Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-26
WATSON Is WlLLIN'.
He Is Found In Bis Shirt.SIesYes at
His Georgia Home.
BELIEVES POP TICKET WILL WIN.
Reasons on Which His Faith Is
Based-Would Not BE Surprised
to See Free-siIver Land
slide.

AUGUSTA, IA, July "a southern
Associated Press representative saw Mr.
Thomas Z. Watson. the Populist nominee
for the vice-presidency, at his home to-
day, in Thomson, Ga. Mr.. Watson was
In his shirt sleeves. experimenting the
painting Of his house. He said:
II will accept the nomination. Yester-
day / wired my friends in ST. Louis to
that effect. I did Il In the interest of
harmony, and to prevent the disruption
of the Populist party, which seemed i'm
minent Under the circumstances. I did
what believed to be best for all interests.
The movement for fusion was immensely
greater than had any idea Of two weeks
ago. 1 was originally for a straightout
Popullst platform and a straightout
Populist ticket, but the demand for fusion
was so great 1t could not be withstood.
Total fusion. or adoption OF the entire
Democratic ticket would have killed the
Populist party. AS it is, the integrity Of
the party Is preserved. Under the cir
cumstances l fully endorse the policy
pursued by the convention. There is no
support OF a man who agrees with me
in three essential principles. because no
does not agree with me in four. / should
rather accept his aid and thank him for
It.
IF Mr.. Bryan accepts the Populist
nomination, i believe our ticket will be
elected"
Upon what DO you base your beliefT'
'"The common ticket will carry the
solid South and West. with 253 votes,
when only 224 are necessary TO choice.
Besides. there are Eastern and Northern
States that are debatabe ground.
should not be surprised to see
as great landslide In favor
of free silver as we saw In 1870,
and that several States that are now
considered reliably Republican VIII go
for our ticket and free silver. The only
obstacle 10 the supremacy of the Popu-
list party in the West is the Democratic
party, and, with the votes OF this party
we would carry To- Vest. The only OBJ
stacle to the supremacy OF 80 Democratic
party In the South IL the Populist party.
4 union Of the strength or the Two VIII
carry both sections solidly.
FULLY ENDORSES PLATFORM.
81 fully endorse the Populist platform
inst adopted at st. Louis. There Will De
no trouble I'm reconciling the platforms
Of the Populist and Democratic parties.
The Populists Will endorse the Democrat
ic platform as far as IL goes. The only
difference between the Democratic ana
pouulist platforms Is that the Popullst
goes further / consider that the Demo-
cratic party is returning TO Jenersonian
principles, and | am ready TO devote
whatever influence or talent / may pos
sess to a restoration TO the government
OF it's early principles. l am ready 10
offer my services to an executive COM
nittee composed Of Democrats and Popu-
lists TO further the interests Of the ticket.
'Mr. Bryan and | were friends In the
Fifty-second Congress, and believe
voted together on every measure that
came before the House. I have no pre-
tudice against any section or the Union
] was born on the 5th OF September. lSoo'
and therefore did not participate In the
civil war. I am a southern man In senti-
ment and feeling. but have no sectional
bitterness. From the very foundation
of the government ] think the East and
North have been represented in Congress
by shrewd business men, who nave paid
very strict attention 10 getting passed
such laws as would benefit their sections.
l do think that our national banking
laws. our tariff laws. our funding system
have, to very great extent Dullt UP
the North and East at the expense OF
the South and West. While l would not
n I could. do any injury to those sec
tions. I would like TO see the fair thing;
those laws that discriminate against the
South and West should be removed from
the statute-bOoks. Our system at pre-
sent is in favor Of wealth as against the
citizen, of the dollar as against the man.
I see no reason why the law cannot give
ample protection to property without do
ing Injustice 10 the laborer and producer;
and, / should be happy 10 see policy
that would give fun protection 10 each
section. The South and West practically
produce all the wealth Of this country
the East and North practically produce
none OF It. 1t is n literal fact that the
producing sections accumulate little or
nothing, while the non-produclng sec
lions accumulate fabulous profits.