New-York tribune., 1896-09-29
WATSON on FUSION.

Mr. Thomas Watson as ready letter-wrlter
is persistent and accomplished. His capacity for
making trouble does not diminish as the election
approaches. but rather his tendency 10 tell the
managers of the Bryan campaign unwecome
truths increases Mr. Watson as n serious cand
date for the Vicc-Presdency is no longer to De
reckOned with, but his determination, while
faithfully supporting Bryan. to expose the bad
faith of the Democrats in carrying out the
scheme of POpulist fusion must contribute great
ly TO the decentralization of the frce-sllver party!
Mr. Watson may not he able to force Sewall OH
the ticket: he NAV not be able 10 secure any con-
siderable share of the fusion electoral candidates.
he NAV not persuade the Popusts in many
States to run separate electoral tickets. bnt ne
will be able to dampen the ardor of Populsts
who c9re anything about their party lhose
whose devotion to free silver makes them obllvl-
ous 10 everything but that idea VIII put up
with the insults offered to the St Louis CohVen-
ton and vote for Bryan and Sewall. But the
support of body of voters founded on such feel
ing is of doubtful value Enthusiasm and unity
of purpose are needed for effective fusion. ana
little POpullst enthusiasm can survive MI wat
sons letters and speeches
In his latest deliverance on the subject Mr..
Watson shows that he understands the hinlta-
tons as well as the powers of the devoted Popu-
lists like himself He says: "They may not De
liable to break up the fusion deal. but they can
stay at home" Chairman Jones may capture
the Populis machine, but he cannot he sure OF
the Populist voters. who distruSt Scwall as a
National bank president. and man who as a
politician breaches silver and as a business man
requires payments to him in gold. Their organ
ization sprung up as a protest against the ola
norties Mr. Watson SAYS The Greenback
..partv represented substantially the same prn
"ciples for which PopulSm now stands. 1t
was growing famously. and when ii saw the
Democrats at Chicago stealing its principles ana
nominating for first place on the ticket "A Drill
liant young man. whose record and creed were
"more Populst than Democratic the PopuliStS
were wild with enthusiasm. Even Sewall. about
whom the more the Democrats learned after
getting home the greater was their inclination
softly to swear" did not trouble the Popullsts
They knew their votes were needed, ana maze
no doubt of getting rid of him as a concession
So deal was arranged. but, says watson. 1hey
were cheated in the deal, led to nominate Bryan
under false pretences aud ever since misused,
insulted and ignored
| As the chief beneficiary Of any scheme of fair
| fusion. Mr.. Watson may not he an entirely accu-
rate Judge of the evils or unialr fuslon Ills
warning that Bryan is in danger: that the POpu-
list voters are dissatisfied; that they feel fusion
that compels them TO vote for Sewall deathblow
to their party. may be overemphatc. But II is
hardly possible that such outspoken wrangling
| between two wings Of the free-slver people
should 20 on without serious loss of votes. The
Populiss were important enough in the summer
for the Democrats to put forth efforts to capture
| r~t.. c,,.,1 l.xp ~
| cause has not prospered since 10 n degree which
warrants Indifference TO Populis feeling Capt
urng an organization is something. but it is more
| important 10 capture votes. The latter must be
| difficult when all distinctive Popust feeling is
| o1