Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-16
REPLY OF BUTLER
To the Watson Letter That Nearly
"Never Came"
VERY BRIEF AND TO THE POINT

The Latter Being That Unless Watson Uses
Blue Pencil Pretty Freely He May Print
His Letter Himself-Bryan Begins His
Second Campaign for Free Silver-some
Sensitive Souls in Salt Lake City-Hanua
Refuses to Talk-Political Notes. ~,
Washington. Nov. 1s.-In view of the
fact that the letter of Tom Watson ac-
cepting the vice presidential nomination
ing the vice presidential nomination
of the Populist party has been pub
lished Senator Marion Butler yester-
day made public his reply, written
when Watson's letter was received. The
reply is dated Washington, Oct 25,, and
is as follows:
Dear Sir-Your letter of acceptance
was received Saturday night. It had
been detained in the postoffice for want
of sufficient postage. You, in effect,
advise Populists not to support the
joint electoral tickets that have been
arranged in a large number of states.
Is it possible that you fully appreciate
the effect of such advice? At least
upon reflection you must know that if
enough Populists should follow such
advice it would mean the defeat of
Bryan and the election of Mckinley
Besides, il your advice should be fol-
lowed by enough Populists the Peo-
pies party would not have a single
elector in the electoral college. In the
states where We have joint electoral
tickts we will get every elector that
We do get. and besides. 1t is in those
states where we will get the bulk. IL
not all, Of the Peoples party congress-
men. In your state, and other states
which have followed your advice
against electoral tickets, we will not
get a single elector. and 1 fear not
many congressman, il any.
Good Way to Elect Mckinley.
You certainly cannot mean, how
ever much you may have favored a
middle-of-the-road policy in the be-
ginning, to advise your friends to do
that which at this time would be the
most effective agency in placing in
power Mckinley and his backers-.he
trusts and monopolies. Can any per-
sonal or party injustice. however great.
justify us in being responsible. either
directly or indirectly, for placing in
power the stock jobbess, monopolies.
trusts. the British gold ring. and all
OF the combined robbers of the people
and enemies OF good government? In
the name of outraged and suffering
humanity, whose prayers today go up
from millions of homes for William j.
Bryan in his heroic and marvellous
struggle against the minions of cor
porate greed and the hellish gold con-
spiracy, let us sink every other consid-
Grafton and hold up his hands and do
the full duty Of Americans and pa
triots.
Asks the Georgian to Cut His Letter.
Letus remember that itisa suffering
people and a betrayed republic, and
not Democratic politicians. that today
call for our help and demand our SER
vices. Bryan will be elected and the
government redeemed il every patriot
does his duty. Let us do ours. There
fore l beseech you to change at least
that part of your letter which gives
advice which, IL followed, would sure
ly help the common enemy. If you do
not, then you. yourself. must assume
the responsibility of giving such docu-
ument to the public at this time.
Yours truly,
MARION BUTLER"