The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-13
Bryan. Betrayal or watts.

During the joint discussion which &C.
Cured between General J. w. ST. Clair
(Popocrat) ana Colonel u. T. Vinson
Sound Money Democrat). which was
held at Huntington Saturday night, in
demonstrating his charge that Candi-
Z date William ]. Bryan is n Populist and
not Democrat, Col. Vinson referred to
matter which has caused much indig-
: nation against Mr.. Bryan among the
Z friends OF Mr.. Watts, the Democratic
Candidate for governor.
i 1t was known at the time Of
{ Mr.. Bryan's metorlc tour through
West Virginia that he was under a
! promise to Watts friends that in at
7 least one of his speeches, the one to be
delivered In Charleston, the presidential
candidate would make q plea for Watts
personally and give the candidate for
+ governor lift at his own home. Mr.
Watts at that time being too III to en-
gage in the campaign himself.
81 The exact facts. as they have been
freely discussed among the Democrats
In way not at all complimentary to
z Mr.. Bryan, are that Populist leaders
protested agains, the proposed pro-
Z gramme and induced Mr.. Bryan TO
break his promise. The result was that
Watts name was never mentioned in
any OF the speeches, Mr.. Bryan fearing
\ that by. so doing he would himself lose
! the votes OF the Populisls, who have a
candidate OF their own for governor.
y col. Isaac Ra!phsnyder Is credited with
bringing this pressure to bear on the
Popocratlc presidential candidate.
when sir. Vinson related these cir
cumstances Gen. st. Clair made no re-
! piy. He knew they were true and could
olfcr no excuse for the conduct of Mr..
Bryan that would allay the indignation
!, OF Mr.. Watts, friends.
Tho following dispatch, which APPEAR
ed yesterday in the Pittsburgh Dis
patch, from Huntington, gives the de-
] tails OF the episode as they are known to
many Democrats:
The Democratic candidate for governor.
General Watts, of Charleston. had been
X m Itlp stump, Colonel pin5on declared.
& aud had made 50 nc Hve 4 canvass through
4 ont West Virginia that he became III. He
s S:as unable 10 leave his bed .yhen the
Z CHARLESTON Bryan meeting WAS announced.
I Under these circumstnncesG representa-
tives Of the Democratic state committee,
y nccording to Colonel Vlnson. met Mr..
!, Bryan in Washington. and presenting the
e cts OF General Watts Illness, requested
Mir, Bryan 10 make n plea for Watts and
: the stale ticket ut the home OF the guber-
s material candidate. *
MIR. bryan expressed hts rsgret that
! over-exer,ion ana exposure ma .i ilnd :,
Wntts' absence from tile Charleston meet
G Jn;. and to add some words Of tribute TO
watts Democracy and sterling worth.
y Tho committee repeated ~ conversation VI aa !,
StTItli tile presidential candidatc, ana 30 IL
gnined circulation.
&,'SI,he popnlIsts heard OF, II with inhignn.
Y lion, They bounced upon MIR. Bryan ana
declared thnti IL BRYAN spoke at watts.
"a home Tor the Subcrnntorial candidate for
B governor on tho Democratic ticket. tho
rs ponuilstH. who have q state ticket OF their
own in West Virginia, should rotalia'c
bySopposiDg all overtures OF fualon on
on Mn ilr$un WIS thus forced to choose
between i.ryan and Waits. and he chose
Y Bryan. iIr. Bryan made an eloquent
Ytlcocl Mt Charleston Tlthin sight OF Zen.
erai Waits residence where tho general
lay ~. but he made no reference whit
/ ,iney. Instead, lie glorIlied the Pop,ilists
Ny for blazing the path M pioneers OF tho
g FREQ silver movement.
Iiy Mr. Brynn's silence. ~ 70 Watts q
I'M I'M secured fusion for tho electoral
j ijaKnt Ia Wogt Virginlu, leaving Watts md
FItzgerald both IN tho race for Eovernor.
Thio Is the inside history OF how the
recent complete fusion on the electoral
!, t!cke, way made possible. Mr.. Bryan
himself did II by brealtins a promise