The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12
TON WATSON'S LETTER.
REISONs ron MS sIPFRIS>f0Ni BY
BJILLR IPPiELNL1 tiN
lie Eeratcs the Chicago Party for Adopt
ing the Popn,-i Platform, an" s. rf
Abusc- Scvall. u...i.f

ID was written on tc'o''' w" '"'' ~
Senator Marion Butlcr, chairman OF tho
Nouncation Committee, ana manager o.
tbc populist campaign, IL Mas suppress
ed by Senator Butter during tho cam
Daicn for reasons that are oDvous from
a rerusal OF It's coutcngs. TIE document
would make scvcn columns in news
Mr. watson will publish his letter in
mu in Dis Official organ. The Peoples
Party Paper which comes opt to-mor-
row. .....t.
Below arc some extracts:
WHY HE ACCEPTED. 'f
Zion. Marion Butter. chairman" ex-oni-
clio for Notification Committee.
Dear sir.-Your letter giving me for
.nal notice of my nomination by the
Peoples Party for the Office Of Woo
President has been received. ,
"lt IS solely because of my promise
10 do 80 that ] accept the nomination
The usual conditions confronting US must
D. my excuse for submitting 10 the pubic
fair statement OF the facts touching this
remarkable campaign. I'm order that all
bnprcjudiced minds may reach just con-
illusions.
As the time for beginning the prcsi-
Dental campaign OF 1856 approached the
Democratic party found itself in "a dying
condition. and 70 rcsortcd to desperate
remedy 10 save itself from dissolution
II publicly renowned the Republican po"-
cics. which 30 has already enacted INTO
law. and protested the fopuhst tI,e"'
which ~ has bitterly assmled. Having
closed tho doors OF the mnts to silver
having sustained MI Cleveland I'D ms
refusal 20 allow tho scienordee colhtu'
having condonod his issue of bonds IN
violation of law. having acquiescod I'D
his contraction policy ~ destroying the
grecnbacks having helped 10 leeu '"e
trusts hy tho passage OF inc WILSON,
mau-Joncs tariff bill. the Democratic p''-
IA realizing that II had lost the respect
tho confidence and the patience OF thf
people determined 10 anticipate the lil
nmDh of Pouulism 10y public COMES ION
NJ noiuical guilt. am earnest assertion
M chars. of heart. and q dcvout accept
snco 20 populisi principles. and modern
demand that the Peoples party should
,srafo It's 0uartors and surrender It's po-
lificu possessions.
STAGGERING IMPUDENCE.
"A very staggering piece of political i'm
rr,fenre Wa. this. IL was not min
orifv of the Democratic party which muir
dered silver In 1893. IL WIS majority mat
did n-a majority majority III me
House. "a majority I'm the Senate. ana
tho mon who committed the deed cannot
now promise more sole ~ 10 undp
their work than they promised in nv
10 DO e.
During the drcary years of 1892 1898.
1894 ard 1895 when Republicans and DEM
ocrats alike We're falling over each other
in the effort 10 be first az Wall street
feet and lowest in the dust Of political
self -abasomcut TO the trusts. the na-
tonal banks. the railroads. the bondhold-
ers and the gold spectators. the Peoples
party was the one champion OF tine peO-
pie. n stood fearlessiy against the hum
cry hor0cs Of class lcglsl ~. u no
claimed constantly its undying antagon-
ism 90 Wall street and IT'S policies IL
held aloft the SCARED banner of a peo-
ple's rights and called for patriots 10
rise and defend the republic. Since the
hucle note of Rodcrick WOKE tht a.; -
lands and the fiery cross sped from
mountain 10 glen and from glen 10 ham
ltt there has been no such spontaneous
outburst of popular enthusiasm as mark-
cd thc growth of the Pc, be- 8 i.'rty- Jue
creed. one purpose. one hope. one inspira-
tion moved AS an and had We nominated
d. straight populist ticket at ST. Louis.
one man from the West and one from the
South. We would have swept this land
from sea TO sea.
pPvAN.
AT Chicago the Democrat r~--
haNlu- -a...l,a tle leading Populist prin-
cipies nominated for ;he first place on
the ticket "a candidate who indOrscs these
principles"
Mr.. Watson recitcs the fight i'm the
fopulist Convention at ST. Louis between
the Bryan Populsts and the middle-of-
the-road men.
I was asked 20 allow the use Of my
name TO harmonic an the differences
which existed in the convention and co
scented upon that express condition.
There fl w a.
voters Of the Democratic party. South
ana West. there WAS an earnest desire
mat the Iopulst should be met hale
way. The people wished for union among
the advocates of silver and they felt that
union could not ho accompanied by
demanding am abicct surrender at the
bands of the Populists.
THE leaders Of the Democratic marty
however having secured Populist en-
dor.ement of Mr. Bryan by direct vote
IN the convention determined to secure
b. for Mr. Sewall also. and for this pur-
pose they have rcsOrted 10 the policy Of
fusion"
INSULTED POPULISTS.
instead Of meeting the Populsts half
way. the Democratic managers have de
manded that We furnish all the patriot
ism which the occasion requires and they
not only refuse 20 make any concessions
tAt HAlf hNl ifft treat Win pubic Insult
the party whose votes are necessary 10
Democratic success.
By listening 10 the ovcrturcs Of Demo
cratic managers our party has been
torn into factions. our leaders deceived
and ensnsrod and the cause We repre-
scented permanently endangered. If not
lost. lnc labor oi many years is swept
away. and the hopes OF thousands of
good people are gone with it,
The Democratic managers. however.
not only claim the Populist vote for Mr..
Bryan. Who is our nominee. but they
claim II also FOR Mr. Scwal. who is not
orr nominee, and who was overwhelming
iy rejected whom offered TO the ST. Louis
Convention.
We are no~ told that W. must not saw
anything against Mr.. SewaH. we MIST
not explain 10 the people wherein he is
an Objectionable candidate. and we nust
not mention the fact that he is a ma
tonal banker. bondholder a RAILROAD
magnatc. a corporation millionaire. an
enemy 70 organized labor. "a benehcia.v
OF trusts a seeker after subsidies of the
merchant marine and proteciionist Of
tho Mckinley variety.
THESE things must bc kept from the
people ] am told. Why so2 Have not
the voters right to know Tor ahoal they
arc voting? ...
Both Kansas and Colorado arc pcpu-