Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-20
TOM WATSON AND THE por LEADERS
Conferences ut His Home Mt Atlanta
Many numOrs nnd DcnInls.


THOMSON, Ga, Oct 19-GCorge +.
washburne and II. w. Reed members OF the
populist national committee, left this place
today, after conference OF twcnty-four
hours with Hon. Thomas &c. Watson Re-
liable information Is at hand which shows
that one subject OF the conference was to
submit to MIR. Watson some proposition
from Chairman Jones. the nature of which
both gentlemen refused to reveal II de-
velops that Chairman Jones had agreed to
go to Atlanta and meet Mr.. Watson II the
two committeeman, upon their arrival here,
should think IL necessary. Otherwise he
would send personal representative who
stands high In the councils OF the party.
Another object OF the meeting was to in
duce Mr.. Watson to modify in some partcu-
liars his letter OF acceptance, which the
two committeeman had In their possession.
The contents of the letter were shown to
the populist committee at Chicago before
the recent address was issued and Commit
teeman Reed telegraphed Mr.. Watson under
no circumstances to give it to the public
until after a conference with him. Mr.. Wat
son thereupon consented to hold IL until
his arrival Mr.. Reed appeared to be very
much pleased with the results of his visit
and stated to political friends that Georgia
populists were very indignant that he n
personal representative of Mr. Watson,
should have signed the address issued re-
Gently by the populist committee at Chi
cago, but that their judgment and crlti-
cisms were premature because they did
not nave the information he had when the
letter was issued, and intimatGd the affair
had met with Mr.. Watson's approval MIR.
watson leaves here tomorrow for Atlanta.
where he will meet the representative OF
Chairman Jones.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-Despite the fact
Vice Presidential Candidate Watson insists
that his letter OF acceptance was mailed to
Senator Butler here five days ago the latter
says he has not yet received 1t. Today he
authorized the following letter to be sent
Mr. Watson:
WASHINGTON, oct. 19.-Hon. Thomas +.
Watson. Thomson, Ga: Dear Sir-Senntor
Butler notices that you are reported In an
interview as stating you mailed your letter
OF acceptance to him at Washington on
last Wednesday. October II. He requests
me to inform you no such letter has been
received by him. Yours respectfully,
FRANCIS H. HOOVER,
Private Secretary.
ATLANTA, Ga, Oct. 19.--Messrs. Wash
burne and Reed reached Atlanta at noon
today and an hour later they were in con
ference with Colonel J. Robertson, demo-
cratic elector-at-large and member of the
Georgia state executive committee the ma
tional democratic committeeman from
Georgia, and several other prominent demo-
Gratis. One of the prominent men of the
committee arrived from Chicago this morn
ing having come as the representative of
Chairman Jones to meet Messrs. Washburne
and Reed, representing Mr.. Watson When
asked regarding the conference he said
Senator Jones could not come and asked
me to represent him. No proposition has
been made and none will be made before to-
morrow. Hon. Steve Clay chairman Of the
state committee, VIII arrive at O'Clock
tomorrow and the state committee will meet
at noon"
The democratic state committee and the
popullst state committee will both be in
session here tomorrow. The populist COM
mittee last week made n formal offer to
the democrats for a fusion In this state on
basis of seven democratic and six popu-
list electors. The democrats were given until
tomorrow night to accept or decline the
proposition. 1t is understood that the con.
terence now In progress here and the meet
Ing of the state committees tomorrow are
Tor the purpose OF bringing about this flu
sion.
All the parties to the conference decline
to say anything as to Its purpose or proba-
BILE outcome. Washburne was more commu-
nicative however on other subjects, con-
corning which he said: "Mr Watson
health is now all right and he will resume
his campaign speaking at once. He will
speak in Birmingham Wednesday again in
Alabama ON Thursday and then proceed to
Tennessee for active work, after which. |
understand, he has plans to go to North
Carolina and Kansas"
What is the political situation In doubt
full states?"
During the past two weeks Mr.. Bryan
has made rapid gains, and ] know that the
republicans are becoming alarmed at this
great change in his favor. At both the pop
ullst and democratic headquarters in Chi
cago we feel sure OF Bryan's election and
the triumph of silver.
Our conference at Thomson was for the
purpose of reporting to Mr. Watson iust
what had been accomplished in different
states and to report the work OF the ma
tional committee, as well as to confer with
him regarding the campaign. The report
that / had Mr.. Watson's letter of accent
ance with me was n mistake"
"Will there be a change in fusion ar
rangements?"
yes. | believe there will be a change
OF some kind in Kansas"