Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-18
TROUBLE IN POPULIST CAMP
Washbume and Reed Pay Visit to the
Vice Presidential Candidate.
TOM WATSON A SOURCE OF GREAT ANXIETY
Two Messengers from the National
Committee Headquarters mt Chi
cngo Start for Georgia on
Soothing Mission.

CHICAGO, Oct, 16.-George f. Washburne
chairman OF the Chicago branch OF the popu-
list national campaign committee, and H.
W. Reed the committeeman from the state
OF Georgia and the personal friend OF Mr.
Watson, left for the home OF Mr.. watson
tonight. At the time OF leaving here, Mr..
Washburne had with him the letter OF Mr.
Watson accepting the nomination OF the
populist party for the vice presidency. The
letter will not in all probability, be made
public until after the two gentlemen have
had their Interview with Mr. Watson.
1t Is said on the best of authority that the
actual object of the visit to Mr.. Watson Is
the desire to have a talk with him over
the general situation and to explain to
him several matters in the conduct OF the
campaign from the populist standpoint
which have not met the approval OF the
nominee for the vice presidency. There Will
be no effort made to get Mr.. watson to
consent to the removal OF his name from
the ticket in favor of Mr.. Sewall, but there
are said to be a few wrinkles on Mr.. Wat
sons brow that would look better II they
were smooth, and II is to smooth them that
Messrs. Washburne and Reed have gone to
tho south.
In reply to the statement that Mr.. Wash.
burne of the Chicago headquarters had
been called down by Chairman Jones OF the
democratic committee and Chairman Butler
OF the populist committee and others, be-
cause of his persistency in demanding the
substitution of Mr.. Watson for Mr.. Sewall
on the national ticket, Mr.. Washburne said:
This Is Just as willful and malicious lie
as the statement that our executive COM
mittee submitted its report to Chairman
Jones before issuing 1t to the public, or
that Senator Jones had authorized our COM
mittee to make any overtures in the way
of a cabinet position, or otherwise, to Mr..
Watson to secure his silence.
From the beginning OF the campaign to
the present time l have aggressively and
fearlessly insisted upon the recognition OF
the rights of our candidate, Mr.. Watson, and
of the interests OF the peoples party and
shall continue to do so until the end OF the
campaign. The statement that there has
been any friction with our Washington
headquarters or with Sonatar Jones Is also
an Infamous lie. My position has been
fully understood and respected, and not
withstanding my advocacy OF Mr.. watson S
rights my line of action has been in per-
feet harmony with Senator Butler and our
committee, and while | have at all times
pressed our rights vigorously upon Senator
Jones, there has at no time since my ar
rival here been an unpleasant word between
u.s. or single misunderstanding"
MIR. Washburne, what have you to say
in regard to the telegram this morning
from MIR, Watson to Mr. Steinberger of
Kansas stating the middle of the road
populists had been sold out and that their
party had been made foot mat for the
democratic politicians?"
Il do not believe Mr. Watson said this, or
sent such a telegram. If 1t be true, he
probably had reference to the state to which
the telegram was sent, because in that state
the democrats endorsed the populist state
candidates and the populist legislative can
didaIes who are to elect United States SEN
ator. This was done in exchange for a
straight Bryan and Sewall electoral ticket,
with the understanding that all electors
should vote for the vice presidential candi-
date receiving the highest number of
electors outside of that state"