The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-10-24
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
CHICAGO DEMOCRACY FEELS SURE
OF SUCCESS.
Tom watson begins Speaking Once
More Wednesday, and VIII
Work Till Election.

Atlanta, Ca, Oct. 19-Messrs. Wash
burn and Reed, the members of the popu-
list national committee VINO were dis
patched to Thompson to confer with the
Hon. Thomas Watson, reached Atlanta
at noon today, after having spent Sun
day with the vice presidential candidate.
An hour later they were in conference
with Colonel Robertson, democratic elect
or at large and member Of the Georgia
state executive committee, the national
committeeman from Georgia and several
ether prominent democrats. The Georgia
member of the national committee ar
rived from Chicago this morning, having
come as the representative of Chairman
Jones to meet Washburn and Reed rep
resenting Mr.. Watson.
When asked concerning the conference,
he said: Senator Jones could not come
and asked me to represent him. No
proposition has been made by either side
and none will be made before tomorrow.
Stephen Clay, chairman OF the state COM
mittee, will arrive tomorrow and the
state committee will meet at noon"
The democratic and populst state
committees will both be in session here
tomorrow. The populist committee last
week made a formal offer to the demo-
Gratis for fusion in this state on a basis
of seven democratic and six populi5t
electors. The democrats were given until
tomorrow night to accept or decline the
proposition. 1t is understood that the
conference now in progress and the meet
ing of the state committees is for the
purpose of bringing about this fusion.
All the parties to the conference decline
to say anything as to its purpose or
probable outcome Mr.. Washburn was
more communicative, however, on the
subject of his trip to Thompson, and the
recent acticn of the populist national
committee, concerning which he said:
1.-THE address issued to the public by
our executive committee at Chicago has
been purposely misconstrued by a hostile
press as an act unfriendly to our candi-
date. This Interpretation is wrong and
| does Mr.. Watson a great injustice. He
is the hero of our party and is loved and
esteemed by it all over the country be
cause Of the noble fight for the principles
now advocated in part by Mr.. Bryan and
his party. The address was issued tc
help combine all the silver forces against
the triumph of McKinleyism and the
domination of the money power, and t
secure the active cooperation of the sill
yer forces in bringing about equitabl,
fusion arrangements satisfactory to al
parties in states where fusion has no
been effected.
THE only way now to elect Bryan 4
for the silver forces in the differen
states to vote for fusion electors repre-
senting both parties. The situation i
unchanged. Mr.. Watson's throat is nov
all right, and he will resume his cam
paign at once. He will speak in Birming
ham Wednesday. again in Alabama o.
Thursday and then proceed to Tennessee
for active work. after which 1 understan
he plans to go to North Carolina an
Kansas"
What is the political situation i
doubtful states?'
During the past TWO weeks Mr.. Brya
has made rapid gains. and 1 know tina
the republicans are becoming alarmed a
this great change in his favor. At bot
the populist and democratic headquarteI
in Chicago we feel sure OF Bryan's cleo
ton and the triumph of silver. Our cor
ference at Thompson was for the pun
pose of representing to Mr.. Watson jus
what had been accomplished in diherer
states, and to report the work of the N
tional committee as well as to confg
with him regarding the campaign. tn
, report that 1 had Mr.. Watson's letter {
ACCEPTANCE with me is a mistake
'Will there be a change in fusion nj
rangements?'
Yes 1 believe there will be a chang
Of some kind in Kansas"