Connecticut western news., 1896-07-30

gates wore favorable to Bryan for presi- dent, but the. major element known as the middle of the road faction. was op- posed to Sewall for vice president
 The usual order of proceedings was re- versed. The nomination of vice president was made before that of president
 ! The names of half dozen candidates were placed before the convention for vice president, and Thomas K Watson of Geor- gia was nominated on the first roll call. The middle of the road people won vio- tory in effecting the rejection of Sewall
 Notwithstanding the receipt of one or more telegrams from William J. Bryan declining to permit the use of his name on the Populist ticket unless Arthur Sew all was also indorsed, Bryan was formally nominated for president on the first ballot. The whole number of votes cast was 1875, of which Bryan received 1,042, Eugene V. Debs 8, s. F. Norton of Chicago 321, J. s. Coxey l and Ignatius Donnelly 8.
 In view of the fact that the middle of the roaders had been deserted by every one of their more prominent leaders, they OCT tainly put up better fight than many at first anticipated. The Texans cast their solid 103 votes against Bryan. The Ala bama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ken lucky, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin Pops divided their votes, but they stuck fairly we'll to the middle of the road Tex ans.
 Sketch of Thomas E. Watson
 Thomas E. Watson of Thomson, Ga. who was nominated by the Populists for vice president, was born In Columbia county, Ga, Sept. 5, 1856. He received common school education and was then sent to Mercer university, Macon, Ga At the end of his sophomore year he left col lege for lack of funds and taught school two years. He read law for few weeks under Judge W. R. MoLaws of Augusta, Ga, and was admitted to the bar, com menoing the practice of the profession at Thomson, his old home, November, 1876. He was a member of the Georgia legisla- ture 1SS2-3; was Democratic elector for the state at large in 1888, and besides the practice of law has been and Is still largely interested in farming. He was elected to the Fifty second congress as & Democrat, receiving 5, 456 votes, against 397 votes for Anthony F.. Williams, Re publican.
 Mir. Watson served but one term in con- gress, being succeeded in the Fifty-thir | by James c. c. Black, who was elected as a Democrat. receiving IT, 772 against | l2, 333 votes received by Mir. Watson who ran as the candidate of the Peoples Party. He also ran as Populist for the Fifty fourth congress from the same district, | but was again defeated by MT. Black. 1 Watson's unique personality made him B conspicuous figure In the house of repre- sentatives. He was a fiery debater and took part in numerous hot parliamentary | fights. In personal appearance Watson Is thin and angular, with a clean shaven | lace of intellectual cast and thick mop lof auburn hair
 | The Platform.
 The following platform was adopted: Preamble.-The Peoples Party. assem- bled in national convention, reaffirms its allegiance to the principles declared by the founders of the republic and also to the fundamental principles of just govern ment as enunciated in the platform of the party in 1892, but recognizes that through the action of the present and preceding administrations the country has reached a crisis in its national life as predicted in our platform four years ago, and at present prompt and patriotic action is the su- preme duty of the hour. We realize that while we have political independence our Financial and industrial independence is yet to be attained by restoring to the peo- ples government the constitutional con arol and exercise of the functions necessary to that end, which functions have been basely surrendered by our public servants to corporate monopolies- The influence of European money changers has been more potent in shaping legislation than the voice of the American people. Executive power and patronage have been used to corrupt our legislatures and defeat the will of the people, and plutocraoy has thereby been enthroned upon the ruins of Democracy. To restore the government If tho fathers and for the welfare and prosperity of this and future generations we demand the establishment of our eco nomic and financial system which shall make us masters of our own affairs and independent of European control by the adoption of the following declaration of principles:
 Finance demand a national cur renoy, safe and sound, issued by the gen sral government only, a full legal tender for all debts, public and private and with put the use of banking corporations, an honest, equitable and efficient means oi
 distribution direct to the people and through the lawful disbursements of the government.
 We demand the free and unrestricted coinage of silver and gold at the present
 egal ratio of 16 to by the United Statei
 without waiting for the consent of foreigl
 nations.
 We demand that the volume or ciroulas |, | ing medium be speedily increased to al
 amount sufficient to meet the demands c
 the business and population of this coun = try and to restore the just level of price
 of labor and production and thereby estat l fish prosperity and happiness for the pee | pie.
 We denounce the sale of bonds and tn | increase of the public interest bearing det ! made by the public administration as UT ! necessary and without authority of law
 and we demand law absolutely prohibit