The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-28
Declared Off.
ALL NEGOTIATION WITH
TOM WATSON ENDED.

tions which were being conducted by
Western Chairman Washburn of the
Populist national committee, repre-
senting Candidate Watson, and
Chairman Jones of the Democratic
national committee, for the purpose
Of solidifying the middle of the-road
Populist vote for Bryan were official
ly declared at ali end to day by Mr.
Washbu1n in an interview with a re-
porter for the Southern Associated
Press. Democratic State commit
tees, particularly the silver Democ-
racy of Georgia and Tennessee. are
blamed for the failure of the negotia-
tions. Mr.. Watson will spend the
remainder of the campaign practi.
cally ia. silent disgust, and his inter
esting letter of acceptance will like
wise not appear in public to hurt the
candidacy of Mr. Bryan. Mr.. Wash
burn said
"The negotiations which were
pending between Senator Jones and
myself are all off now. There were
few States where fusion was pend
ing, and we were trying to consum-
mate arrangements When l visited
Georgia | saw that it was vitality es-
sential that all complications should
be adjusted at once, go that the solid
vote of the middle of the road Popu
lists might be secured for Bryan
Upon my return, while We were ar
ranging these matters, it was flashed
over the wires that the Georgia and
Tennessee Democrats had rejected
all overtures made by the Populists
and adjourned without making a
counter proposition. This was most
unfortunate. as it occurred at time
when it seemed apparent that all
complications would be removed, our
people satisfied and Bryan's election
made certain AS these two States
were involved in our arrangements,
this action rendered it impossible for
US to continue negotiations They
were broken off and conference ar
ranged with Mr. Watson and Mr..
Reed at Nashville, thai might rep
rese' 10 them the facts Of the case.
The responsibility for all this must
rest squarely upon the Geogia and
Tennessee Democracy They seem
ed more anxious to beat the Populsts
than to elect Bryan, and, whatever
the results, the odium of their unpa
triotic action must rest upon them
In all justice to Senator Jones, /
must say that from the beginning he
has been eager to remove all conph-
cations and effect an equitable fusion
in every State He has always
shown much greater degree of pa
triotism in these arrangements than
the State committees of his party,
who were more anxious to make sure
of their State tickets than they were
to meet Popu'ist committees half way
in perfecting fusion. There will be
no further negotiations, and whether
our people and candidate have been
recognized to the extent that they
should have been or not, our commit.
tee desires that every Populist shall
prove his patriotism in helping at
the polls to elect Bryan, just as they
did in nominating him at St. Louis
This is no time for the settlement of
differences Our duty is TO secure
the. triumph of silver, and every
Populist should do his share and set
tie party differences after election. :"
"Will Mr. Watson make a speak.
ing trip to Kansas or North Caroli-
ma ?"
81 do not thin. be will He has
promised to make few speeches in
his own district for Mr. West, our
congressional candidate, and un-
derstand that will close his cam
paign"
"Having read Mr.. Watson's let
ter Of acceptance. do you thiak it
ought to or will published %
II do not what good would be
accomplished at this late day by its
publication, as Mr.. Watson has made
plain the principal points of his let
ter in his public speeches There
fore, | do not favor its publication y
"Do the fusion arrangements be-
ing made between the Republicans
and Populists of Georgia meet with
your approval p
"A!| those arrangements are made
over the joint protest Of Mr.. Watson,
Committeeman Reed and myself"