The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-27
TWAS ONLY A RUMOR
Word Spread Around St Louis That
Watson Had Withdrawn,
SENATOR BUTLER SAYS NAY
Then He Goes On to Explain How
Sewali Has the Power to Unity
the Silver Forces and
Make Victory Certain.

ot' LOUIS, July Zb.-AlmoSt all the del
egates to the national populist and sill
yer conventions which met in this city
last week have left for their homes.
Am2ng those who are still, here are ex-
Chairman Taubeneck and ex-Secretary
Turner Of the populist national execu-
tive committee, who will remain long
enough to close up the headquarters
and transact whatever business they
may have in regard to convention mat
ters with the Business Mems league.
Chairman Butler and Secretary Edger-
ton, the new officers OF the populist ma
tional committee. and a majority of the
members OF the committee are still at
the Lindell hotel They held meeting
to-day. but little else than to talk over
the situation was done.
OF the silver national committee,
Chairman Lane and Vice Chairman
Stevens are still in the city, as Is also
q. W. Thompson, a member Of the no.
tification committee. 1t has not yet
been decided when or where Bryan and
Sewall will notified of their nomina-
tions as standard bearers by the new
silver party. Messrs. Lane, Stevens
and Thompson will meet tomorrow to
confer in regard to this matter and
some action will probably be taken as
to the time and place. An executive
committee Of the new silver party has
not yet been appointed, and until head
quarters have been established this will
not be DONE Organizer Kenney, of CAL,
has been recommended for a position
on the democratic executive committee.
and will probably be appointed.
A rumor got out to-day to the effect
that the populists would withdraw
Watson, their candidate for vice presi-
dent, II Sewall did not himself with
draw. A representative of the asso-
ciated press called upon Senator But
Ter and asked him why, II his party de-
sired a union of silver forces did htey
nominate another candidate for vice
president.
candidate for vice president.
Because" he said. 1--WE found that
by so doing our party organization
could be better preserved in support of
Mr. Bryan than by the nomination of
Mr.. Sewall."
Does not this selection lead to much
Embarrassment"
"Oh. yes, but it was our only alterna-
tive"
"Will ths democratic and popullst
committees make some arrangements
to unite their voter"
THE two party organizations will be
Kept entirely separate and distinct and
the two campaigns will be conducted
separately on parallel lines, but we hope
to vote and be united"
1T is hoped that Mr.. Watson will be
withdrawn"
This will not be done. The selection
OF Mr.. Watson was deliberate action
by the overwhelming vote and voiced
the sentiment Of delegates fresh from
the people, who themselves had delib-
Grated upon the situation since the Chi
cago convention. The peoples party, In
its desire to unity the reform forces so
as to make victory possible. met the
democratic party more than half way
by taking their candidate for president.
We could not unite upon Mr.. Sewall,
and II we had attempted to do so 1t
would have dsorganiZed our own forces
and endangered the election of Mr..
Bryan. 1t Is in no wise a reflection upon
Mr. Sewall, and We do not believe that
he or his friends will so consider 1t.
On the contrary. We hope that he Is
patriotic enough to put the success of
the cause and the welfare of the coun-
try above personal interests or aspira-
tlons. In short, Mr.. Sewall is the one
man In the United States who has 1t in
Ills DONtI W uHly TIE
yer forces and make victory over the
is the unanimous opinion Of our execu-
tive committee.
In an interview tonight Senator But
Ter further said: General James b.
Weaver. James r. Sovereign, master
workman of the Knights Of Labor:
Cyclone" Davis, Of Texas: Hon. Thom-
as Watson, vice presidential candidate
on the populist ticket, and other speak,
ers have gone to Alabama to stump the
state for free silver. They will reach
there Tuesday and will speak In the
different cities each day until the elec-
tion, which comes off on Aug. 3, when
members of the state legislature will be
elected. Senator Pughs term expires
soon and the next legislature will elect
his successor. It Is to elect a majority
of free silver legislators and ensure the
selection of United States senator IA
vorable to the white metal that those
speakers will work. Governor Oates Is
the democratic candidate for the Unit
ed States senate. A large number of
candidates for the legislature are gold
men and will vote for his election. but
we hope to defeat them. as well as elect
free silver congressman from Ala
a majority in North Carolina, but we
feel assured that Bryan will roll up
ma ajority there in the fall.
THE selection of a national head
quarters has been left to me by the ma
tional committee. which met to-day.
but will not make known my decision
for several weeks. / shall have TO care
fully canvass the situation and look
into the claims of the various cities
mentioned for that place. Those men
toned In the committee were ST. Louis.
Chicago, Omaha, New York and WASH
ington. The opinion seems TO prevail
among members Of the committee that
the selection OF some Western city
would be the best policy. I Will prob
ably not make public my selection un.
til another meeting OF the executive
committee. which may be in few
weeks"
George V. Washburn of Massachu-
sets. member OF the popullst national
executive committee. stated tonight.
when asked II Massachusetts, would be
carried by the free silverites: The free
silver movement In my state has al
ways been underestimated, but l think
a majority of its citizens are for the
white metal. / cannot. however. esti-
mate what the vote for Bryan AT the
coming election will aggregate When
G. F. Williams returned from the Chi
cago convention, where he was the on