Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-10-31
WATSON IS TURNED DOWN
Populist Proposition Is Rejected by
the Democrats.
Most Any Kind of ~ Sensation May
Now BE Expccted--Conditions
Much Mixcd---An Ex-
citing Conference.


Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 2l.-Not since the
state election has there been such ac-
tivity about democratic and populist
headquarters as was displayed yester-
day. II vas the last day of the period
which the populist state central COM
mittee gave the democrats In which to
decide upon their proposition for fusion
for Bryan and Watson. Early in the
morning a strong division developed in
the ranks Of the democrats over the fu-
sion proposition. The executive COM
mittees of both parties went into secret
session.
After an exciting debate he demo-
cratic committee rejected the populist
proposition, declaring IL TO be insulting
10 the democrats I'm wording. 1t was
further held that the state committee
had no right to take down democratic
electors as demanded by the populists.
The democratic resolution refusing
fusion Is az follows:
Resolved, That the populist commit
tee. having made a proposition which
completely ignores fusion by eliminate
ing entirely the candidacy of the emo
cratic nominee for vice president, Mr..
Sewall, and has cut off the democratic
committee from further consideration
of the question by fixing an arbitrary
limit, which expires today, giving this
committee no opportunity for consider
alton Of n movement for proper fusion,
therefore be IL
Resolved, That the chairman of this
| committee appoint q committee OF FIVE.
OF which he shall be chairman, to prop.
erly present TO the public the attitude OF
,hf. oaAar.gst,n IN 4ba eafttgal an anranf'
the unreasonable and unjust ultlmatum
of the populist committee. clothed as IL
is in offensive and unbecoming Ian
euage.
The PopuIist Uitimatunn.
The ultimatum OF the populist central
committee, to which these resolutions
were intended as a reply, is as follows:
Whereas. The peoples party of Geor-
gia accepted in good faith the st. Louis
compromis. viz: the nomination OF the
Hon. w. j. Bryan as the presidential
candidate on the ticket with the Hon.
Thomas Il. Watson with the tacit un-
~derstanding that this act OF patriotism
on their part would be met with a sim
liar one on the part of the democraticl
party in the withdrawal of Mr.. Sewan
and effect a complete combination of
The silver fofceSi ana
Whereas, The peoples party OF Geor-
gia, in their state convention in accord
with such understanding, did provide
for a Joint electoral ticket; and
Whereas the democratic party of
Georgia, the home of the Hon. Thomas
T.. Watson. has not made and is not
making any effort TO perfect or obtain
the fusion of forces i~naugurated at st.
Louis, although such fusion exists in
almost every state in the union; and
Whereas IL should he their p%leasureI
and pride to advance a citizen of their
state and section. a man who IS with
out a stain. above reproach and whom
all fair minded men esteem, respect ana
honor. and whose every action in this
campaign has been so patriotic and
manly az TO challenge the admiration
OF American manhood; and
Whereas, 1T is our belief that IL is
not only the intention Of the leaders of
the democratic party of this state to de-
feat, but, If possible, to humiliate. the
Hon. Thomas f.. Watson, either by a
corrupt ballot, as has been manifested
in the Tenth congressional district, or
hy 4 partisan legislature setting aside
the viii Of the people and forcing Bryan
aud Sewall electors on the state. even
though that ticket shoL,d run third ini
the election; and
Whereas, The silver plated demo
cratic press OF the state has belittledl
ana belied the candidacy of Mr.. Watsonl
and issued heir edict; therefore BE- IL
Resolved, AS a fina effort to secure
the union OF the silver forces to which
the democratic party Is committed and
to test the patriotism of our protested
allies, we dc now withdraw seven of
electors and insist that the democratic
party Of Georgia withdraw six of their
electors, substituting the remaining six
populist electors, with the understands
ing that the thirteen shall east their
votes for Bryan and Watson; be 1t fur,
Their
Resolved, That IL the democratic
party does not accede to the foregoing
just m reasonable proposition Within
five days from date: hen be it
Resolved, That our central commit
tee Is authorized and empowered Il
withdraw, IL advisable, our remaining
electors or reinstate those that are nov
withdrawn, and that we concentrate
every effort Of our party i'm the election
Of our congressional nominees
There was n buzz following the read
ing of the populist proposition, which
indicated strong dlsapproval OF IL.
The speeches were all against IL. In
fact, the resolution refusing the popu-
listic proposition was offered by none
| Otncf IMAM lndlIII11 Jones PERSONAL
representative, who favored Ii the day
before, but who yesterday claimed that
he had been undsr a misrepresentation
as TO what the populists wanted. He
said he had no idea when he came down
here at the suggestion of Chairman
Jones that the populists wanted thir1
teen electors for Watson. He thought
that they would propose some fair d.
vision which would not totally ignore
the candidacy OF Vice President SewallI
II was quite evident that the COM
mittee regarded the proposition as pre-
posterous and that abou the only thing
left for discussion was the character of
the reply TO be sent to the populists,
whether 1t should BE- polite and concilia-
tory or plain and to the point.
The Georgia member OF he national
committee, who had come to force fus
sion, himself offered The resolution on
posing 1t. He explained his action as
follows:
Il got a telegram about fusion and I
thought Ii meant a division of vice
presidential electors between the two
parties. Senator Jones thought that it
was a good idea and wanted to see
what could be lone with Ii. never had
any idea la the populists wanted as
much as they did. To ignore the demo-
cratic vice presidential candidate was,
OF course, quite out Of the question"