The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-07-30
The Populist Sell Out.

u
\ The bargain has been closed after
about week of dickering, and what
there is of the Populist party worth
having has been delivered to Bryan. A
party which claimed to be the incar-
nation of rugged virtue and devotion to
the people has sold out for promised
share IF the spoils of Office. Some of
the delegates who were honest were
duped. The nomination Of Watson for
the purpose of facilitating that of Bryan
was disreputable, trick, worthy of the
unscrupulous schemers who devised it.
To secure an Endorsement Of Sewall
would have been a difficult task. The
convention would have accepted Till
man unhesitatingly, whom the Popo-
Gratis should have nominated, but to
ask it to swallow the Lone Fisherman,
who is about all the things the Popu
lists have been denouncing, was too
much.
Therefore, III order to trap the
:" middle-of- the-road" men, they were
allowed to nominate the impossible
Tom Watson for Vice President. Then
in the teeth of declarations from Bryan
that he would not allow Sewall to be
sacrificed, the convention proceeded to
nominate Bryan.
The bargain struck between the
Populist leaders and the Bryan mana
gers is that Watson, the stool pigeon,
is to be put off the ticket in the course
of time. Watson may not like it, but
he cannot help himself. The honor
bestowed upon him is barren one.
The Populist National committee,
which is in Bryan's hands, has been
given plenary powers over the party
after the convention adjourns, to do all
things that the convention would do if
in session." That committee may not
put Sewall on the ticket, but it will
take Watson off, and there will be only
one set of electors.
Mr.. Bryan says: Il shall do moth
ing which will endanger the success of
bimetallism" that is, of silver mon
ometallism, which is not bimetallism
-" nor shall l do anything unfair to
Mr.. Sewall."
To OF
nation although he gave orders that
his name be withdrawn if Mr.. Sewall
was not nominated. That was only a
bluff. He will accept that nomination
although, he asserts, the platform in
dorses some policies which I do not ap-
prove Of" That statement is made lest
some of his supporters should be
alarmed. At heart he indorses the en-
tire platform, fiatism and all.
Bryan announces that his action
will depend entire upon the condi-
tions attached to the nomination.
There will be no conditions attached
to it. He will accept formally the
Popocrat nomination next month.
Then he will call on the National COM
mittee of the Populists to GUST Watson.
1t will do so, and he will accept the
Populist nomination.
Watson may writhe and squirm, and
may refuse to be paciied with the pro-
mise of an Office. Some of the POpu-
lists in some Southern States may
swear they have been cheated and
threaten to bolt. But if they do it will
amount to nothing The election ma
chinery in those states is in the hands
of the popocrats and they can make
returns to suit themselves, no matter
how the votes are cast.
The populists and popocrats have
practically become one. The former
a little more advanced. They want |
fiat scrip and the confscation of rail
roads, But if the coalition should win
the principles Of the more radical wing
would become those Of the entire party. |
Chicago Tribune.