Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-17
National Executive Committee to
Meet Here Tomorrow,
HEADQUARTERS MAY Be LOCATED HERE
Mr.. Reid Says Watson is in the
Race to Win.
ECTS OF SION

The executive committee of the populist
rational committee will meet tomorrow at
noon in rooms at the Shoreham Hote.. The
committee is composed of nine members.
as follows: Senator Marion Butler, North
Carolina, chairman; NJ. c. Rankin, India la,
treasurer of the national committee; j. A.
Edgerton of Nebraska secretary of the ma
tionrl committee; George F. Washburn,
Massachusetts; II. w. Reid, Georgia: DIR. C.
r. Taylor, Pennsylvania; J. r. Sovereign,
Arkansas; j. W. Breidenthal, Kansas; John
S. Dorc, California.
Of this number there are three members
now III the city-Messrs. Edgerton, Wash
burn and Reid. The others are expected to-
night ana tomorrow morning. Chairman
Butler will get here tonight.
Object of the Meeting.
The Object of the meeting. it is said Dy
Secretary Edgerton, is to decide upon the
location of the national headquarters; to
arrange the plan of campaign and to trans
act a vast amount Of preliminary work.
"Wn the question of fusion of electoral
tickets be brought up?" Mr.. Edgerton was
asked.
1t may; but fusion has been arranged in
all but five or six states. These states are
all in the south" Then Mr.. Edgerton said
that Georgia. Texas and Alabama were
among the states where fusion is yet to he
arranged. He thought there would be no
trouble in North Carolina and probably IN
Alabama. He did not, however, name the
states where there might he trouble. He
said that in some of the states the state
committees were making all arrangements
for fusion.
The Place for Headquarters.
The indications that the committee
will be badly divided on the question of Il
,,lo Fa, hn npniff aa
is said, Is in position similar to :he ma
tonal democratic committee. The western
members, it is said want Chicago or some
ether western city selected. The southern
members, or some of them, are in favor
of Washington. Mr.. Reid of Georgia wants
Washington selected. He says this city Is
more convenient to the southern members
bers are also said to favor Washington.
Can't Withdraw Watson.
No. Reid Of Georgia was asked by a Star
reporter this morning if there any
probability that the committee would with
draw Watson.
There is no danger of that" he an
swered. I'm the first place the committee
has no power to do that, and in the second
place Watson is going to make the race ard
win. He will carry Georgia without
trouble. A large number OF democrats
there have come out for him. A number of
influential democratic papers are backing
him. The ticket of electors which supports
Bryan and Watson will carry the state. j;
Will beat the Bryan and Sewall ticket
Mr.. Reid did not know whether anything
would be done about fusion of electors in
Georgia, but did not think it likely He
SAID there was no chance for the republic
cans to carry the state whether there was
fusion or not. He was certain there would
be no fusion unless the democratic electors
would support Watson. The populists of
Georgia" Mr. Reid said, have never fused
with any party. The s7,Ho votes they
cast two years ago were all cast by pop
uHsts. We need no fusion to win in he
state
Secretary EGgerton agreed with Mr. Reid
that the executive committee had no power
to withdraw Watson if there was any in
cliraticn to do SO. The national committee
alone had that power. He said the ma
tional committee might be called together
put not Tor that purpose or anything like