The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-26
RIOTS NARROWLY AVERTED
HOW THE CHAIRMAN SUPPRESSED
BRYAN'S ALLEGED DECLINATIoN.
"Rump" Convention Organized by
States, but Nothing Accomplished.

ST. LOUIS. July 25.-william Jennings
Bryan, of Nebraska. who was nominated
by the Democratic convention at Chicago a
fortnight ago, was to-day made the stand
ard-bearer of the Populist party by vote
of 10i7 to 331.
The Democratic candidate was nominat-
ed in the face of his own protest in the
shape of a telegram directing the with
drawal Of his name sent to Senator Jones,
after Sewall. his running mate. had been
ditched for the vice-presidential nomina-
ton last night. and Thomas E. Watson,
Of Georgia, had been named for second
place on the ticket. 1t was also made in
the teeth of opposition so bitter that
after the convention adjourned some of
the radicals held a 'rump'' convention.
The last session Of the convention, which
lasted from $3.50 this morning until al
most o'clock this afternoon, was marked
by scenes of turbulence and noisy excite
ment, which several times bordered on ac-
tual riot and what almost precipitated
personal collisions. One fist fight did oc-
cur. A Rhode Island delegate was elected
and West Virginia delegate, inflamed by
the action of the convention, walked sud
denly out of the hall. The storm center, as
on the three previous days, was in the
Texas delegation, but the really dramatic
features of this wild session were enacted
behind the scenes. Rumors of what was
going on in the wings reached the dele
gates, but they knew nothing definitely,
and at the very end a message from Mr.
Bryan, which might have changed the re-
suit, was kept from their ears. To add TO
the other features of the day, the conven-
ton was without music and the hall was
Uttered and bestrewn with the CRIME and
dirt of yesterdays twelve-hour sitting. 1t
was not expected that the convention
would last more than three days, and the
contract made with the local committee
expired last night.
The Populist-Bryan managers desired at
the outset to-day to disregard Mr.. Bryan's
telegram of last night, TO nominate him
and straighten out the tangle afterwards.
They started out to push the nomination
through before any other candidates could
be put in the field, as a football team, by
means of brilliant flying wedge some
times forces goal. But the interference
was too much for them and their line was
broken.
ALMOST A RIOT.
General Weaver, of Iowa. the Populst
candidate of 1892 placed Bryan in nomina-
ton and General Field. of Virginia, who
was his running mate, after brief speech
moved to make the nomination unanimous.
Chairman Allen held the motion was in
order and that until that motion was de-
cided the call of States for nominations,
which was the order of the convention,
could not proceed. The ruling almost pre-
cipitated a riot. Some cheered, some
cursed, some fought and there would prob
ably have been serious trouble had not the
Bryan leaders wisely concluded to abandon
this so regarded high-handed programme.
But in doing so they opened the flood
gates and for six hours the convention was
deluged with oratory Almost every State
and Territory had it's inning on the plat
form. Most of the speakers seconded
Bryan's nomination. About fifty second
ing speeches were made and some of them
were both eloquent and brilliant.
The riddle-o of -the-road contingent in
sisted upon knowing at every opportunity,
in view of his telegram. whether Bryan
would stand on the platform and accept
the nomination. But all these pointed
questions were neatly parried. Judge
Green. of Nebraska. and others vouched for
pies. but that was all the satisfaction the
radicals could get. The Texas delegation
then sent a message to Bryan at Lincoln.
putting the direct question 10 him. To this
no answer was received. but the Demo-
cratic candidate had been in constant tele-
graphic communication with Senator Jones'
chairman of the Democratic committee.
and word came TO the convention hall that
Jones had a message which he wanted the
convention TO hear.
1t was then that, upon the suggestion OF
Senator Allen. a motion was carried in the
confusion just before the ballot was taken
that may prove the key by which the com
plications attending the desired union OF all
the silver forces may be unlocked. 1t was
a motion comforting upon the national
committee plenary powers-all the power
as the motion stated. of the convention
itself. Some of the radicals pricked VI
their ears when the motion was put. and
there was a vague protest. but IL is GER
tain that the rank and file of the conven-
ton did not realize its fun Importance. AS
the roll call was proceeding Governor
Stone, Of Missouri. appeared on the plat
form with the Bryan message. but Senator
Allen would not permit him TO read it tc