The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-03
win He Retircf

A populist leader, who is close to Mr..
Watson" is quoted as saying that Mr..
Watson has nothing to gain by remaining
longer in the race for the vice presidency,
and that therefore he will retire. A perth
nent query is. what has Mr.. Watson to
lose by remaining? Is he not
gaining notoriety every day OF his life
that he remains in the field. and is not
notoriety more desirable to him than
great riches? Mr.. Watson has been busy
at Saving his party" ever since the adj
journment of the populist national con-
vention. Shall he drop that. and allow
the party to so to the demnltion bow
vows, and himself to lapse into OBJ
security?
Instead of having nothing to gain, it
would seem that he had all to gain and
nothing to lose, He is risklng nothing,
and is playing for the ownership of the
populist party and whatever patronage
it may hereafter have to dispense.
Should he, by persistent hammering
along the old line, keep the party from
falling to pieces, he could claim, and with
good reason, that he is not only the type
and representative of the party, but its
savior in time of dire peril. Should the
party come out of the current campaign
with any strength left, 1t would be his
to command. Other Observation-Disclosures of
the clan have deserted to the camps Of
the several enemies. But Watson has
remained steadfastly in the middle of the
road, declining to swerve from his
straight course even to assist the head of
the ticket unless the tail went with the
head. He has preferred to see the coun-
try go to Tophet rather than go demo-
cratic, or republican, or socialist-labor, or
prohibitionist, or anything else that he
was not in on; in which position he has
been consistently populistic. The lead
ing tenet of the populist faith, as ex-
emplified on numerous occasions, is, get
office, honestly If you can, but get office
Naturally, therefore, the consistent popu-
list is "agin' the COVER ment" and
agin' everything else that does not
promise him pelf or short cut to af-
fiuence.
The current tangle of political affairs
leaves Mr.. Watson in doubt as to where
he is "at," probably. But it does not
hide from him his plain path. He will
keep up the fight. He will keep himself
before the public. and accept whatever
may be coming his way later.
The general destruction to the trees by
the storm. while in the nature of a ca
lamity, may be made a blessing to one
class at least. 1t will cost the city and
| county good deal to cart off. all the
wood from these fallen trees when they
are cut up. There will doubtless be thou
| sands of cords of it. The approach of
winter weather brings to mind the many
poor and destitute families to whom a
load of wood would be most acceptable
| gift. Mr. r. b. Reppard has for many
years raised fund to supply the needy
with fuel during the winter weather If
the wood were corded at convenient
| places, proper distribution of it where
most needed could be arranged through
him without cost to the city or the
county. The suggestion is one which
the authorities may do wen to profit by
Converse College at Spartanburg, S. c.,
| has taken its stand among the foremost
| educational institutions Of The south. II
opened the other day with an enrolment
Of 800 students, from many states. The
enrolment for the year is expected to
reach 500 and many of the students are
now boarding out in town because Of the
crowded condition of the college build
| ings The standard of the work is high
| and the quality required is such that the
| students are proud of It. Every member
of the large and efficient faculty is pres
ent and the work is moving along with
| much ease and success.