People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-07-31
WILL 60 UPON THE COMBIN-
ALTON TICKET WITH
BRYAN.
he IS OUT OF THE RACE
For Congress in the Tenth Dis
trict and Predicts Success for
the Combination Ticket
in November.


Hon. Thomas E Watson will ac.
copt the Vice. Presidential nomina-
ton, he made this positive statement
today. Although two weeks ago, he
said he was opposed to any sort of
fusion, yet under the circumstances,
as at present developed, he was
heartily in favor of it. He was ORR
ginally in favor of strsightout Pop
ulist platform and a straightout Pop
ulst ticket, and against the endorse
ment of Bryan and sewall, for the
reason that an endorsement of the
entire Democratic ticket, without
putting Populist ticket in the field
at all, would virtually kill the Popu-
list party forever. The strength of
the faction for complete fusion, how
ever, developed at St. Louis, was i'm
mensely greater than he thought it
would be. The advocates of total
fusion were so strong that compro
mise was the only thing that would
save the Populist party. awe had
come in front of crisis. A mistake
would have killed our party. Under
the circumstances, partial fusion was
the wise course and yesterday in
response to wires from St. Louis, l
replied that if it would promote har-
mony I would consent to allow the
use of my name for the Vice Presi-
dental nomination. Having done
this, will feel honor bound to accept
the nomination"
"That means that you are out of
the race for Congress in this district"
Mr.. Watson smiled and said, "That
is about what it amounts to-"
tried to get Mr.. Watson to talk
upon this branch of the subject, but
he said he would rather not.
"WilI contest be made for Con-
gresham from the district by the
party?" I asked.
"Oh, 1 suppose the boys will keep
up the fight, though l would rather
not talk on the subject"
"Who will be the Populist nomi-
nee?" l asked.
"Let's eat some more grapes" said
Mr.. Watson.
At any rate Mr.. Watson is out of
the race for Congress himself, for
certain and sure.
Mr.. Watson was in cheerful
mood, and it was easy to see that he
was pleased with the turn of affairs:
but he wore the honor that has been
put upon him with his usual quiet
dignity.
We went into Mr. Watson's work
shop, which is perfect conservatory
of choice books and pictures, and
talked for two hours over the nomi.
nation and the situation. Mr.. Wat
son talked slowly and earnestly, in
his soft, smooth, sympathetic voice.
His sentences were clear as bells.
He spoke right out frankly, evenly
and eloquently; and though he was
giving talk that was to go to all the
people of the United States, being
the first that he had given since his
nomination, he never hssitsted or
hawed.
At the beginning of our interview
Mr.. Watson did not know whether
Mr.. Bryan would be the nominee of
the party in st. Louis; and when the
news of the nomination of Mr.. Bryan
came, Mr.. Watson did not kno "
whether Mr.. Bryan would accept the
nomination, although he had received
a telegram from St. Louis stating
that Mr.. Bryan would.
The interview with Mr.. Watson
was as follows, verbatim
"Will you accept the nomination
with Mr.. Bryan ?"
"Hsving been appealed to yester.
day from st. Louis to allow my name
to be used for the Vice Presidency,
in order to harmonic all the different
factions, and having consented there
to, feel honor-bound to accept the
nomination, since it has been given
to me-"
"What will be the result of the
combination ticket to the Populist
partyF"
"The Populist party will feel fully
enlisted in support OF the ticket; they