The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-09
WAR DECLARED ON WATSON.
HE FAILS TO MAKE \ SPEECH TO
THE LEGISLATURE.

Members of the state Executive Com
mittee of the POpuIists Suspect
That He Is Getting Ready TO Flop
Back Into the Democratic Fold.
The Committee Calls IA State Con-
ventiOn to Meet in March to Put
Out a Full state Ticket-PIatfOrm
of Principles Promulgated.
Atlanta, Ca, Dec Sion. T. f. Wat
son did not address the Georgia legisa-
ture tonight as per the invitation ex-
tended him by resolution several days ago.
The populist leader declined the invitation
TO deliver an address on the question of
finance, giving as his excuse business"
which is too important to permit him leav-
ing home at this time
Mr.. Watson. it is said, is opposed to put
ting himself forward in this way lest it
be thought that the move was dictated by
political motives. Inasmuch as his views
on the financial question are so we'll
known, the populist leader does not see
the necessity for presenting them to the
legislature
Mr.. Watson's refusal to make the ad
dress, caused him to be very severely crit
icsed by populist members of the legisla-
ture and party leaders here to-day attend
ing the state executive committee meet
ing. They think he should not have been
so impoHte not to say impolitic as to re-
fuse to speak in view of the
honor done him. Some of the
leaders, in fact, hint that he
is beginning to get ready to
shed his populistic scales and get back
in he 10 nj ba do
sire to do this, those populists who are
responsible for the suggestion, say, caused
him to avoid an appearance on the plat
form as the leader of populism, and there
is abundant evidence of a revolt against
Mr.. Watson among his followers, and his
refusal to make the scheduled speech has
been made use of to-day to widen the gulf
The populist executive committee held
meeting here to-day in one of the COM
mittee rooms at the capitol, and issued
call for a state convention to be held
here on the third Wednesday in March
next. The convention is for the purpose
Of nominating a state ticket, including SUI
preme court judges.
The leaders say they determined on an
early convention to prevent the democrats
from stealing their thunder.
Chairman John Cunningham called the
meeting to order, the session being held
behind closed doors. 1t is probable that
Chairman Cunningham will resign on ac-
count of his business, but all hands de-
clare that there is no lack of harmony in
the ranks of the committee or party.
Senator Yancey Carter, who may be the
nominee Of the party for governor next
year, and he wants the nomination without
doubt, said tonight that he favored strik-
ing out the anti-barroom plank in the
platform. He thinks it was a mistake to
put this in last year, and helped largely
to defeat the ticket Local option is his
plank, and if he is the nominee, 1t will
succeed prohibition
These resolutions. offered by Col. w. L.
Peek, were adopted:
I'VE commend the holding of national
nomination convention on the first
Wednesday in April, 1898.
I'VE recommend the holding of a state
convention at which delegates to the ma
tional convention shall be chosen on the
third Wednesday in March, 1898.
1--WE recommend that the nominations of
congressman be delayed until after the
holding of the national convention
1--WE recommend that the platform on
which the contests of 1898 and 1900 be
waged should embody the following propo-
sitions:
81. Absolute paper money, based on
every commodity and resource of the ma
ton, full legal tender and receivable for
all dues by the United States
20. Free coinage of silver at the present
legal ratio, the coin debts of the United
States payable in either at the option Of
the government.
80. All money to be issued by the gov
eminent and to be paid out direct to the
people for services rendered or to be loan
ed them at low rate of interest on safe
security and without the intervention of
private banks, provided that the volume of
currency shall not exceed $50 per capita
"a. Government ownership and opera
tion of railroads, telegraph and telephone
lines.
%. Opposition to alien ownership and of
holding land for speculation purposes.
IS. Opposition to court-made law
~. Opposition to trusts.
'S. We especially recommend the initia
tive and referendum and the imperative
mandate"