Watson's weekly Jeffersonian., 1907-08-08
BRYAN AND HEARsT-ANp wArsoNl

BRYAN AND HEARST-AND WATSON!
Hearst and Mr. Bryan is exciting more than ordi-
nary comment throughout the South and the coun-
try.
There be no doubt that the rumor il true will
have large bearing upon the next Democratic con-
vention and upon the next national election
Whether this understanding revolves around the
candidacy Of Mr.. Bryan for the presidency or of
Mr. Hearst for the presidency, whether the two
to stand behind Southern candidate the ele-
ment of essential interest in it is the union of two
great forces that for twelve years have been either
cool or antagonstic to each other.
That Bryan and Hearst are the two great person
alites in the Democratic party, no sane man will
question and no honest will gainsay.
The great evangel of Nebraska has gone like
Peter the Hermit up and down the country arousng
the people to crusade for liberty and purity.
The great Democratic editor from the mouths of
eight great daily newspapers has thundered day
after day and week after week to an audience a
thousand times large, the principles of a real
Democracy and inspiration to a real government
OF the people beyond the tyranny Of predatory wealth
Whatever the causes that swept Hearst and Bryan
apart they causes that contributed most poten-
TALLY to the Democratic defeats for the last twelve
years, and whatever the causes that bring them
together they will contribute most nightly to the
success Of the Democratic party In the future Mr..
Hearst has personal following as large as that
OF aICnOuSh Will not pc generally conceded.
Mr.. Bryan has his personal following devoted, in
fuential and sincere. And these two mutitudes
catching something from the spirit of the leaders
have either been loyal and cooperative apathet-
ic and Indifferent to each other.
There lacks yet another element to make this
combination potential and almost conclusive to Dem
ocratic The missing link to this combination
lives in Georgia and we do not need to name Tom
Watson as the man. Mr. Watson is still the idol
of the old Popust party whether that party remains
intact or whether 1t has been gathered into the
pie bosom of it's reformed mother of Democracy
Mr. Watson is also the friend and idol of the farmer
South and West and center. His magazine stands
almost as Of the organs of that great body Of
thirteen hundred thousand farmers known as the
Farmers Union His name is indfssolubly linked
with reform measures and popular liberty and the
rights of the people. We have abler in the
South than Tom Watson, and by the light Of the
records no cleaner, braver and more honest pub
licst in all the country. He has been consistent
against his interests loyal without regard to pre-
ferment and true to his principles when he might
have triumphed by the most casual deviation from
their lines Such a not fail to command
influence and to deserve friends We make bold to
say that If Tom Watson would Join his forces to
those Of Hearst and Bryan it would add to the
strength Of that combination large majority Of the
thirteen hundred thousand members OF the Farm
ers Union 1t would lend to the incom.
parable advocate and ncorruptible statesman
We sincerely hope that Mr.. Watson will fall into
line ,a., 49,.