The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
WATSON MAY YET WITHDRAW.
srwALI;s WITHDRAWAL SAID TO
BE ALSO POSSIBLE.

rhe POpuIist Candidate to Meet
chairman Jones and Other Mem
hers of the Democratic National
committee at Atlanta TO-MOrrOw.
rbrac of the Democratic Electors
ot- Large for Georgia Go to Thorn
.oD--WatsOn's Letter of Accept
.Dce stiII Held Back.
,rgusta. Ca, Oct. lit is probable
.,ot the next forty-eight hours will fur
-,sb some interesting political news from
ooorcia When the fast train from At
,.r+a reached Thomson last night, Mr..
watson's carriage was in waiting at the
station and three gentlemen who emerg-
"a from the train entered the carriage,
and we're rapidly driven to Mr.. Wat
.on's home. They were Evan P. Howell,
1ores NJ. Robertson and j. ]. Hunt, dem
ooratic electors from the state at large.
,s they entered the carriage they were
,ooosted bv a representative of the South
arm Associated Press, but declared there
was absolutely nothing for publication in
their visit.
They did not leave on the midnight
train. but spent the night at Mr.. Wat
sons home, and he accompanied them to
the depot this morning. The visitors and
Mr. watson both declined to speak on
the subject of their conference, but the
visit following Immediately upon the prop
osition from the populists for fusion IN
Georgia, it was generally surmised that
This was the topic of discussion. Since
their departure, it has been gathered,
word here and a hint there, that the scope
of the conference covered a broader field
than Georgia fusion, and had in view
bringing Mr.. Watson and Chairman Jones,
with possibly other members of the ma
uonal democratic committee, together in
Atlanta on Monday
Mr.. Watson, when questioned about this
rumor, said: IF the gentlemen who called
upon me declined to say anything about
the purpose of their visit, manifestly it
would be improper for me to do so"
IF it is true that you are going to At
lanta, on business, on Monday, will
Messrs. Reed and Washburn await you
there, or will they come on to Thomson"
81 expect them here tomorrow morning,
and have so telegraphed Mr.. Reed to At
lanta, where he will be tonight"
IF Chairman Butler does not give your
letter to the press to-day will you then
make it public?"
q will not make any statement concern
ing it until after my conference with the
members of the national committee from
Chicago"
III Chairman Butler has not, in the
meantime, made your letter public will
you do so after your conference with
i Messrs. Reed and Washburne?"
Il cannot say"
A This ended the interview, but there can
be no question about the contemplated
conference between Chairman Jones and
Mr. Watson in Atlanta, and there is rea-
son to believe that 1t has something to
do with the situation in Kansas and pos
sibly TO getting Mr.. Watson to go back
there and make some speeches, bringing
the populists and democrats together,
Chairman Jones agreeing to a fair basis
Of fusion in the state.
special to the Chronicle from Thom-
son says Mr.. Watson says it is true he
has ordered his name off the ticket in
Kansas, but 1t is off the democratic ticket,
and not off the fusion ticket. He says
mere IS no fusion in Kansas. There Is
demoeratc ticket and populist ticker.
ana democrats have printed over the
name Of Bryan and Sewan electors tho
names OF Bryan and Watson to deceive
populists into voting for electors who will,
turn, vote for Bryan and Sewall.
am wiling" said Mr. Watson. ITO
sly IaT fusion in Kansas that will divide
.ne electors between populists and demo
Sals' am willing, even, to an equas
eyison' though by reason of the populist
vuung strength in Kansas, the proper
proportion would be about eight populist
.eclofs to two democrats. 1 contend that
Ae democrats have no right to print NY
salne over Bryan and Sewall electors to
S SSee!Ve populist voters, and 1 have or
ssred my name taken from the demo-
Cratic ticket
topeka, Kan, Oct. 17.-Late this after
noon Abe Steinberger, secretary of the
~uule-of-the-road populist state commit
Te' received this telegram from Thomas
NJ. watson dated Thomson, Ca: "Hand
tss us 70 the secretary of state Do not GER
eg my name on the Abilene ticket to the
gunly clerks. My affidavit withdrawing
~' name was mailed you.
Thomas f. Watson"