The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-19
WATSON HOPEFUL
POpuIist Nominee for President
Is Formally Notified.
Ceremony Took Place in Cooper
Union, New York.
BIG CROWD PRESENT.
Praises Roosevelt But Condemns
His Methods.
Believes Existing Conditions
Believes Existing Conditions
Can't Last Forever.

Ign, chairman of the meeting, appeared
on the platform. There was mucf
cheering.
Chairman Boulton at once introduced
Judge Samuel w. Williams of Indiana
| who made the speech officially notify
ing the candidates of their selection.
In addressing Mr.. Watson, Mr.. Will
Jams said the convention that nonina-
ted him was made up of unselfsh, sell
sacrificing patriots who attended and
participated in it's deliberations solely
through a high sense of duty.
When Mr.. Watson arose to speak the
cheering continued nearly four min
utes. Chairman Boulton introduced him
in half a dozen words. simply referring
to him as the candidate of the Peoples
party.
Mr.. Watson then made his speech OF
acceptance.
Watson's Address.
Mr.. Watson gave up a great portion
of his address, to a discussion of the
Democratic and Republican platforms
and the candidacy of Judge Parker. He
referred to the Democratic candida tie s
gold telegram as follows:
Surrounded by the Wall street mag
mates who had financed his campaign
for two years, Judge Parker bided his
time till the perils of the two-thirds
late for the convention to retrace it's
steps-for even the Democratic bosses
require more than Is minutes to turn
completely around-he cracks the Wall
street whip over the heads of his lead
erS and with prompt obedience the
great Democratic legions were made to
furl their flag and reverse their line of
march,
At another point the speaker said he
would not venture to say a word
against Judge Parker's character, for
1 believe him to be an eminently worthy
man.
OF President Roosevelt, Mr.. Watson
said:
II have no words of abuse for Theo-
dore Roosevelt. 1 believe him to be a
brave, honest, conscientious man. 1
give him full credit for having a splend
id courage of conviction, but inasmuch
as he stands for those government prin-
ciples which. in my judgment, are huF-
rying this republic into a sOrdid des-
potlsm of wealth, I will combat him
and his principles long as there is
breath in my body"
Answering a self-asked question as to
why he consumed more time discussing
the Democrats than in speaking of the
Repu blicanS, the PopuliSt leader made
reply: 1T is an easier and quicker Job
to strike an open enemy right between
the eyes than it is to tear off the mask
from the face of a pretended friend and
show him to be the hypocrite that he
is"
The speaker said there was never
time when the plain people of America
were so dissatisfied with the conditions
which prevail in this republic.
Deep down in their hearts, he said,
the masses of the people feel that the
reins of power are slipping out of their
hands. In spite of all that can be done
by partisan press, the fact cannot be
concealed from the eyes of the average
citizen that the vast preponderance of
all the wealth produced in this land is
by legalized robbery in the
hands of a few; that the courts are run
in the interest of the few; that the law
power is manipulated by the
few, and that while both the old po- |
itical parties pretend to devote them |
selves to the interests of the common |
people, they are both financed by Wall |
street, both the willing and servile tools |
Of Wall street.
DO you need proof that the masses
are ready to rush to the support of any |
leader who is brave enough to chal- |
enge the right of the corporations to
rule the land? Why did they rally to |
". r. Hearst? Because he had taken |
sides with the masses, because he was |
oppression and pleading for |
he rights of the common man. There |
was from ocean to ocean an upheaval |
n his favor which astounded the pro- |
'essional politicians and strained all |
IF the resources of political strategy to |
1efeat that noble hearted champion of |
he Jefrersonian Democracy"
81 do not believe that six and a half |
million men VINO followed Bryan can
low be delivered like cattle to the |
who knitted the ticket, or
oolted in 1896. 1 believe that the great |
majority of the men who voted for
Bryan are men of convictions; cannot /
1ut hope they will realize that I am
lighting their battle now.
The men whose cause 1 would plead
before the bar of American public opin-
on are chiefly those VINO toll in the
hundred different fields of industry and
Who have never lifted their voices tc
six anything of this government ex-
ept just laws and honest administra-
ion They are the men of the mine,
ne mill. the shop and the field. I am
'roud to speak for these men and 1
,roud to proclaim their creed
Mr.. Watson declared for the public
wnership of railroads. asserting that
he trusts got their greatest support L
f an income tax. and on the currency
question said:
THE discoveries of new methods in
reating gold ores, the opening of vast
eposits of precious metal in so many
ifferent parts of the world illustrated
nd vindicated the Peoples party con-
ention on the subject of the currency
ather than discredited it. But no man
an tell wnen those veins will be ex-
auSted and when vast increases in our i
urrency will be discontinued And 1
yarn you now that when that day ar I
ives, contraction and the frightful re-
ults which have always followed from
will be upon YOU.
In concluding. Mr.. Watson said:
For myself, do not believe that the
resent tyranny of the corporation, the
monopoly and the autocracy of wealth |
an endure forever Some day, some |
heir resistless majesty and drive the {
surperS from the places they have !