The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-08
MR.. wATsoN's GRIEVANCE AND
PLAN.

PLAN.
In an interview in the New York
World, Mr.. Watson makes some state
ments that seem to show why he is
doing all he can to bring about the
election of Mr.. Roosevelt. In the first
place he has a grievance. He doesn't
think he has been rightly treated by
the Democratic party; and, in the sec
ond place, he hopes that if that PARTY
is defeated this year it will be reor-
ganized, and that he will be in the
front rank of the reorganizers. His
purpose, therefore, in assisting to de-
feat the Democratic party would seem
to be to get even with it for what
he considers past Sights, and TO show
its leaders that he is a much bigger
man than they gave him credit for be-
ing, by oustifg them from their posi-
tons and, with others of his way of
thinking. taking command of the party
and shaping it in accordance with his
views.
In the course of his interview, Mr..
Watson was asked this question:
(Which would you regard as the great
err disaster to the country, the defeat
of Judge Parker or the defeat of Mr..
ROOSEVELT" He refused to answer the
question directly, on the plea that he
himself was a presidential candidate,
but in the course of his response he
said: in 1896, Mr.. Bryan, who was
also the Democratic candidate, was
nominated for President by the Popu-
lists. The Democrats nominated Ar
thur Sewall for Vice President and
the Populists nominated me for the
same office. The understanding was
that l was to have some electors on
the Democratic ticket. Not an elector
was given me. The Democrats made
it plain that it was their purpose to
engulf the Populist party, to absorb
it entirely"
Here we have what appears to be
Mr.. Watson's grievance. He wasn't
given any electors on the Democratic
ticket. and he resents the alleged pur-
pose of the Democratic party to alb
sorb his party. The fact that the DEM
ocratic party didn't think his party
amounted to anything, made him it's
bitter enemy.
At the close of his interview in the
World Mr.. Watson was asked what
he thought would be the effect on the
Democratic party if it were defeated
this year. He said: Il suppose if the
Democratic PARTY is defeated this year.
there will be new party formed of
what is known as the Bryan Demo-
Gratis, the Hearst Democrats and the
Watson Populists." Here, apparent
ly, then we have the purpose Mr.. Wat
ocTatic party defeated so that he and
Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Hearst may re-
organize it on lines shaped by them.
Mr.. Watson is doomed to disappoint-
ment. The Democratic party may be
defeated this year. but in that, or
any other, event it will not be re-
organized by Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Hearst
and himself. Not a quarter of the
Democrats who voted for Mr.. Bryan
in 1896 and 1900 would follow him if
he were to attempt to reorganize the
party. AS for Mr.. Hearst, he has
no following. He couldn't have been
nominated for Congress in the district
he now represents, if Tammany had
not decided, for purposes of it's own,
to renominate him and Mr.. Watsons
Populist party is a thing of the past.
1t can never be resurrected. Mr.. Wat
son, however, in his interview shows
pretty clearly what appears to be his
grievance and his purpose.