New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-06
HATSON'S REPLY TO JONES
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
STRAINED TO THE BREAKING POINT


DETERMINED NOT TO BE CROWDED OFF
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE
DEMOCRATIC MANAGERS PLAN.
fly TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.l
Washington. Aug 5-"Tom" Watsons prompt
ord hitter reioinder to Chairman Joness indis-
Greet and now repudiated statement that the
Southern Populists could "go with the negroes
wbere thev belong" has strained to the breaking
noint the sem,-becose relations which have ex-
,s,ed for two weeks past between the Democratic
National Committee and the Populist Vice-Presi-
dent,aI candidate Senator Joness failure 10
make good any Of the assurances held out 10 the
ST Louis Convention that fusion with the Popu-
LIST marty might be accomplished by the With
drawal Of Mr. Sewall from the Democratic Ma
t,onal ticket and the continued and obstinate ST.
lence Of Mr. Bryan have apparently alarmed WAT
son. and he has looked with suspicious eyes on
the do-nothng programme by which the Demo-
cratic managers have sought to avoid any Ior-
NAL or official recognition OF the Bryan atson
ticket nut In nomination by the Populist Nationai
Convention
The readiness with which Mr.. Watson accepted
as authentic the interview which represented SEN
ator Jones in speaking contemptuousiy OF the
Southern Populists is regarded as indicating that
the Georgia editor is eager to find cause OF COM
plaint He has plainly read In the present atu-
tude Of the Democratic managers purpose 70 is-
more his candidacy until certain terms OF FUSION
have been made in the Western and Northwest
ern States for Populist support Of Bryan ana
Sewall. and then to repudate his own claims py
refusing to agree on a joint electoral ticket In
any Southern State. Foreseeing his betrayal oy
the Bryan managers. he has sensibly chosen to
,,;tl,s hot
matured plans to freeze him off the ticket have
been carried into effect in Kansas Nebraska ana
the other Western Popust strongholds.
Mr. Watson's avidity to seize the first oppor-
tunity Of unmasking Mr.. Jones's plans shows
plainly that he proposes to fight for recognition
before 1t is too late, and In default or recosnl-
ton to insist upon the placing OF a new ropu-
list National ticket In the field. 1t Is Well un-
derstood that Mr.. Watson's acceptance OF the
Vice Presidential nomination was inspired py
no other motive than that or preventing ,he
nomination Of some other man who might after
ward be induced 10 retire In the interest OF the
straight Democratic ticket
1t Is known that Mr. Watson means war on
Sewan. and that whatever is done toward
bringing the Populists and Democrats together
in the South for a Bryan Sewall ticket must pe
done in the face OF this resistance Apparently
the only idea the Democrats have had ABOUT
fusion was to gather ir all the Populist support
thev could by State fusions, while the watson
wing Of the Populists was held In suspense tne
hope being that by the time Mr. watson
friends formally decided to put PresloentIal
candidate in the field the Populists In those sec
tions where their vote is most desired would be
thoroughly committed to the Bryan ticket, the
fusion of local and electoral tickets IN each
state having been formally decided upon
Mr. Watsons open attack on Mr. Jones ana
his breach Of relations with the Democratic Ma
tional Committee have checkmated tins clever
strategy II will not be Mr.. Watsons fault II
he is elbowed off the hybrid Bryan-Sewall-Wat
son ticket and 1t is evident from his present
temper that any attempt to displace MN can
only lead TO a split In the Populist party and
Tho nomination of q new Presidential candidate
by the Southern and Midde-of-the-Road rae
ton In the Popuist ranks.