Evening star., 1896-07-17
WATTERSON'S SUGGESTION
Why Ee is Not Likely to Head sourd
Money Ticket.
His Greeley Record Would Gene Up
Against Hint-Cause of Some Mems
Present IndecisiOn.

The suggestion that Henry Watterson
head democratic sound money ticket in
the presidential race was made, many poll
ticians think. without much reflection. 1t
Is conceded that the personal compliment
Is we'll deserved. Mr.. Watterson Is an at
tractive man. with marked aptitude for
politics. good speaker and very popular.
He believes in sound money. and as pres
ide1tial candidate under ordinary circum-
stances would lend much interest to a cam
paisn. Bat 1t SO happens that in this cam
paign Mr.. Watterson's past record would
rise up TO haunt him.
Remembrance of the Greeley Move
ment.
The Kentucky editor-then a young man,
with all the world before him where to
choose-was leading spirit in the famous
Greeley movement. He gave his voice as a
democrat for the ratification Of the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Greeley by the Independent
republicans. The fight IN the party over
the proposition was fierce while 1t lasted
Mr.. Greeley vas most objectionable on
every score to many of the old-time demo-
Gratis. 1t seemed like asking them to sur
render their very conviction to support
him. But aggressive men of the Watterson
type insisted that 1t was the wise thing to
do, and they finally succeeded in having it
done.
Not. however, without provoking so Wig
orous protest on the part of some as to
cause the putting of a new ticket in the
Held The boilers met in Mr. Watterson )
own town of Louisville. and nominated
Charles OConnor for President. They in
sisted that he was the regular democratic
candidate; that those men who were sup
porting Mr.. Greeley had been captured by
the independent republicans and were no
longer democrats. The OConnor move
ment failed dismally at the polls but ,he
cOnfenf1OC ha ,Jar ri >f;
party standpoint continued for some wears
and aspfrants for office who embarked in
the Greeley movement We're here and there
very much embarrassed.
Similar State of Things.
somewhat In effect, as is pointed out, this
proposition as to Mr.. Watterson is to make
him the Charles O'Connor OF this cam
paign. The sound money democrats are in
sisting that the men who are supporting
Mr. Bryan are no longer democrats. fut
populists. The Chicago convention. they
assert, was captured completely by the
pcpuli5ts; that the platform was written
and the candidates selected to please popu-
nsts. and hence no real democrat need feel
hlmself bound by the action. That was the
GROUND taken by the OConnorites in 1872
Ihey then asserted that he demo ratio
convention had been captured conpletely
Dy the independent republicans, whose plat
Iolm and ticket had been accepted, and
o'' ,Hei eiore, 40 real democrat need feel
nlmself bound by the transaction. Mr..
Natterson's reply to this was that the con-
Fehtion that had SO acted was regular in
every way, and that its decision was bind
ing on every member of the party.
Cause of Present Indecision.
In this complication may be traced the
reason for the present indecision of men
like Mr.. Hill. Mr.. Watterson probably
cares little about it. He is not an as
pirant for office. but man of independence
VINO takes things and deals with them as
they come. But men who do aspire to office,
and to the highest office, look out for the
record. They are afraid Of getting things
mixed. II they insist on the regular thing
In one campaign they feel that it commits
them to support of the regular thing in
every campaign, and for this reason they
now and then swallow some very bitter
doses.