The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-09-01
BRYAN AND WATSON.

Our Candidates to the End--Statement
Authorized and Sent Out by the PeO-
pies Party National Executive Com
mittee.
So much has been said concerning
the Vice Presidential situation and
the attitude of the National Committee
concerning it, that at it's recent meet
ing the following off 3ial statement was
sent out:
WAsHINGMoN, D. c., August 49,
1.-The Peoples Party ticket as named
by the st. Louis Convention is Bryan
and Watson, and that will be the Peo-
pies Party ticket until the polls are
closed in November. Mr.. Bryan is as
much candidate as Mr.. Watson is.
AS far as this committee has power it
will strive just as hard to elect one as
to elect the other, and will leave moth
ing in its power undone to help either
or both. But it will not sacrifice one
IN the interest of the other"
And IN the next day the Associated
Press put to Chairman Butler the fol-
lowing specific question:
in view of your statement yester-
day to the effect that the Populist can
didates are Bryan and Watson and
will be until the close of the campaign,
and are to be earnestly supported to
the end, without discrimination for
or against either, what will be the po-
sition of your committee with reference
to those States in which Democrats
and Populists have fused, the Populists
taking the State ticket and the Demo
Gratis all of the electoral ticket9"
In reply, Senator Butler gave a for
NAL statement, which, it was an
nounced, is the unanimous opinion of
the Executive. Committee:
I'VE have no official information
that this has been done in any State.
If it has been done or is contemplated,
the National Committee will not ap,
prove or recognize it. The highest law
in any party is the action of its Nation
al Convention. No man or State or
organic alton can be disloyal to such
supreme authority of a party without
arraying themselves in direct and hos
tile opposition to the National Conven-
ton. Oar National Convention nom
mated Bryan and Watson by an over
whelming majority, and it is the boun-
den duty of every local Populist to
support both of these candidates ear
nestly and Loyalty, and, besides, Wat
son stands for what Bryan stands for,
and, therefore, Bryan and Watson con
stitute the only ticket that represents
the principles that Populists believe in
and have contended for from the be-
ginning. Mr.. Sewall is no more the
candidate of the Peoples party than
Mr. Hobart is.
The Executive Committee will see
that the action of our National Con
vention is maintained in every State,
but if there should arise dissatisfaction
or disloyalty to either Of our candidates
in any State, then we are sure there
are true Populists in such States who
will support the whole ticket, and
such alone will be recognized by our
National Committee"
docs this mean" Chairman Butler
was asked, "that you will insist upon
straight Bryan and Watson electoral
ticket in every States
mo. But it means that wherever
Populists and Democrats Din forces on
the electoral ticket, there must be a
due and proper recognition of each
party's candidates by a just and equit
able division of electors supporting the
candidates of the respective parties"