The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-15

| the hit cur that makes the noise. IL my
rock hit, forgive you for the growl-it's
natural on your side and does me nc
| harm.
Do you comprehend the fact, Mr.. Chair.
man. that withdrew from the ticket only
| because self-constituted leaders, who had
| the opportunity to assume power, were,
| in my opinion. TO the extent of their abil-
| ity. debauching, dishonoring, and drag
| cling the party into a slough of nfamy TO
secure the election of the ticket! What
ever others may do. | have not been able
to persuade myself to receive office at
such a fearful cost. You had the power
to control or silence this assumed lead
ership. but did not do so, but let them alb
soutely dominate you while you remain
ed inactive. with your blood seemingly as
cold rs that of a fish. and your heart as
emotionless as that of a dead snake.
OF course. l did not hear the whisper
ings" at Galveston of which you speak,
but you knew, and every delegate in the
convention knew, because it was openly
stated and published in the Galveston
News. that if any action was taken in
the convention antagonistic to Mr.. Bry-
an. or if the sentiment of the immortal
1O3 of ST. Louis notoriety. of no-WatSOn-
no-Bryan' found expression in that body
| would not have acceped a nomination
from it; or, if nominated. and then such
expression was uttered, | would decline
il. My sentiment was Bryan. Watson
or no Watson" | cared for neither Sew
all or Watson-they We're very insignifi-
cant factors compared to that great.
grand and glorious man who headed the
ticket. who was the embodiment and eX-
ponent of the principles of good govern
ment. as announced by the democrats at
Chicago and the pOpulistS at ST. Louis.
The crankyism of the terrible and i'm
mortal 1913 We're buried by the conven-
ton. and yet you. by want of nerve and
decision and character, have permitted
them TO dominate the canvass and. to all
lntentS and purposes. to bring disruption.
confusion and dishonor to the party lit
was your duty to lead to honorable and
triumphant victory and sell it out to the
republicans, as far as they could, for less
than n mess of garbage, a possible mon
grel success, III the capture of state of
fees. My action. sir was taken in pro-
test and denunciative of such methods.
and | claim the approval of every honest
man in and out of Texas in doing what |
dld. believing as | do, that any honest
man. if convinced of the facts as | wac.
and am convinced of them. would do the
same thing.
The reason l remained silent as long as
L
pcated assurances that there was no
fusion and could be none. Your written
language to me was this:
Il have always admired the stand you
have taken against fusion in any shape
or form. and have the highest regard for
your opinions as a trained politician. |.
myself. have always opposed fusion. OF
course. such thing as fusion. straight
out, is out of the question. As stated be-
fore think q great deal of your politi-
cal Judgment"
This was on the 18th of September.
Again on the 10Th of September you
wrote:
II shall tomorrow bill you for the Ell
tire campaign. In answer 10 your in
Quiry about fusion. permit me to say,
that large portion of my time is taken
up in answering questions of this nature.
You certainly know that there is no au-
thority in our party to make a deal of
this kind. unless it would be our state eX-
ecutive committee. You know that the
campaign committee was not given plena-
r. powers. | am not going TO call the
committee together again. | sincerely
trust that this will be satisfactory to you
and that You will not worry any longer
over this democratic campaign lie. |
suggest thar You coniine your speeches
very largely 10 state issues"
At the moment that letter was written
| had reason 10 believe, and did believe.
that the campaign committee had al
ready entered into the fusion contract
Will You let me tell you why that con-
viction rested in my mind: Here are
the facts
First-Tracey and Williams. who DOM
mate the campaign committees. both an
nj +h will
vote for him, and you keep them on the
committee.
Second-Williams, one Of the electors,
declares against Bryan, and yet you take
no steps TO remove him.
Thrd-Wood. an elector at large. de-
clares against Bryan, and you take no
steps TO remove him.
Fourth-Col. Kearby declares Mchln-
ley will. in his opinion, carry some of the
electoral votes of Texas, and you ask
him not for the grounds of his opinion.
Fifth-Grant Green and Quincy de,
clare fusion is an accomplished fact. and
that. through it, Mckinley will carry
the state. and you are absolutely silent,
in the denial of the truth of such decla-
rationS.
Sixth-Most of your time has been
taken up in writing answers to letters
from populists. asking information about
fusion. instead of writing an open and
bold letter. telling the populistS of Texas
that the foul rumOr was an infamous
falsehood. Could you have done SO ana
been in the bounds of truth: Did you
dare do so:
SEVENTH appealed to Won to muzz!e
Tracey and Williams. telling you their
declarations. in opposition TO Bryan ana
favoring fusion. were losing popullst
votes as fast as leaves fall after frost.
You did nothing.
Eighth appealed TO you TO take
those two men off the campaign COM
they were doing more harm
than they could ever cure. You refused
to act.
NINTH appealed to you to call all the
state ticket and the executive commit
tee together. that we might all confer
and eliminate friction. get together ana
all work on one line and not one uproot
what another planted. You refused 10
do so.
Tenth-I appealed to you in all the
earneStneSs of my nature. outlining the
campaign, national and state. and urged
you TO take the leadership and put all
forces to work. This you did not do. but
permitted the populist forces TO blunder
along like n mob, when they had trained
soldiers to fight. and permitted your cam
paign committee the creature of your
executive committee, TO dominate YOU
and drag the good name of the populists
into the Infamous arena of trading poll