Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-03
OFFERED THE EARTH
If the Popullsts Would Fall
Down and Worship Watts.
DEMOCRATS ARE DESPERATE

mittec with onices and Promises to De-
sert Their Principles aud Allow the
Democrats TO swallow Them Whole.
The PopuIists sparn Their Offers.
Mr.. George +. Spence, treasurer Of the
Populist State committee, accompanied
by Secretary Lilly, gave a State journal
reporter the following interesting inter-
view:
1.-THE conference at C~larksburg, be-
tween the Democratic State committee
and the Populists,' said Mr.. Spence.
''was TO agree on presidential electors
and to ratify the Wheeling agreement.
THAT agreement was 70 the effect
that we should endorse four Democratic
district electors, and that party should
endorse two Populist delegates at large.
"Mr Capehart, Will Ohley and other
Democratic leaders were at Clarksburg
to undo that agreement They tried TO
palm off the lame excuse that the Demo-
Gratis who made the deal We're tired and
sleepy and did not know what they were
talking about
1--WE absolutely refused to confer with
the Democrats until they ratified that
agreement We absolutely refuse to en-
dorse Watts ut all.
"When they saw that we were deter
mined that the Wheeling agreement
should be ratified, they began a differ
m practice.
''They promised all kinds of things.
"They told Mr.. Martin that they
thought they could persuade Virgil A..
Lewis to withdraw his name from the
ticket in favor of Martin
They went to other Populists and
offered the same kind of taffy,
THE singular part of this is, those
conference.-the Democratic committee
can not withdraw any man from the
ticket.
with these pledges they nearly Sc
cured control of the committee at one
time,
''Mr. McGraw, at one of the sessions,
made the statement that the saving of
this State to the Democracy is of vastly
more Importance than the election of
Bryan. He then said we understand
without your (the Populists) assistance.
we can't hope to elect him.
sWhile we can't force anybody off
our ticket, we are willing to give you as
much as possible. We will give far
more than you ask in Federal and State
patronage
This p~laintive appeal to support
Watts was met firmly. We told the
committee that we would endorse any
other free silver men they would name
and ever endorse their ticket. but that
we could not endorse Watts"
I'VE understand" continued Mr..
| Spence, that while Mr.. McGraw was
thus talking to us that the Democratic
| committee was in communication with
the Sound Money Democrats at Indian
apolis. and that the Sound Money men
| wired that if the Democrats would re-
frain from fusing with Populists. the
Sound Money element would endorse
Watts.
"They, of course, knew Watts is as
much for sound money as for free silver.
1.-THE Democrats tried to practice de-
| ception and trickery on US. They APP
parently stopped short Of nothing t o
force or allure us with fusion. We went
to Clarksburg in good faith. We went
there to live up to an agreement. When
we saw how we were being treated by
the committee several Of our committee
were so in earnest and SO hurt that tears
came to their eyes.
1--WE kept our faith and offered many
concessions, provided they would with
draw Watts, whom we couldn't support.
under any consideration.
1--WE have now taken a stand. The
Democrats have tried to betray and
shamefully deceive us. We have put
out a straight ticket and will make a
vigorous fight. General Ralphsny der
acted manly in his withdrawal. He
stated publicly that he will work earn.
estly for the ticket.
Already it has been stated that our
committee was influenced in its firm
course against unconditional surrender,
by Republican DOODLE
Every word of such a statement is
false No memberof the committee was
approached by any Republican.
''Those who were present at Clarks-
burg advised us openly to keep in the
middle Of the road.
"Our committee acted from prin.
ciple."