The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-27
WASHBURNE ENDS HIS WORK.
THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHAIR
MAN JONES BROKEN OFF.

Democratic State Committees
Blamed For the Failure to sOIidI-
fy the Vote of the Middle of the
Road POpuIists-WatsOn's Letter
Mr.. Washburne Praises Senator
Jones For His Earnest Efforts For
Harmony.
Chicago, Oct. 26.-All the negotiations
which were being conducted by Western
Chairman Washburne of the populist ma
tional committee. representing Candidate
Watson, and Chairman Jones of the dem
ocratic national committee for the pur-
pose of solidifying the middle-of- the-road
populist vote for Bryan were officially de-
clared at an end to-day by Mr.. Wash
burne in an interview with reporter of
the Southern Associated Press.
Democratic state committees, particu-
larly the silver democracy of Georgia and
Tennessee are blamed for the failure of
the negotiations. Mr.. Watson will spend
the remainder Of the campaign practically
in silent disgust, and his interesting letter
of acceptance will likewise not appear in
public to hurt the candidacy of Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. Washburne said: "The negotiations
which were pending between Senator
Jones and myself are all off now There
were a few states where fusion was pend
ing, and we were trying to consummate
arrangements. When L visited Georgia I
saw that it was vitality essential that all
complications should be adjusted at once,
so that the solid vote of the middle-of-
the-road populiSts might be secured for
Bryan. Upon my return, while we were
arranging these matters, it was flashed
over the wires that the Georgia and Ten
nessee democrats had rejected all the
overtures made by the populists and adj
journed without making a counter propo-
sition. This was most unfortunate, as
it occurred at a time when it seemed ap-
parent that all complications would be
removed, our people satisfied and Bry-
ans election made certain. AS these two
states were involved in our arrange
ments this action rendered it impossible
for us to continue negotiations. They
were broken off and a conference ar
ranged with Mr.. Watson and Mr. Reed
at Nashville that 1 might report to them
the facts of the case. The responsibility
for all this must rest squarely upon the
Georgia and Tennessee democracy. They
seemed more anxious to beat the popu-
lists than to elect Bryan, and whatever
the results the odium of their unpatriotic
action must rest upon them.
I'm all justice to Senator Jones, must
| say that from the beginning he has been
eager to remove all complications and
| effect an equitable fusion in every state
! He has always shown a much greater
| degree of patriotism in these arrange
ments than the state committee of his
| party, who We're more anxious to make
| sure of their state tickets than they were
to meet popuiist committees half way in
perfectng fusion. There will be no fur
| thor negotiations, and whether our people
and candidate have been recognized to
the extent that they should have been
or not, our committee desires that every
populist shall prove his patriotism in
helping at the polls to elect Bryan, just
as they did in nominating him at st.
Louis This is no time for the settlement
of differences. Our duty is to secure the
triumph of silver, and every populist
should do his share and settle party diff
ferences after the election.
"Will Mr.. Watson make a speaking trip
to Kansas or North Carolina?"
'I do not think he will. He has prom
ised to make few speeches in his own
district for Mr.. West, our congressional
candidate and 1 understand that will
close his campaign"
Having read MIR. Watson's letter of ac-
ceptance, do you think 1T ought to or will
be published?"
'"I do not see what good would be ac-
complished at his late day by it's publica-
ton, as Mr.. Watson has made plain the
principal points of his letter. in his public
speeches Therefore, 1 do not favor it's
publication"
do the fusion arrangements, being
made between the republicans and popu-
lists of Georgia, meet with your ap-
proval?"
All those arrangements are made over
the joint protest of Mr.. Watson, National
Committeeman Reed and myself"