The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-20
Action of the Populist Managers in
Holding 1t Back Severely Com
demned by Editor Dunning.
THOMAS B. REED At CHICAGO
NAMES STATESMAN ATTEMPTS TIC
TALK TO TWO BIG CROWDS,
But Is Forced to Cut short His Last
Speech ON Account of His Throat
-McAdOO Against Bryan.

The friends of Thomas e. Watson, Pop
ulist nominee for the vice presidency, are
chafing hotly under the continued suppress
sion of his letter of acceptance by the ma
tional committee. Last evening N. A. Dun
ming, until recently editor of the National
Watchman, the organ OF the Populists at
Washington, was at the Spencer House on
his way to visit friends in Michigan Mr..
Dunning has been a close friend of Mr..
Watson for many years, and recently re-
turned from a visit to him at Thomson,
Ga. When asked what he knew about the
letter of acceptance, Mr.. Dunning said Il
was a guest at Mr.. Watson's home when
the letter was written, and read the first
draft of the letter two three times very
carefully. 1 do not think 1 am betraying
any confidence when / say that it is writ
ten in Mr.. Watsons usual vigorous style.
The question of fusion is handled in it with
out gloves and backed up with arguments
that cannot be met. The action of the
national committee is severely condemned
ard a general protest made against the
manner in which he had been treated since
the convention
'Win Senator Butler give out the letter."
was asked.
mot if he can find any excuse for not do
ing so. Senator Butler has assumed dictato-
ent position, and really believes he is the
chosen ruler of our party. He is carrying
matters with a high hand just now, and 1
have no idea he will give out that letter
until compelled to do So"
Suppose Butler continues to suppress
it?" was suggested.
after Mr.. Butler has shown his anxi-
ETY. to keep the letter from the public. Mr..
Watson will feel in honor bound, after
reasonable time, to give it out, in order
that the Populists may know not only
that he has accepted the nomination, but
also what position he has taken on
the question of fusion and his treat
ment by the national committee. l have
no doubt Mr.. Butler and the national COM
mittee would like to suppress the letter.
My reasons for saying so will be very plain
when the letter is given out. The national
committee, in my opinion has treated Wat
son in most shameful manner. the effect
of which will be seen very plainly when
the votes are counted in many States
where the Democratic party imagines it has
captured the Populists entirely
In his further conversation Mr.. Dunnng
spoke with much feeling of the peculiar at
titude of Senator Butler and the national
committee on the matter of the vice pres
idency, declaring that it looked as though
the ldQ DeeQ SOlQ OUT betrayed and
nearly wrecked by the men it had selected
to conduct it's campaign. TT has been a
combination of stupidity, and possibly
worse, on both the part of our national
committee and that of the Democrats
said he: Had they carried out the will
of the body of our party and the under
standing of the St. Louis convention the
fusion would have amounted to something.
With Watson on the ticket and Sewall OFF
we should have been able to solidify the
forces of the people, and Bryan would have
swept every state west of the AileghenieS
and south of the Ohio river. But with
such man as Sewall on the ticket and
betrayal by our national committee there
seems to be little consolation in the fight
for the Populist party. 1t is embodied in
Watson, and the obscuring of him means
the obliteration of the party. so far as this
campaign is concerned. But, mark me, it
will rise again. If Mckinley is elected
through this foolish course of the Demo-
cratic managers, and worse than foolish
course of our own party machine, there VIII
be no Democratic party four years hence
The people will look to the Populist party
to take up their. fight and the Populists
of the country will see to it that only hon
est men placed guard"