Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-25
FOR BRYAN
Demonstration by the
PopuIist Convention.
NOMINATION ASSURED
Enthusiastic Reception of the
Nebraskan's Name.
TRIED TO KEEP OTHERS OUT
Denounced as an Attempt to Apply
Gag Law"
TRIED TO KEEP OTHERS OUT
MANY EXCITING SCENEs

| Special From a Staff Correspondent.
ST. LOEIS, Mo-. July 25-The ropulis-s
were in a terrible state of confusion this
1 morning. The decnnat:en OF H,-yan to
\ stand for nomination with any but Sewall
| on the ticket took most of the convention
1 by surprise, in spite of its being obvious
| mat no other course was open to him
| ms n orning the leaders on both s.des
Were saying that Bryan must be nominated
| anyhow. The honorable position he has
| taken has made a profound impression
! uron the emotional clement of the conven-
| ton. They could not see yesterday why
| he should not throw Sewau overheard
| This morning they were hysterical over the
! lofty spirit Of self-saCrifce" which
| prompted his action. Inconsistency and
| vacillation are the characteristics of the
convention. on every hand the declaration
v as heard that Bryan must be nominated
! that be could he trusted 10 do the honora-
/ bic thing on all occasions. Even Col. Davis
| who has fought rot only SeWan hut BRYAN,
| from The start, said that the only thing was
| 10 nominate Bryan, ~ spite Of his doclina-
| tion TO have his name presented Senator
| Alien and leaders on mis- side said the same
| thing. All over the hail delegates were
| talking IN the same tone. There WAS no
| fixed purpose, however, and 4 speech which
/
| nent i'll minute. They Were completely
at sea. and were tossed by every wind thar
| blows. Some wanted to telegraph BRYAN
| TO reconsider, hat this was strongly on
| posed on The ground that il Is not right 10
| press him too much. There was a sent!-
nent IN favor OF changing Watson from
second TO first place, ana also in favor of
| Dehs.
| Debs Declines.
| The latter was communicated with late
| yesterday afternoon 10y some who knew Of
| the attitude Bryan had taken. Debs re-
| Piled that he would not accept the nomina-
| t"n The situation was generally regarded
, as threatening 10 the life Of the popllist
| party. Western men declared that the buIx
of the populist vote in their section would
| he cast for Bryan, no matter what this con-
| vention did, and that the populist party
| would be split Those men who regard
| silver as ''the least of all the planks in the
| ropulst platform" would probably not
| vcte Tor Bryan under any circumstances.
The Bryan men say that all who put sill
| yer first will support Bryan in November
| Two things have made an uncomfortable
| impression on the convention The open
| threat OF skinner, which he carried out,
| tfat lie would reverse the vote of North
| Carolina the order of business ii not
promised the vice presidency for the SOUTH
| has left bad taste in the mouths of some
| of the honest old farmers. 1t took a long
| time for the import OF the thing 10 get
| through their heads, but slowly the feeling
| of resentment and disapproval of such
| practical politics.
The placing of skinner in nomination he
| fore the convention for the vice presidency
| added to this impression, and the disap-
| N he
| which he got.
| The kissing of Senator Stewart and
| fusal to hear wha; nc had TO say excited
| still more intense feeling. The spirit of
| fair play which underlies the convention
| was offended. The incident is being dis
| ccssed with much bitterness. Men, even
| among those who do not agree with Stew
art, are saying that they have no use for
a convention that will insult an old white
| haired man who has been their apostle
| and advocate.
| The expressions of condemnation on one
! side excite retorts from the otter side, and
| the result is great bitterness.
The Bryan people refrained from reading
| Bryans declination before the nomination
| of the Vice President, because they dill
| rot want to be placed In the attitude OF
| making a threat. The men in control on
|
the peculiar characteristics of the
| they have 10 deal with, and they wanted
| to mark the contrast between their course
| and that of the North Carolina de1ega lion.
| The effect is perceptible.
! The Western PopcIists' Stand.
| The Bryan people have the sort of plat
| form they want. 1t was drawn with the
present emergency in view, the idea being
! TO have ii near enough to the Chicago plat
| form 10 admit OF western popui.sts being
| for Bryan even if this convention placed an
| independent ticket in the field. They do
| not hesitate to say that the western popu-
! lists will no; vote for Independent
| ticket, and to charge the southern men with
| responsibility for breaking up the populist
party in their determination 20 keep in the
| middle of the road Listening to This talk
| on the ore hand and then to the arguments
| and declaration on the OF her, the poor SIM
! ple-headed ard impressionable delegates
| who are really in the middle of the road
| but not at the two extremes, are IN a state
| o: nervods agitation, pulled this way and
/ hauled that until they DO not know where
| they are at" Their situation is pathetic
| in its bewilderment and helplessness.