Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-09-18
PREPARING FOR A WATSON TICKET
OVER IN KANSAS.
HEADQUARTERS TO BE OPENED.
PETITIONS MUST BE SIGNED AND
FILED By OCTOBER 3.
Chairman Willis Claims to Have Au.
thority From Watson and Butler
for the Middle-Of-the-ROad
MOvement-The Secre-
tary's Statement.

Topeka, Kas., Sept. T.-(Special) Inc
middle-of-the-road Populist crowd are still
busy arranging the preliminaries for their
Bryan and Watson ticket. The local man
ayers have been reinforced by the arrival
Vt Abe Steinberg of Girard. who will be
secetary of the state central committee.
Steinberger invaded John Breidenthafs Of
fee this morning and reposed in him few
condolences about what is what. At the
conclusion of his visit, he informed the
Journal correspondent that he had served
notice upon Breidenthal that IL there was
to be no Watson there would be no Bryan
The middle-of-the-roaders were telling
around this morning that Breidenthal has
offered to see that five of the Sewall cleo
tors come off in Kansas and that five Wat
son men go on. but when informed of the
report Breidenthal denied that he had
made any such proposition.
Rightmire has printed card in which ne
denies that there is lack of harmony be-
tween himself. Willis. Bennington and the
others. He declares they are all working
together to the end that a Populist ticket
be placed in the field in Kansas. To the
Journal correspondent he said this after
noon: 81 have been busy all day writing
to middle f-the-roaders over Kansas urg-
ing them to organize local committees.
see by an interview with John Breidenthal
in this mornings Journal that he questions
our authority to run ticket OF electors in
the interests of Tom Watson. We not only
have the authority of Mr.. Watson for this
procedure but also of Senator Butler.
chairman of the Populist national commit-
tee, who has urged us to put the ticket in
the field. John Willis has letter from
Butler requesting him to take the very
steps We are now taking"
Have you seen this letter, Mr.. Right.
m:re?"
Yes, I have seen and read 1t. More
than that, Mr.. Reed. Of the same COM
mittee. approved of the ticket in my pres
ence and Mr.. Watson assured me person.
ally and repeatedly that it was the only
thing to do"
have enlisted under the middle-of-the-road
banner is j. NJ. Dunsmore, speaker of the
Pcpulist house of 1898. 1t Is claimed by
the local managers that three Populist
seEtatives have consented to go on the
ticket as presidential electors.
The organization progressed , so far To-
chairman and Abe Steinberger as secre-
| tary. The nomination petitions were pre-
| pared and will be sent out at once, ac.
| ccmpanied by an address which urges all
| true Populists who hope for the ultimate
triumph of their principles to fight the
Abilene sell out to Democracy.
Chairman Willis announces that he will
| open headquarters at once. Legal talent
| was called in to-day to aid in drawing the
| petitions in a regular manner. Five hun
| dred names will be secured for each of the
| ten presidential electors. and the work
must be completed and the petitions filed
| by October 3. as the law fixes the latest
| moment at thirty days before election.
Tonight Secretary Steinberger furnished
| the press with the following statement:
There is one embarrassing thing about
| the fight We PopulistS are making in the
| interests of one of our national nominees.
| The Republicans, who are, of course, de-
| lighted to see their opponents disagree.
| haunt us as much with approving smiles
| as the Democrats and their Populist asso-
| ciates do with their snarls and curses.
| We don't want to help the Republicans.
| but We realize that there can never be
| any possible hope for change for the bet
| ter until treacherous Democracy is buried
so deep 1t will never again be resurrected.
| Democracy by electing its officers to office.
| saults We must forbear in bearing the
| standard of revolt against the shameful
| sellout at Abilene, but we shall be able
| to drive those Democratic electors into the
! stable. and then, even, we will not find
| clear, rippling brook to sail upon for
| the same Republicans who are smiling on
| us now will turn on us. join with the pow
| ers of Democracy. and fight us till o'clock
| on the evening of November g.
But We are in the fight to stay. Our
| electoral ticket will be filed this month
| and We are promised reinforcements from
some of the ablest speakers in our party In
| the nation to rally voters around the true
Populist banner"