The morning times., 1896-08-25
WEST V|RG|N|A IS CLOSE
GubernatOrial CandidateWat
49,
Talks of the Situation.
EXPECTS POPULIsT FUSION
with That Aid He Believes the Dein-
ocrats HIVE. More Than ii Fighting
Chance to Carry the State-FIop or
Republicans u Matter of CoEgratu-
IatiOn.

The gold ticket and Doodle are Just now
the bugbears OF the Dem mocratlc chances
for success Both the gold ticket tax ana
the boulle are growing bigger and bigger
every day in the eye OF the alleged party
or pure politics from the West, aud there
Is an impression that while these two are
the only chances for Republican success
both of them must be overcome TO insure
Democratic success.
The acoicent of tie voluntary exile of
Hoke Smith from the CabiLet has efn-
phasized the fact, heretofore only sur
missed, that the whole force OF the admin
istration is To be thrown directly or III
directly II aid of Mckinley. The letter of
Secretary of Agriculture Morton, which
was published widely yesterday, is re-
garded as containing not only the senu-
ments, but to reflect the soon-to-beeX-
pected action, OF President Cleveland him
self.
How tie Republican campaign or'its
method is regarded by Democrats who bear
the brunt Of il viii be found in the remarks
Of Gen. c. c. Watts CT Charleston, Va,
who is the Democratic candidate for Gov
crDor n that State.
He was Cni:ed States District Attorney
under the present admins tration, but
resigned to accept the nomination for the
Governorstip of his State. He was in the
city last night, accompanied BSMiss Watts
atthe Shoreham. en- route home from Ocean
Grove. wi ere he has Eeen spending the
vacation preparatory to opening an ag-
gressive campaign. witch viii oommeyce
DOW in few days.
SQUARE ON SILVER.
Gen. Watts said to a Tines reporter that
the only Important issue Oh which he will
make the light is fee silver. while il is
expected that his opponent Hon. e., W.
Atkinson Will fight on the taIiif and what
they call ''hoEest' money. The over
whelIEing Gefeat of the West Virginia Demo-
Gratis in 1892 was rot a test Of the parties.
1t was not an election for Il State office
and besides great many Democrats voted
the other way by reason Of Giss atsfa ction
with the atiOral administration.
Gen. Watts claims tie state for Bryan and
Sewail. Ee was asked if the gold party
had cev elorcd any strength. to which he
replied ttat il would possibly rcll a coed
many votes in the cities, such as Charles
ton, WHreiI e aud some others.
A IS an offset To this detection he counts on
Republican votes. Among tie strong Re
publiCans 10 Re relied upon he mentioned
Judge Drew, who had not Only coIEc' over,
but Tad maGe flee silver spc, ohcS.
"OrdiIarily,' said Gen. Watts, West
Virginia Is close State, and We expected
TO have lard fight before money was
made the raramount issue, but since that
issue was Il afe some of the strongest Re-
publican lawyers and politicians in Charles
ton have con Q out toli!y for Bryan, and it
looks now as if the free silver sentiment
would sweep the state
THE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES.
what Glance, then. have the Republi-
cans, and what is their plan OF campaign
undcr such drcumstances?'
IF, said Gen. Watts, the people vote |
according TO their present sentiments and
without reference to outside Influences, |
there could be no doubt of Democratic sue |
cess
The outside influences referred to by |
Gen Watts We're described to he the ''cnor- |
nous use of money"
I'VE cannot tell, he concluded, how far |
the present Democratic tide may be |
by this agency, but We do not |
think that it can be successfully checked" |
Gen. Watts also believes that the Demo |
Gratis and PupulistS, of the latter of whom |
there are good many in West Virginia |
Will arrange their case amicably at tie
meeting to lie held Text month at C!arks-
vile. He did not care to express an opinion
as TO how tie expected fusion would be
affected by the fact that Chairman But
.er of the Po2ulists, had thro wn down the
gauge to the Democrats, by declaring that
Watson was the candidate of the Popu-.
lists. and that they would rot tolerate
sacrifice OF Watson for BRYAN, or vice
versa. ...n uHsi
DUST AND TARIFF.
One reason, and the chief one, for the
belief that the Republicans are putting
great store by the gold movement and the
llmightT dust is the fact that they 90 not
ak through their hats up at Republican
on little provocation. 1t is
igreed by all the parties that the tariff
,uts but little figure in the campaign and
'et the Republicans are working 1t off in |
)ilcs OF literature as if it were the only
ssue- TO great many it is the stalking
lorse and that the gold propa ga ndists and
he campaign funds will do the rest
A pointer as to the policy of the rural
Republican vote in New York was given |
ast night at the Shoreham by Mr. ]. F.
Wells, contractor from Albany, that |
'tate- He said that the general impres-
ION was that the laboring men would be
uided in their votes by the declaration |
{ the chiefs OF the federation. but that
vas usually Democratic As to the Repub-
can voters. he had heard n great many Of |
hem say that they were in favor of free |
liver, but when they were asked if tbay
you'd vote the Democratic ticket they al
most invariably said that they would not.