Evening star., 1896-10-24
FIXING FOR A coUF
The Impression at Populist Headquarters in
Regard to Watson.

The withdrawal Of the populist electoral
ticket in Georgia is not fully understood at
populfst headquarters here. the entire pro-
ceeding has been taken without the knowl-
edge Of the national comnai:tee. and is un-
derstood only by the, populist leaders OF
Georgia and by Tom.Wa tson
The prevailing idea IS that, after the fail
ure to fuse the other day, Watson didn't
care to take the chance Of being defeated
in his state and that he preferred to sac
rfce the entire, electoral ticket in advance,
knowing thai II woiiid surely be slaughter
ed in November. . He. no doubt, had an idea
that it would have the effect of hurting
Bryan in several states. Another idea is
that the poDulists have taken down their
electoral tieaset to be able TO trade, with the
republicans for'representasives Of the lower
house. Finding there II no chance for
electors for them they Will CONCENTRATE all
their energies on the election Of several
Congressman. They can do this by voting
for republican elsc.ers ami securing repub-
Lean support for their congressional can
d:dates. 1t is claimed th:l;sAsuch a program
would elect two or tAree populists to the
House. ,rt
Mr. Wats6n. however, may have had
ideas strictly hts owf IN the trahsaction.
He may want to, show what he can do with
Chairman Jones at this stage Of affairs.
He wants p chance to show the populists
that Chairman Butler has not run fusion
arrangements In the interest of the party.
he might make ;blpf at Chairman Jones
and secure concessions which Chairman
Butler was unable to get, thus showing his
own ability to do things. Chairman But
Ter, 1t LIS known, sanctioned the proposition
which the democrats were willing to grant
the populists, in Georgia, division Of cleo
tors, with six populists and seven demo-
crats each side voting AZ it desired for
Vice President '-.%
Fixing fbr n Coup.
The impression here is that Watson will
fail in his efforts 10 work Chairman Jones.
He will then make public his letter Of ac-
ceptance. It is further believed that he
will not make this pubic until a late day.
too late to be effectively answered. 1t
would not surprise many people here to
see Watson attack everything in sight. He
is almost sure to pay his respects to Chair
man Butler and the national committee.
He is likely to attack the chairman per-
possibly will have a few words to say OF
Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. 4ewall will come in for
the largest share of abuse. The effect of
such letter can only be surmised at this
time. but it would probably do the Bryan
ticket injury. ''
Again. there would be no surprise if Wat
son took an altogether different tack. If
he came out squarely for the Chicago
tiChet dHu euuOSlZeQ SeWAN, uOOOuy WOulu
be much surprised. Mr.. Watson is the
Unknown quantity in the political world at
this time. The populist MANAGERS here look
for almost anything.
1t Is almost certain II Watson writes
a letter attacking Chairman Butler he
will In turn be attacked. Senator Butler
is very tired of Watson's capers. and near
ly everybody knows it by this time.
Rather than let Watson injure the Bryan
ticket. it fs said the Senator would not
hesitate to attack Watson in a manner
known only to the North Csrolinian.
Watson 10 longer writes to the national
managers about any step he intends to
take. He is his own boss in every way, AMI
consults nobody. That 10 why he is now
said to be trying to work Chairman JONES'
The popuiist managers regard the Georgia
fasco at fusion as the worst break Watson
could have made. It would. they think,
have insured him six more electors in the
electoral college. making more certain that
the populfsts viii hold the balance of power
in the electoral college iftBryan is elected.