The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-07-31
BRYAN AND WATSON
IA Compromise Ticket Selec-
j ted by the Populists.
MADE A GRAND FIGHT,
But Bryan Carried the Con-
vention by Storm.
MADE A GRAND FIGHT,

IAomaH WATSON, OF georgia VINO was
member of the fifty-fyst congress and
when in the fifty-second and ffsy-third
congresses unsucceesfuly contested Col.
Blacks seat, wac nominated for vice.
president by the populists convention on
the first ballot. There were five other
candidates, Sewall, Magee of Virginia,
Mimms OF Tennessee, Congressman
Skinner OF North Carolina and Colonel
Burkettof Missiseippi. The nomination
was made unanimous before the result Of
the roll call was announced. Bryan sent
word to his supporters that he would not
accept the nomination at the hands of the
convention under these circumstances.
He will stand Loyalty by his running
mate.
The opposition to Sewall practically
swamped the Bryan forces at the day
session of the convention, making it i'm
possible to prevent division of the
Chicago ticket. The leaders were pow
erleas to check the strong undercurrent
of feeling against the shipbuilder and
banker. They had carried the day in the
committee on resolutions in framing a
comparatively moderate platform which
they afterwards got through the conven-
ton with ease. Their strategy was skill
fully displayed at other points But the
intense Hndercurrellt Of feeling against
Sewall was fatal to them. In vain they
attempted to bridge it. Moreover, for the
first time the middle-of the.road element
displayed q generalship worthy Of the
name. Recognizing the fact that all the
hope of defeating Bryan's nomination
was lost, they concentrated all their
efforts against Sewall They did more,
they devised cunning scheme by which
the convention was forced to nominate a
vice president before president. It was
an unprecedented thing and it served to
mass the votes in favor OF the populiets
candidate for vice president and uncover
them in advance, in the fear that if
Bryan was nominated, the enthusiasm
might break down the opposition to
Sewa.l and stampede the majority of votes
for the Nebraskan's running mate.
When the proposition was made to
change the regular order of nominations,
the Bryan men strained every nerve to
prevent it. They even pleaded When
the roll was called they rallied every vote
at their command. Senator Butler of
North Carolina was powerful ally with
95 votes of the old north state behind
him, and Congressman Skinner, chair
man of the delegation, cast the solid vote
OF the state against the change, When
the vote was figured up, however, and
he aecertained that there was majority
of 26 In favor of the proposition under
his direction, after very pretty theatri-
cal exhibition from Mr.. Skinner, the
vote of the delegation was cast for the
khn ttu
the contest with a majority of no. This
made the defeat of SeWall and the NOM
ination of a populist for vice-president
certain. After that the conference of the
joint committee of the two conventions
had come to nothing and the silver con-
vention promptly nominated Bryan and
Sewall and adjourned sine die.
The anti-Bryan men, although they
presented q minority report on platform
demanding an irredeemable paper cur.
rency and crowded with bitter denuncia-
tion of the democratic aud republican
parties, did not attempt to press it after
their victory. The majority report,
which is moderate and contains few
radical propositions, such as the demand
for gradual assumption by the govern
ment OF the ownership of railroads and
for direct legislation, through the initia-
tive and referendum, was adopted without
division and the minority report laid on
the table. The democratic managers
consulted after 1t became evident that
sewali could not be nominated and
Bryan was communicated with by tele-
graph.
Tom Patterson of Colorado, who had
possession of the telegram announcing
Bryan's position, at midnight still de-
clined tomake it public. The democratic
leaders declared that Bryan would not be
disloyal to his running mate and word
was sent to the leading Bryan men ia the
convention that the silver knight of the
West would not accept the nomination
unless SeWall was also nominated.
The convention for FIVE hours listened
to nominating speeches in profound ig
norance Of this fact. Tom Watson OF
Georgia, Congressman Skinner OF North
Carolina, Biimms oil Tennessee, Burkett
oil Mississippi and Mann Page were
nominated. About Ii o'clock the Bryan
men decided to spring the convention.
Senator Stewart OF Nevada was selected
to make the announcement, coupled
with plea for unity in the silver forces,
but the anti-sewall crowd was In the
saddle. They howIed down the venerable
senator and after hurried consultation
decided not to permit the announcement
to be made at that time.
WEAVER's NOMINATING SPEECH
Gather yielded part Of his time to
General Weaver who presented tie name
Of William ]. Bryan. General Weaver
said:
in that midnight discussion between
Brutus and Cassius concerning the con-
tempIated battle at Phillip, Brutus
urged that their cause was ripe, their
legions brimful at the height and ready
10 decline. He said:
There Is q tide in the affairs Of men,
Which taken at the fIood leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyages Of their life
Is bound in shadows and miseries.n
And then, in dramatic climax, be ex-
claimed:
aOn such full SEA are we now addat, and we
must
Take the current when 1t serves.
Or lose cur ventures
For 20 years We have been pleading
with the people TO eapouse the sacred
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