The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-28
MR.. WILSON'S WARNING
GEORGIA'S CANDIDATE DIRECTS AN
OTHER LETTER TO MIR. JONES.
He Tells the PopOcratic Chairman
that Mr.. Bryan Cannot Get the
Full PopuIist Vote.

NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-Thomas Watson,
the Populist candidate for Vice President,
telegraphs to the World review of the
political situation, in which, in conclusion,
he says:
Under present conditions MIR. Bryan
cannot get the full Populist vote. He can
not get it liz Kansas or Colorado. He can
rot get it in North Carolina or Nebraska.
In the frendliest spirit | give Chairman
Jones this warning. He will make the
blunder of his life if he listens to the fusion
leaders and believes that a full Populist
vote be had for Bryan with Sewal on
the ticket. Populist voters are men who
have educated themselves on political top
les They will not stultify themselves by
voting against their convictions. They Will
not vote for a man who if Mr. Bryan dies,
will make us another President after the
fashion of Grover Cleveland. They may
not be able to break up the fusion deal,
but they can stay at home. The contract
made at ST. Louis for united Democratic
Populist ticket should be carried out in
good faith. Democratic managers should
not expect to hold to it when they ignore
it themselves.
IF Mckinley is elected the responsibility
will forever rest upon those managers who
had it in their power to control by fair
means two million votes and who lost them
by violating the terms of the compact. The
writer of this has stood Loyalty by Mr.
Bryan throughout the campaign and VIII
continue to do So and it is out of sincere
desire to see him elected that he points
out the weak place in our lines in time for
it to be strengthened. Mr.. Chairman Jones
can do it, is under implied contract to do
it. and should for Mr.. Bryan's sake, lose
that Mr.. Bryan acted honorably in the ne
gctiations with the Pooulists at the St
Louis convention in telegra Dhing Senator
Jones that he would not accept a Populist
nomination unless Mr.. Sewall were also
nominated, and adds: Senator Jones con-
cealed this telegram, allowed the Popuists
to remain in ignorance of Mr. Bryan's posi-
ton and permitted the nomination of Bryan
and Watson without protest. His silence,
his failure to undeceive the Populists, OPP
Grated as an injustice to them. They went
forward and nominated Mr.. Bryan in the
belief that the Democrats would meet then.
on halfway grounds, withdraw Mr.. Sewall
and unite the silver forces of both parties
by naming a representative of both on the
national ticket. II the Democratic man
ayers had recognized the necessary condi-
tons to complete political union and ac>
cepted the compromise we offered, the fight
would now be won. Instead of meeting the
PopuliSts halfway and making them feel
a hearty interest in Democratic success
they did everything possible to dissatisfv'
discourage and arouse the suspicious of the
very men whose votes were essential to
victory. Intent upon destroying Populism
at the South and absorbing it at the
West, the Democratic managers made the
mistake of supposins that any deal they
could arrange without leaders would be
cheerfully supported by the rank and file.
From the county tickets clear on up to the
reduced to the good old business rule of
how much have you got, and what Will
you take 1t is hardly necessary to say
that where the bargain counter rules the
roost in this hilarious way principles are
somewhat neglected and undervalued
In States like Indiana and Illinois,
where Populists are in the minority, they
get a minority of the electors. In States
like Kansas and Colorado, where the Pop
ulsts are in majority. they get no cleo
tors at all. In one State of this great and
glorious Union the fusion goes half the
distance between Populists and ltepublic-
ans and the other half between Populists
and Democrats. AS grave digger for
Populism, fusion with Sewall on the ticket
success. If not disturbed in his work, the
digger will have the hole ready by the
time the funeral procession arrives.
THE menace that endangers Mr.. Bryan's
success to-day is the profound dissatfsfac-
ton which exists among the humble, hon
est, earnest Populists who have built up the
Peoples party. This is not said in any
threat ening spirit and antagonism. Every
where | have advised people TO stand
Loyalty to the support of Mr.. Bryan though
little credit is given for having done
SO. No DEMOCRATIC paper has given me the
slightest credit for refusing Republican
fusion in Georgia and combating it in
Texas. With one accord the Bryan and
Sewall papers have given me nothing blA
disparag cement misrepresentation and rio
icule. How much good they hoped to do
Mr.. Bryan by adopting this line of policy
L cannot see.
Ordinarily abuse heaped upon me might
offend one but the recipient but that
editor who cannot that in this cam
paign insults to me are insults to the party
whose help Mr.. Bryan must have, is very
blind editor
II respectfully warn Mr.. Chairman Jones
of the danger Mr. Bryan is in. The Popu-
list voters are dissatisfied and suspicious.
They feel instinctively that the fusion pol
icy which compells them to vote for Sew
all is the beginning of the end of the Peo-
pies party. They feel that the principles
they love being used as political mer-
chandise. and that the Populist vote is be-
ing auctioned off to the highest bidder.
They suspect that Populism has been
bought and paid for and is now being de-
livered to those who bought it,
rs the full Populist vote necessary to Mr..
Bryan's election? If so. the sooner Mr.
Jones realizes that it cannot be had under
any agreement which compels the Populists
to make Illuminating surrender of their
principles in voting for Sewall electors the
hatto will No for our 1ie,,