Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-09-30
OFFERED THE EARTH
II tho Popu,ists Would Fail
Down and Worship Watts.
DEMOCRATS ARE DESPERATE


They Try so crlhc ,hc ropui,.s state Co.
mittee With oric-. a.sa l'rona.s~s - ~,
sort Tisrir rrincip,cs aasi Allow ths
Democrats to swallow rhssa whsss<
The Populate sps,sn Their onsrus
Mr.. George L. Spence, treasurer or (hd
Popuiist State comm:ttce, accoinpanietl.
by Secretary Lilly. gave u State journal.
reporter ehc following interesting inter.
view:
The conteronce at ClarksburR. b.
tween the Democratic State committees
and tho Populists," said MIR. spence,
"was to agree on presidential eloctors'
and to ratify tho Wheeling agreement.
THAT agreement was to tho effect
that We should endorse -four Domocrntic'
district electors. and that party should
endorse two Populist dclcgatcs at large
"Mr. Capohart, Win Ohlcy and Other
Democratic leaders were ut Chrknburp
to undo that agreomcnt. They ssfcsi 10
palm of the lame excuse thnt tho Delrios
Gratis who made she deal werc tired auft
sleepy and did not know what they were
talking about.
I'VE absolutely refused to confer with
the Democrats until thoy ratiiiod that
agreement. Wo absolutely refuse TO en-.
dorsc Watts at nll.
"When they saw that wo were detnr.
mined that tho Wheeling ayrcc,nent
should DO ratified. thoy bcgahf differ
ent practice.
"They promised all kinds OF thinrs
"They told Mr.. Martin that thsy
thought they could persuade Virgil A..
Lewis TO withdraw his unme from ehe'
ticket In favor of Martin.
"Thcy went to other Populists and
offered the same kind of taffy.
"The singular part of this is. those
Rcntlemen--thc Democratic committees.
can not Withdraw any man from the
ticket
with these pledges they nearly ss-'
cured control Of the coininitte6'a ae one
time.
"Mr. McGraw. Mt one Of the sessions.
made the statement that the saving OF
this State to the Democracy is of vastly
more Importance than the election Of
Bryan. He then said we understand
without your (the Populists) assistsaice,. J.
we cant hope TO elect him.
"'While we can't force anybody efr,
our ticket, we are willing to give you as
much as possible. We will give far
moro than you ask In Federal and State
patronage
"This plaintive appeal 10 support
Watts was met firmly. We told the
committee that wo would endorse any
other free silver men they would name
and even endorse their ticket, but thnt
we could not endorse Watts"
1--WE understand. continued Mr..
Spence, that while Mr.. McGraw was>
thus talking to us that the Denlocrntfc
committee was In communication with,
the Sound Money Democrats at Indinn-
apolis. and that the Sound Money nier,
wired that IL the Democrats would re-
frain from fusing with Populists, tho
Sound Money element would enGorsee
Watts.
"They, of course, knew Watts l. ~
much for sound money as for FREQ >. =.
"The Democrats tried to practices u.s.
ception and trickcry on US. Tbey ap-
parently stopped short Of notkihg TO
force or allure us with fusion. We wsnt
to Clarksburg In good fuith. Wa went.
there TO 1.-Two up to an agreement. When
we saw how we wero being treated by
the committee several Of our committees
were 30 in earnest and 80 hurt that tears:
came TO their. .oyos.
1--WE kept our faith and offered many
concessions. provided thcy would with
draw Watts. whom wo couldu't support.
under any consideration.
1--WE have now takon stand: The
Democrats have tried 10 betray and
shamefully deceive us. We have put
out straight ticket and viii make = (.
vigorous fight. General RaiphgnS der
acted manly in his withdrawal. Het
stated publicly that he win work earn
estly for the ticket.
Already 1t has been stated thhb our
committee was influenced In its firm
course against unconditional surrendax. !.
by Republican DOODLE
Every word Of such a statansnx Il
false. No member Of the committees waa.
approached by any Republican.
"Those who were present at Clarka-
burg advised us openly to keep Ia fhe,
middle of the road.
"Our committee acted from uri1S
ciple."
GREAT MEETINGS.