People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-13
PEOPLES PARTY PAPER, ATLANTA, GA. MARCH 70, 800.

" DOh CO II yOu AuOWt WAOCbo'
the negro voters we're invited to ,oi n
In the councils and take part In the
meetings of the Populist party in
that district? A. ] do. Such is the
fact. The convention that nomina-
ted Mr.. Watson was composed Of
white and black delegates, and in
all primaries the negroes were in
vited to partake. Even in the ftate
oonven ion negroes had their dele
| ga es; on the state executive com
mittee negroes had their repr' senta
ton, which was not true with the
Democratic party. The negroes
kne this and it was one strong
argument in winning them over to
tha Populist cause.
@. Are you speaking of the year
1892? A. OF the years 1892 and
1894 in 1894 especially the state
convention, and in 1892 and 1894
congressional conven ion, and in
all county conventions aud prim rles.
@ State, if you know, whether or
not thu negro in those years believed
that he could accomplish anything
alone, or whether he believed that
it was necessary to unite with the
Populisa party? A, The negro had
learned by twenty-five years exper-
fence, that single-handed he was not
able to cope with the D mo"ratic
party. As general thing all white
men in Geo 'gis we're Democrats, all
negroes Republicans, and in an issue
between a sohd black and a solid
white vote, no one doubts the out
come, regardless of the relative
principles of each. So, realizing the
bel plss:ness Of his condition, he
welcomed the Populist party, not so
much from the actual b. lief in its
principles he did not stop to de-
bate them-but from the political
liberty aud the right of franchise
whose practical exercise the Popu
list party voted There never was
such poll balloted in the Tenth
Congressional District as in the
" ars 1892 and 1894, showing evi
IDENTIFY that large proportion of the
voters had failed to vote previously;
bat when the Popuiist party began
to dispute territory with the Dem,-
cratic party, every man was drawn
out to the exercise of the ballot, the
Democrats desiring the negro vote
and the Populists likewise
@ Was here a Republican can
didate for Congress in that district
in 1892, or in 1894? A.7There was
not. In 1890 there was a Repub
ioan sandida'e, who received, l be
lieve, about 1000 votes IN the whole
district, principally in the counties
of Warren, Hancock and Richmond
districts.
Q. Was Mr. Watson a candidate
in tn campaign, and if so, what
party? A. Mr. WATSON was a candl
date in 1890 of the Democratic par
ty, endorsed by the Farmers ALI
ance. In 1892 and 1894 he was the
candidate of the Populist party.
Q If you know, you may state
what has been his talk, publicly, in
Zach of those campaigns concerning
the color line in politics, of which
you nave spoken? A. Mr.. Watson's
position was that, in politics, the
)lor line should be wiped out. He
especially emphasized the word
"politics." His enemies misrepre-
scented him, and claimed that he was
preaching the doctrine Of social
equality, which is very distasteful to
Southern gentlemen. In the sp eoh
of Mr. Watson at Douglasville, he
especially brought out the fact that
the Auglo-Saxon, who had had
years Of culture and training, and
financial, intellectual and social pres
tige behind them, should be ashamed
to deny the negro his political equal
ity, 10 whose ears the chains of sla-
very had hardly ceased to clank, on
the ground of the fear of negro
domination.
Q What WAS the position of the
Democratic press and Democratic
speakers concerning these views of
Mr.. Watson, ami what effect did the
utterances have upon the masses of
/ the Democratic yoters in that dia.