Evening star., 1896-08-22
The Maine Election May Settle One
of Them.
DEMOCRATS And POPULISTS WATCHING
SewaIl's Contribution of $4,000
to the Campaign Fund.
PROMISED A CABINET PLACE

1t is asserted today. on especially good
authority. that the result Of the Maine elec-
tion may decide very materially the for
tunes of two of the vice presidential candi-
dates, Watson ard Sewall. 1t is said on
the same authority that the populists are
watching the election there with more In
terest than would appear to the casual
political student.
The information Is that if the silver dem
ocrats of Maine do not make some show of
strength in the coming election it will be
taken an indication that Sewalls con-
nection with the democratic ticket in no
way adds to the vote-getting power Of the
ticket. The populists will seize upon this
fact about as quickly as the republicans
and they will hint very strongly to the
democratic managers the advisability Of
getting Sewal to decline the democratic
nomination and the putting up of Watson
as the nominee.
Democrats Anxious.
1t is said that the democrats have been
In a stew of expectancy in the last few
days that the populists were going to de-
mand the declination of Sewall, but the
populists have done nothing of the kind.
They are waiting for convincing argument
that Watson is a stronger man than Sewall.
They are waiting on the Maine election,
which comes off next month. The outlook
Is that Maine will go republican by an in
creased majority, and the populists won't
shed any tears If this is the case. In fact,
they are willing, almost. that Maine should
be lost to teach the democrats an object
lesson. They don't believe that Sewall
stands in his own state for the financial re-
forms that the silverites there want. After
the elec ton the populsts will have some
thing to put before the democrats against
SewalL They will have something on which
to go before the country. They will try
hard TO point out SewalIs weakness and
the strength of Watson. They will try to
show where many prominent southern
democrats have come out for Watson, and
that the general feeling against the Geor-
gian throughout the country ts based on a
mistaken idea Of the man.
May Wait for Georgin's Voice.
II their arguments do not succeed IL con-
vincing the democratic managers and Sew
all himself, they will wait before taking
decisive steps until after the state election
in Georgia, in October. They believe that
the populists will carry that state. which
will be abundant proof of Watson's popu-
larity In his own state. If they should
succeed In carrying Georgia they will have
ground for a formal demand on the demo-
cratic managers that Watson be subStf-
tuted for Sewall.
Many popultsts believe that 1t would be
good politics for Sewall to come off the
ticket now before the Maine election takes
place They think that If he remains and
there Is overwhelming defeat for the
democrats the effect on the balance of
the country will not be as good as 1t ought
to be. If he comes off now, and the cleo
tion goes against the democrats, the loss
can be attributed to SewalPs withdrawal.
Nr. Sewalrs Contribution.
The tan about Mr.. Sewall leads to an
other interesting fact. 1t is learned on
splendid authority that just after the Chi
cago convention Mr.. Sewall gave his check
to Chairman Jones for $4,000, and that
this was the only contribution he has made
to the campaign fund. 1t was a saving
affair to the democratic national commit
tee, however. On that contribution the COM
mittee has been able to run up to this
time. when II Is beginning to receive con-
tributions from other sources.
For Secretary of the Navy.
When the populists get ready to talk to
the democrats about the matter Of with
drawing Sewall or having him to with
draw himself, they will urge the import
ance of having a good man as Secretary
of the Navy. They will agree that Sewan
would be Just the man for that important
place They will agree to ask Mr. Bryan
to give him the place.
The conference which Senator Tillman
had with Tom Watson a few days ago Is
said to have had more meaning than 1t has
been given credit for. Senator Tillman 1t
resentatfve of any committee, but his talk
with Watson Ia believed to have had the
withdrawal Of either Watson or Sewall in
view.