Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-27
THE PoPULIsT CONVENTION.

The populist convention, after four
days of heat, turmoil and unlimited
oratory, completed its labors on satur-
day and adjourned sine die. Not
withstanding the receipt of one or
more kilograms from Mr.. William
]. Bryan, declining to permit the use
of his name on the populist ticket
unless Mr.. Arthur Sewall, his associ-
ate on the Chicago ticket, was also
Endorsed, Mr.. Bryan was put in formal
nomination, as originally contemplated
by Gen. Weaver, of Iowa, and was Sec
onded by one or more spokesman from
every State and territory, with about
ten exceptions, and on ballot received
1,O42 votes against 321 for Col. Norton,
OF Chicago, who, at the last moment,
was selected as the candidate of the un-
reconstructed "mlddleof.the-road" ele-
ment. Donnelly received 8 votes, Debs
s, and Coxey !.
1t was the intention of this faction
early in the morning to place Eugene
V. Debs in nomination and thus to
force the labor issue to the front, but
Mr.. Debs telegraphed declining to serve
and his telegram was respected. Siren
uous efforts were made without avail
by Ignatius Donnelly and others to OBJ
tain some kind of an assurance that Mr..
Bryan would accept the nomination
and stand upon the platform. The
permanent chairman, Senator Allen, OF
Nebraska, admitted that he had re-
ceived some kind of telegram from
Mr.. Bryan, but he said he had paid no
attention to it. He also SAID he had re-
ceived one supposed to be from Gov
ernor Stone, but would not open it I'M
til he had reached his home in Ne
braska.
Before adiourning the convention
adopted resolution clothing the ma
tional committee with plenary powers
to do anything and everything which
the convention itself might have done
if in session. This, of course, would au.
thorize it to take down the names of
either Mr.. Bryan or Mr.. Watson, or
both, if necessary. and to construct an
entirely new ticket. The national
committee was enlarged so as to
consist of three members from
each State and territory. But, nat
urally, the power conferred upon this cum
brous body will eventually be lodged in an
executive committee of more manageable size.
A noticeable feature Of the last moments OF
the convention was the fact that, though the
result of the ballot for President was an
nounccd, it was not followed up by any de-
claration on the part Of the chair that Bryan
had been duly chosen the candidate of the
peoples party for President of the United
States. The convention separated in bad
humor, many Of the delegates openly de-
nounting the ticket as theatrical one
Mr. Bryan says his acceptance of the nomi-
nation depends upon the conditions that 90
with it.
The populist national committee held its
first meeting Saturday night. After quito
spirited contest, Senator Butler, of North
Carolina, was elected chairman on the second
ballot. The propensity for discussion was SO
irrepicssble that one of the members called
attention to the fact that the campaign lasted
but four months and it was imperative that
the committee organize before that period OF
time had elapsed.
Senator Butler, ofNorth Carolina, chairman
of the populist national committee, said yes
to-day that Mr.. Watson would not be With
drawn if Mr. Sewall did not withdraw. The
two campaigns would be conducted separately
on parallel lines, but that he hoped the vote
would be united.