The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-06
WATSON TALKS OF KANSAS.
He Says He Was Given the Marble
Hearts, Coming Back.

New York, Oct. 6.-Thomas Watson
in an interview in a local paper regard
ing the vice presidential nomination
has the following to say regarding fu-
sion in Kansas:
Even if Mr. Sewall should persist in
threatening Mr.. Bryan's candidacy by
remaining on the ticket, 7 would con
sent to fusion in some of the states if
it were offered on a basis that was not
absolutely insulting to the POpulist
cause In Kansas the Popuhsts have
no representa- ton whatever on the pres
ldential ticket They have given all
the electors to the Democrats in ex-
change for the state ticket. In view of
the fact that the Populists of Kansas
have four times as many votes as the
Democrats, they ought to have seven
electors out of the ten I would not be
satisfied with less. In Colorado
the Populists should have three
out Of four. In North Caro-
lima the Democrats have as many
electors as the Populists-think of it
and one elector is given to a thing
called free silver I don't want to say
what the real basis of fusion ought to
be in North Carolina, because that is
Senator Buffers state but it ought to
be something more consistent with the
power and dignity Of the majority
party there"
After expressing his views on some Of
the general aspects of the campaign,
Mr.. Watson returned to the Kansas sit
ia lOls say ing AFTER nomination.
Senator Butler. the national chairman
of the party, urged me to go to Ala
bama and begin the campaign there I
answered that there was no reason why
I should go to Alabama, but that I de-
sired to go to the western states and
stop the Populist fusion on the Bryan
and SeWau ticket Senator Butler re-
piled that there was no need for me to
go west. because the fusionS there
would soon die out I did not see it
that way, and wrote to him frankly
that there was no likelihood of the flu
sions dying out if they had been firmly
mortised into their places.
When [ went to Kansas to speak
was met by the Populist state chair
man, Mr.. Breidenthal who told me that
the party had already arranged a fu-
sion and begged me not to make any
more trouble. I told him that I would
speak at the mass meeting which had
been called. Then he asked me if I
would let him see my speech. I did
a thing which 1 had never done before
and have never done since. I read him
my notes. When L came to the part of
my speech in which I denounced S=Wall
as an enemy of our cause and of our
principles. Mr.. BreidenthaI pleaded
with me to omit it. OF course refused
to do it. Am 1 not the nominee Of the
party? I asked him Did you yourself
not vote to make me the candidate for
the vice presidency Still he insisted
that I should not attack the millionaire
candidate Very we'll L said, i viii
take my hat and grip and go back to
Georgia. At that he relented ana
made my speech. The crowd went wild
and at the close of my remarks there
was a rush for the platform. At the
next place spoke in Kansas had the
same trouble to face. The committee
said that everything had been nicely
arranged and that I ought not to dis
turb the plan. I insisted on doing my
duty to my party and spoke boldly to
the people. There was another great
popular demonstrate and a rush to
the platform. Again I spoke in Kan
sas. There was no one to meet me at
the railroad station. though the time of
my arrival was known. I rode to the
hotel in a public cab with a colored
man who appeared to be. going in the
same direction. That is the way the
Populist managers have treated the
candidate nominated by their national
convention"
Girard, kan. Oct 6.-Thomas e. Wat
son telegraphed to Abe Steinberger to-
day these words. bill me for four
speeches commencing October 16. To-
peka viii get the first meeting