The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-25

ST, LOUIS, July c4.-The opposition to
scwal In the Popullst convention prac-
tirally swampcd the Bryan forces at the
day session OF the convention. by max
Ing It impossible 70 prevent q division
Of the Chicago ticket. The leaders were
rnwCrlcss to check the strong feeling
against the Bath ship-bulldcr and
banker. They had carried the day In
the committee on resolutions In framing
comparatively moderate platform
which they atterward got through the
convention with ease. Their strategy
was skilfully displayed at other points.
But the intense under-current OF feel
!rE against Sewall was fatal to them. 1t
was n sunkcn ditch unmarked upon the
battle field which clutching with Its
muddy fingers at the wheels of his artil-
hEy. bore down Napoleon and his eagles
Gt Waterloo. To-day the ditch was In
open view. From the beginning 1t has
saped like n chasm athwart the path OF
Bryan managers. In vain they at
tempted 10 bridge II. Moreover to-day
for the first time. the Middle Of the Road
element displayed generalship worthy OF
the name. Recognizing the face that nil
hope OF defeating Bryan's nomination
was lost, they concentrated all their
efforts against Sewall. They did more.
They devised q cunning scheme by
which the convention was forced to
nominate the vice president before the
President. 1t WAS an unprecedented
thing. but It served to mass the votes In
favor OF q Popultst candidate for vice
president and uncover them In advance
In the fear that. II Brynn were first
nominated. fhe enthusiasm might break
down the opposition to Sewall, and
stampede majority OF the votes for the
Ncbraskan'S running mate.
When the proposition was made to
change the regular order OF the nomina-
tons. the Bryan men strained every
nerve to prevent II. They even pleaded.
Jerry Simpson. on behalf lot, Kansas,
went 80 far as TO intimate that the vote
OF the Sunhower state would be cast for
n southern man for vice president IL the
regular order was not reversed When
the roll was called, they rallied every
vote at their command. Senator Butler.
OF North Carolina was n powerful any
with tho 95 votes Of the old North STATE
DtIItl4 MN. anu congressman SKINNER,
the chairman OF the delegation cast the
solid vote OF the stute against the
change.
When the vote was figured up, how
ever, and he aScertalned that there
was a majority OF twenty-six In favor
OF the proposition. under his direction,
after very pretty theatrical exhibition
from Mr. Skinner. the vote OF the dele
cation was cast for the proposition and
the antrs emerged from the contest
with a majority OF 10 This made the
defeat OF Sewall and the nomination
Of Popullst for vice president certain.
.Nfter that the conference OF the joint
committee OF the two conventions
could come to nothing and the silver
convention promptly nominated Bryan
and Sewall and adjourned sine die.
Thomas Z. Watson. OF Georgia, who
was member or the Fifty-flrst Con-
crcs and who In the Fifty-second and
Fitty-th!rd Congresses unsucccssfully
contested Col. Blacks seat. was nomi-
nated for vice president Of the Populst
convention shortly after midnight on
the first ballot. Mr.. Bryan sent word
TO his supporters that he would not nc
ccpt n nomination at the hands OF the
convention under these circumstances.
II" Will stand loyalty BY his running
Eale. @