The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-22
WHERE THE STORY STARTED.
Several Years Ago Pamphlet Was
Issued at Richmond.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WINCHESTER, Ind, March N.-Notic-
ing the article in to-day's Journal concern
ing the Johnson Watson contest, your cor
respondent has taken the pains to inter-
view a number of prominent citizens of
this city, who have known Mr.. Watson all
his life; known him as an earnest, hard
working Republican, always to be found
in the front. Up to two years ago Hon.
James Z. Watson was resident of this
county and not one of the prominent men
who knew him here, as an honest young
man, believe for a moment that he would
resort to the vile means which Mr.. john
son charges, because it is contrary to every
trait of his character and entirely at vari-
ance with his campaign in the Fourth dis
trict.
Winchester people express great surprise
that Mr.. Johnson should charge his COM
petitor with starting up the stories referred
to in his Washington interview. we'll
known Republican said to your correspond
ent to-day, voicing what any number of
people were saying:
"I know these stories were circulated
during Mr.. Johnson's race for the Senate
in Wayne county years ago age and during g his l.;
Richmond and were sent broadcast over
the district, of which this county was then
part, in pamphlest let, by va an anT enemy y,o os
of that pamphlet are yet In existence. !
know nothing of the merits of these
charges, but I do know that the author
of this pamphlet, not only charged Mr..
Johnson with being a traitor to the Repub-
lican party and stumping Wayne county
against General Grant, for Mr.. Greeley. in
'drllnkard" wife beater' and every
thing else but gentleman.
Continuing, your correspondents inform
ant said: s'Mr. johnson says that no
one has ever DETAINED him personally
before, yet he certainly knows that the
above mentioned pamphlet was freely cir
culated during his contest with Judge FORK
ner and at the New Castle convention. Wnere
he was first nominated.
mo one regarded them then as anything
but the outgrowth of the personal spleen OF
a Richmond enemy, and no one thought
Judge Forkner had anything TO do with
circulating them, any more than they believe
that Mr.. Watson is responsible for their
publication now. No attention was paid to
the charges then, and mo attention would
have been paid to them at this time had
not Mr.. Johnson. in his eagerness to find
which he has so often asserted he would
not do under any circumstances, given
them such prominence in his bullying,
threatening interview Of yesterday"
Another man interviewed said: "Mr.
Johnson asserts that the contest between
Judge Forkner and himself was of the most
pleasant character, ana YET, dS SDONe stated,
these same stories were circulated, and II
will be remembered by almost every Re-
publican in the district that it was openly
charged that Mr.. Johnson resorted to the
basest trickery in order to induce some
Henry county delegates to violate their in
structions and vote against Judge Forkner.
Knowing al these things, [ think Mr.. John
son has been very rash and misrepresented
the facts IN his desire to make ii appear
that Mr.. Watson was the author of the
stories derogatory to his character"
Still another says: Mr. Watson, as well
as other politicians, knew these statements
were in existence long before he had any
idea that he would ever contest a congress
sional nomination with Mr.. Johnson He
has frequently expressed to his friends here
the hope that nothing would be said about
them in the present contest, and when in
this city few days ago he expressed his
regrets that any OF these stories should
have been tod in Henry county. asserting
omphatically that IL was done without his
knowledge or consent. That letter OF Mr..
Johnson TO his constituents in Henry coun-
ty, published in to-day's Indian
apolis Journal, only emphasizes his
ters rehashed now. in order that he may
make political capital of them No one
here has anything to ray against Mr.. john
per Is well-lnown fact. and many peop.e
have expressed sympathy with him on that
account. His discourteous treatment OF
General Harrison during the Morrison will
case is well remembered and Is being freely