The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-25
ROUT OF BRYANITEs.
story I'm Brief of the Day and Night
Proceedings.

ST. LOUIS, July 2i.-The opposition to
Sewall in the Populist convention practical
ly swamoed the Bryan forces at the day
session by making IL impossible TO prevent
a division of the Chicago ticket. The lead
ers were powerless to check the strong
feeling against the Bath shipbuilder and
banker. They had carried the day in the
committee on resolutions in framing a COM
raratively moderate platform. which they
afterwards got through the convention
with ease. Their strategy was also skill
fClly displayed at other points. but the in
tense u1dercurrent of feeling against Sew
all was fatal to them 1t was a sunken
ditch, unmarked on the battlefield which,
clutchipg with its muddy fingers at the
wheels OF his artillery, bore down Napo-
leon and his eagles at Waterloo. To-day
the ditch was in open view. From the be-
ginning it has gaped like a chasm athwart
the path of the Bryan managers. In vain
they attempted TO bridge ii over More
over. to-day for the first time the middle
of-the-road element displayed generalship
worthy of the name. Recognizing the fact
that all hope of defeating Bryan's nomina-
ton was lost they concentrated all their
efforts against Sewall. They did more.
They devised a cunning scheme by which
the convention was forced to nominate the
Vice President before the President II
was an unprecedented thing, but it served
to mass the votes in favor of Pooulist
candidate for Vice President and uncover
them in advance in the fear that if Bryan
were first nominated, the enthusiasm might
break down the opposition to SewalI and
stampede a majority OF the votes for the
Nebraskans running mate
When the proposition was made to
change the regular order of the nomina-
ton the Bryan men strained every nerve
to prevent it. They even pleaded Jerry
Simpson, on behalf of Kansas. went so
far to intimate that the vote of the
Sunfower State would be cast for
Southern man for Vice President if the
regular order was not reversed When the
roll was called they rallied every vote at
their command Senator Butler. of North
Carolina, was a powerful ally with the
ninety-fve votes of the old North State
behind him and Congressman Skinner. the
chairman of the delegation, cast the solid
vote of the State against the change
When the vote was figured up. however.
and he ascertained that there was a ma
jority of twenty-six in favor of the opposi-
tion under his direction, after a very
pretty theatrical exhibition frcm Mr. Skin
ner, the vote of the delegation was cast
for the proposition and the antis emerged
from the contest with majority OF 110.
This made the defeat Of Sewal and the
nomination Of Populist for Vice Presi-
dent certain. After that the conference of
the joint committee OF the two conven-
ions could come 10 nothing and the silver
convention promptly nominated Bryan and
Sewall and adjourned sine die
The anti-Bryan men. although they pre-
sented 4 minority platform demanding an
irredeemable paper currency and crowded
with bitter denunciation of the Democratic
and Republican parties. did not attempt 10
press il after their victory. The majority
report which is moderate and contains
few radical propositions. such as a demand
for the gradual assumption by the govern
ment of ownership of the railroads and for
direct legislation. though the initiative and
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