The herald., 1896-10-20
Still Hidden Under the Political
Bushel
THE INTERESTING LETTER
Fails to Show Up in Chairman Buffers
Mail Box
An Important Meetin g to Be Held Today
to Arrange for Fusion on the
Electoral Vote.
A Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Oct: 19-Despite the
fact that vice-Presidential Candidate
Watson insists that his letter of accept
ance was mailed to Senator Butler here
five days ago, the latter says he has not
yet received it. Today he authorized
the following letter to be sent to Mr.
Watson:
-Hon. Thomas E. Watson. Thomson,
Georgia. Dear Sir: Senator Butler no.
tices that you are reported in an inter-
view as stating that you mailed your let
ter of acceptance to him at Washington
on last Wednesday, October 14th. He
requests me to inform you no such letter
has been received by him."
NO RESULT REACHED.
THOMSON. Ca. Oct. 19.-George r.
Washburn and H. W. Reed. members of
the Populist national comHttee, left
here today after conference of twenty
four hours with Hon. Thomas E. Watson.
Reliable information is at hand which
shows that one object of the conference
was to submit to Mr.. Watson some prop
osition from Chairman Jones, the nature
Of which both gentlemen refused to re-
veal. 1t develops that Chairman Jones
has agreed to go to Atlanta arr meet Mr..
Watson if the two committeeman upon
their arrival here should think it neces-
sary, otherwise he would send a personal
representative who stands high in the
councils of the party. Another object of
the meeting was to induce Mr.. Watson
to modify in some particulars his letter
of acceptance which the two committee
men had in their possession. The con-
tents of the letter were known to the
Populist committee at Chicago before
the recent address was issued and Com
mitteeman Reed telegraphed Mr.. Wat
son under no circumstances to give it to
the public until after conference with
him. Mr.. Watson thereupon consented
to hold it until his arrival. Mr. Reed ap-
peared to be very much pleased with the
results of his visit and stated to political
! friends that Georgia Populists were very
| indignant that he. personal represen-
| tative of Mr.. Watson, should have signed
| the address issued recently by the Popu-
| list committee at Chicago. but that their
| judgment and criticisms were prema-
ture becatse they did not have the in
| formation he had when the address was
| issued and intimated that his action had
| met the full appreciation of Mr.. Watson
Mr.. Watson leavea here tomorrow for
Atlanta where he will meet the repre-
| sentative Of Chairman Jones.
FIXING FOR FUSION.
| ATLANTA, Ga, Oct. 19.-Messrs.
| Washburn and Reed, the members of
\ the Populist national committee who
were dispatched to Thomson to confer
with the Hon. Thomas F.Watson, reach
ed Atlanta at noon today after having
spent Sunday with the vice-presiden-
tial candidate. An hour later they were
IN conference with Col. J. Robertson,
| Democratic elector at large and member
| of the Georgia state executive commit
| tee, the national Democratic committee
man from Georgia, and several other
prominent Democrats, The Georgia
member of the national committee ar
rived from Chicago this morning, hav-
ing come as the representative of Chair
man Jones to meet Washburn and Reed,
| representing Mr.. Watson. When asked
concerning the conference he said
Senator Jones could not come and
asked me to represent him. No propo-
sition has been mada by either side and
none will be made before tomorrow.
Hon. Steve Clay, chairman of the state
committee will arrive at o'clock tomor-
row and the state committee will meet
at noon"
The Democratic state committee and
the Populist state committee will both
be in session here tomorrow The Popu-
list fusion in this states on a basis of
seven Democratic and six Populist elect
ors. The Democrats We're given until
tomorrow night to accept or decline the
proposition. 1t is understo todd that the
conference now in progress here and the
meeting of the state committee tomor-
row is for the purpose of bringing about
a fusion. All the parties to the confer
ence decline to say anything as to it's
purpose or probably outcome. Mr.
Washburn was more communicative
however, on the subject of his trip to
Thomson and the recent action of the
Popuiist national committee, concern
ing which ne said: The address issued
to the public by our executive commit
tee at Chicago has been purposely mis-
construed by hostile press, as an act
unfriendly to our candidate. This in
depreciation is wrong and does Mr.. Wat
son great injustice. He is the hero of
our party and is loved and esteemed by
it all over the country, because of the
noble fight for the very principles now
advocated in part by Mr. Bryan and his
party. The address was issued to help
array all the silver forces of the country
against the triumph of McKinleyism
and the domination of the money pow
er and to secure the active co-opera ton
of the silver forces in bringing about
equitable fusion arrangements salts
factory to all parties in states where
fusion had not been effected.
The only way to elect Bryan is for the
silver forces in different states to vote
for fusion electors representing both
parties. The situation is unchanged
Mr.. Watsons throat is now all right and
he will resume his campaign speaking
at once. He will speak in Birmingham
on Wednesday, in Alabama on Thurs
day, and then proceed to Tennessee for
active work, after which, understand.
he plans to go to North Carolina and
Kansas"
What is the political situation in
doubtful states?"
During the past two weeks Mr.. Bryan
has made rapid gains, and know tina [
the Republicans are becoming alarmed
at this change in his favor. At both the