The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-15
MIR. wATsON,s STATEMENT.


Mr.. Watson takes himself too seri-
ously. much more seriously than his
fellow citizens take him. Just before
the election he called upon the voters
of Georgia 10 disregard party lines
and to vote for him. which advice they
didn't take. There are Populists in
Georgia and they voted for him, but
there is no evidence that any consid-
| cradle number of Democrats voted for
| him. Now he wants Democrats all
| over the country to abandon their
party, because. as he says, they can
not agree among themselves. and join
him in forming a new party. 1t is a
safe prediction thex-will do nothing of
the kind. Some of the Democrats may
not be In entire harmony with every
thing in the Democratic platform, but
that platform comes nearer satisfying
them than the Populist platform does,
and is much more satisfactory to them
than any platform that would be &C
ceptable to Mr. Watson.
But what makes Mr.. Watson think
he could form new party that would
sweep the country? The vote he re-
ceived in the recent election wasn't
phenomenal. 1t wasn't any where
near as large as some other Populist
candidates for President have re-
ceived. MIR. Watson didn't get a sin
gle electoral vote. He claims he re-
ceived 100000 votes. It isn't certain
that ha hut ha
did. that isn't half as many as Gen.
Weaver, the Populist candidate in 1882
received. Besides. Gen. Weaver re-
ceived % electoral votes.
Mr.. Watson didn't receive as many
votes as Mr.. Debs, the Socialist can
didate for President. 1t is conceded
that Mr.. Debs received 1000 votes.
With more reason. therefore, as far as
popular strength is concerned, Mr..
Debs might assume that he could form
new party. with his party as nu-
cleus, that would sweep the country.
Mr.. Watson says, however, that a
great many voters cast their ballots
for Mr.. Roosevelt that would have
voted for him if they had thought he
had any chance of success. That is
an opinion with which few will agree.
Perhaps Mr.. Watson wouldn't enter-
tain it if his hatred of Mr.. Cleveland
were not SO great that it clouds his
Judgment. If the people thought as
well of him as they do of Mr.. Cleve-
land he wouldn't have occasion to ex-
plain why he received so few votes.
1t is evident from Mr.. Watson's
statement that he is preparing to be
a candidate for Governor of Georgia
at the next gubernatorial election. He
is going to break the hold, he says,
which Morgan and Belmont. and other
Wall street men have on the state.
Perhaps that is the main reason why
he wants to form new party. He
wants the Democrats of Georgia to join
the new party he has in view and make
him Governor. If he is banking on
anything of that kind he will be dis
appointed. There are Populists in
Georgia who would doubtless be glad
of a chance to vote for him for Gov
ernor. but the Democrats who would
help to give him that office are few
in number. The Democrats are not
so much in need Of gubernatorial tim
Der that they have to go outside of
their own party for It.
Mr.. Watson is mistaken in thinking
that the Democratic party is torn by
factions. 1t hasn't been SO harmoni-
Gus in years as it is at present. It is
true that in his recent statement Mr..
Bryan mentioned as Democratic issues
in addition to those contained in the
Democratic platform an income tax
and bimetallism. He doesn't think it
wise, however. to urge bimetallism at
this time, and the chances are he will
never again urge 1t, because he is wise
enough to see that the gold standard
is firmly established, not only by law
but also with the full approval of the
people. AS to an income tax, there
is about as much difference of opinion
| In respect to 1t in the Republican as
in the Democratic party. The stat es
seem to be taxing incomes in so many
ways that the people are becoming
satisfied with that settlement of the
income tax question. We are inclined
to think that Mr.. Watson will win
greater reputation and please the peo-
pie better IL he devotes his time to
this work on the life of Andrew jack
son than IL he undertakes to run the
| politics of the country.
|
AN UNPOPULAR wan