
new party was organized, and the Popuists
cannot afford to relinquish their claims to ex-
istence by uniting with an element in politics
which has always been opposed to them with
out securing some concessions. The nomina-
ton of Watson for vice-president was wise
piece of work on the part of the convention,
and we cannot afford to ignore it by support
ing Sewall."