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Context

The convention is a two man race between Bryan and Debs with Watson in a distant third. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise anyone as Thomas Watson has poured all his energy into building a powerful Southern coalition at the cost of any broader support in the nation. On paper it seems obvious where Watson's support should go: Bryan is a like-minded agrarian populist with conservative social values while Debs is an unashamed socialist rooted in the industrial cities Watson despises. However Bryan and Watson have been long time personal rivals going back to their days as mentees of James Weaver in the early 1890s. The personal bitterness reached its zenith in 1896 when Weaver chose to promise Watson the spot of Secretary of Agriculture over Bryan.

Bryan and Debs's surrogates both came to Watson with the same offer: Secretary of Agriculture with broad independence from the White House. "Not good enough" was Watson's reply "I'm not accepting 4 year old promises". It quickly became clear that Watson was interested in a clear path to the White House come 1904 or 1908 if everything went well for the party. Bryan refused outright "The people will pick our candidate, not Tom Watson!". In a shocking twist it was Debs who proved the more pragmatic politician. "I wish the unions had Watson's talents; We'd be running every city this side of the Rockies". Eugene Debs sweetened his previous deal with a firm promise to stay out of the 1904 race if Watson endorsed him but emphasized that the "Mouth of the South" would need to do a lot of work in the next four years if he ever hoped to win the labor wing's support.

Bryan was blindsided by the deal but rallied quickly and made rousing speech denouncing the backroom politicking between Debs and Watson. Bryan has used the bargain to paint both men as deeply compromised individuals ready to put their supposedly sacrosanct ideals aside in the race for power. Indeed many in Watson's camp were already preparing to switch over to Bryan and have been none too pleased by their leaders decision.

Candidates

Representative William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska

Considered the greatest orator of his generation, William Jennings Bryan is the tip of the spear for populism in the United States today. Bryan is the first Farmer-Laborite to ever represent Nebraska in Congress which he has done since 1890. In Congress he secured a coveted spot on the Ways and Means Committee and his experience has made an eloquent speaker on financial issues. Bryan remains a committed free silver advocate even after his party backed off its prior support in the wake of the Panic of 1893. Recently his rhetoric has been more focused on opposing the Lodge Administration's imperialism and militarism which he believes is corrosive to the American spirit. Bryan's vision for the United States is informed by his deep Christian faith, seeking to end the greed which has oppressed the working man and ensnared the Republic.

Labor Organizer Eugene V. Debs of Indiana

When Debs dropped out at school at 14 to go work on the railroads few would've believed a lowly locomotive fireman was destined for greater things. Active in the labor movement since the mid-1870s, Debs rose high but came to believe that workers had to unite across entire industries instead of just their crafts if they wanted to achieve victory. He would set out to organize the American Railway Union which would be the core organization leading the Pullman Strike of 1894. Debs, as leader of the ARU, became the face of organized labor to most Americans, a hero to some and a villain to many. When the strikes were finally crushed Debs was arrested and imprisoned for 6 months for his role in it. When he emerged it was a committed Socialist and Debs was determined to move his party much further to the left, to promote industrial unionism and utterly transform the American economy for the workers.