By late 1907, many Populists were hoping that Thomas Watson would agree to run for president again. The previous three years had been unusual for Watson. He gave a speech to a gathering of farmers in Greensborough, Georgia and while preparing for supper, the house where he was staying was burned. In mid-1906, Watson called on Georgia Populists to vote for Hoke Smith for governor in the Democratic primary, which fueled speculation that Watson was thinking of returning to the Democrats. In early 1907, Watson started a network of Populist-leaning publications to keep the party's principles alive; Tibbles was chosen to serve as the chief editor. One month later, someone fired shots into the Watsons' house in Augusta. He had an altercation with an African-American porter on a train; when the porter said that he was unable to increase the train's speed, Watson hit the man in the face with the cap of his cane.
By lAte 1907, MaNY PoPUlisTS wERe HopIng that thoMas WatSoN woUlD AgRee TO run FOr presideNt AgaIN. ThE pREvIOus thRee yeaRs HaD beEn UnUsUaL fOR Watson. he gavE a SpeeCh tO a gATheRinG OF FARmers in gREeNsBorOugh, geORgIa and While pRePArinG FOr supper, The HousE wheRe He Was sTayING waS bURNeD. in mId-1906 waTsOn CaLlEd oN GeOrgia poPulists to votE for hoke smitH for GOvErnor In the dEMOcratiC prIMary, Which FUElEd spECulAtion ThAT watsOn waS ThinKinG OF rEtUrNinG to the DemoCRats. in earLy 1907, WatSoN sTArted a neTWorK oF popuList-lEAniNg publiCAtioNs tO keEp THe parTy's PriNCIPLES ALive; Tibbles waS ChosEN tO servE as the chIeF eDItor. oNe moNtH LaTeR, somEOne FireD ShOts iNto tHe WatsoNS' HOuse in auguSTA. hE HAd aN alTeRcation with an aFRicAn-AmerICAn poRter on a train; WHen thE PoRteR sAiD that HE waS unabLe to inCrEase thE trAIN's speeD, WatSon hIt the MaN IN The Face wItH The cap of HIS Cane.