The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-02
POPS DIVIDE
ON MR.. Bn7AN
Third Party May Now
Disintegrate.
WATSON FOR THE NEBRAsKAN
He and Tibbles Win Support the
Democrats.
That Is II Platform Is aRishtr--srid-
Readers are Not Satisfied
and May Break
Away.


j.. Bryan is not having an easy time
of it corralling the PopuIist vote.
Already there is split in that parry,
one wing Of which will tight Bryan or
any other Democrat. to the end Of the
campaign, while the other wing has de-
cided to support Bryan provided the
right sort Of man IL nominated on
the right" sort of platform.
The anti wing the one which will
fight Bryan or a fusion with any party,
is formidable in name. at least, since
1t has behind 1t the regular party or
ganization and is headed by the ma.
tfonal chairman, j. w. Ferrisg of H.
ltnois. Opposed to Ferriss and sup
porting Bryan are Tom Watson Of Geor-
gia and Thomas H Tibbles of Omaha.
Watson has expressed himself in let
tiers to Western Populists (and the in
formation is here printed for the FIRST
time) that he will oppose. both with
his personal influence and through the
newspapers, any attempt at a third
party nomination this year. However,
the third party movement, he Will OPP
pose only on condition that Bryan
or some other man as acceptable-shail
be at the head of the Democratic tick
ct: that the second place shall be Civ
en- to some strong man: and that the
platform shall be modelled, to certain
extent. on past platforms. He will not
support a platform which takes many
steps backward.
And TibbIes Cosncldes.
Thomas Fl. Tibbles. Watson's run
ming mate four years ago, comedies
with Watson in the position taken by
the Georgia statesman and Is doing and
will continue to do everything he can
to bring about complete support OF
BRYAN by the PopultstG
Tibbies Ia better known among West
ern fsopulists than Is watson or any
other Populfst leader and his counsel
IL having great influence on the move
naent among the POPS I.
But Tlbbfes also insists that NO
back ward steps shall be taken when
1 the Democratie platform - being write
ten and when the running ahafe Of the
Presidential roIninee II named.
OF the other hand. r. W. Ferrisa.
chairman Of the Populist National Corn-
mittee. supported by the uatd-road Pop
I1ilists, is deterfnined that q third party
nomination shall be made. no matter
who tine democratic nominee Is. and in
spite Of any platform upon which he
may stand.
'iThey (the Populists) viii tear
themselves to pieces rather than go
into another fusion DEAL" he writes.
And regarding the sending OF dele
gates to the St. Louis convention OF
the party, he says: "Can they (the
western delegates) come into the con-
vention openly supporting a candidate
OF another party?"
The watson and Tibbles people be.
Iieve they can muster enough delegates
at the st Louis Convention TO prevent
separate ticket from being placed
In the field, and IL they are success
full, IL Is believed the Ferriss, or mid
knl -
vention and nominate man of their
own.
II will do all I can to keep down
hosfilities and prevent an open fight
as much as possible" writes Ferriss,
but you know how Populists are. They
will tear themselves to pieces rather
than go into another fusion deal"
fusion with Democrats.
But, IL the ''midroaders'' control the
st. Louis Convention and place in NOM
inalion a third party ticket. the Wat
son Tibbles Populists will not bolt the
convention, but will simply refuse to
support the ticket placed in nominas
tion.
wherever the watson-ribbles Pops
can control the State committee ma
chinery, 1t will be their policy to put
forward as Presidential electors the
same men selected by the Democrats,
TINS bringing about practically fusion
in those States, in spite OF the third
marty candidate and the Ferriss crowd.
All of which means that while Bry-
an, should he be nominated VIII re-
ceive great many Populist votes. yet
he will not, by any means. get the en-
tire vote Of the party. Ferriss has
great many followers; there are many
PopuIists who will refuse to vote for
BRYAN. and there are many Populists
who believe In the ''mid-road" move-
ment.
on the other hand. there are thous-
ands of Populists in the South and West
who believe with watson and Tibbles
and will vote for Bryan II the plat
form is right In Nebraska, alone.
leading Pcoulists Slain these will num-
Der at least 10000.
tIowever. 1t Is a divided vote which
the Democratic nominee will receive,
and not the enthusiastic support and
vote of the old-t Populist Party.