The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-16
POPS FEED WITH TOM WATSON.
RAISE 4 STiNDARD no winch
RiDICiLS NAY REPiIR.
We Are the Real 1hing In Democracy.
says Thomas. and There's Nothing to
Choose Between the Two iiig Parties
Roosevelt as a PRETTY Good Democrat

The city committee Of the People =
party had the Hon Thomas Il. Watson
TO dinner last night In the course OF a
dozen five minute speeches, preceding
an Grafton by Mr.. Watson, they made it
plain that they regarded President Roose-
Welt as honest if mistaken. but not half bad
on the whole. For the Democratic party.
on the other hand and especially for It's
late candidate. they have nothing but con-
tempt Hearst is all right and Cleveland
is o lost soul
Mr.. Watson announced cheerfuly that
he led forlorn hope in 1904.
In spite Of the abuse and rdicule heaped
upon ia, he said I'VE glory in the fact
that we upheld the banner Of IefTersonian
Democracy at time when the trusted
leaders had weakly surrendered. The
Democratic party had grown weary Of the
virtue which meets with no earthly re-
ward. We are tired of Icing in the mi
noritv,' cried the Democratic party, and
they astonishcd mankind 10y trying To win
the game with cards the Republicans mad
already dealt to themselves.
The result was precisely what might
have been expected 10y anybody except
The party that chose August belmont Tor
it, cashier Grover Cleveland for its wet
Dave HiI's political pupil for its presi-
dental nominee Now the smoke OF bat
tic ia lifted. the campa gn liar is at rest;
James Creeman has turned his attention
10 Thomas " Lawson
In the campaign Of 1904 the Repuo-
Leans stood for conservatism; the Demo-
Gratis stood for conservatism: no issues
were raised. they did not even alarm
each other The difference between Roose-
volt and Parker was 2 mystery which their
enemies failed 10 discover and their friends
refused to betray.
himself md Debs. said Mr.. Watson, the
big parties have got a move on and are
pretending 10 mako radical reforms II
was tho campaign Of 1904 that put fire on
the terrapin'S back and made that con-
servative animal begin 10 crawl
we can hope for nothing from the old
parties. What is the hope Of the country?
The union Of all the radicals. We must
draw from the Republican party those
VINO oppose class Law and money bag
ari-tocracy. We must draw from the
Democratic party every true Jefiersonian.
What they viii need after that, Nj. Wat
son thinks is Leaders. strong. incorrupuble
leaders. who don't wait until the conven-
ton meets to find out what they believe,
we must give back TO the people, he
concluded. "the power TO initiate and veto
legislation the right TO control their repre-
sentatives; the right to remove the office
holder who betrays his trust
Chairman Thompson said that all good
Populists are ready TO support any good
movement like fusion against such an
organization as Tammany.
George l.. Rusby of New jersey said;
I'm from New Jersey. Now laugh
darn you!"
J. f. Phelps Stokes said that The desire
for party and group advantage has under
mined our political system.
Alfred J. Boulton said. Roosevelt ia
the best Democrat who has sat in the Presi-
dental chair since Lincoln.
Better than Cleveland" cried n voice
from the audience.
Il thinl, that Cleveland was the worst Of
the whole lot