Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-07-31
Bryau's Message withheld From the
Observation-Disclosures Committee IL
Given Plenary Powers to Deai
With the situation-Middle
of the Readers Ready
for Another Ticket

nominated in the face of his own pro-
tests in the shape of telegram direct
ing the withdrawal OF his name, to
Senator Jones, sent after Sewall, his
running mate, had been dltched Tor
the vice presidential nomination and
Thomas e. Watson of Georgia had
been named for second place on the
ticket. 1t was also made in the face
of an opposition SO bitter that after
the convention adjourned some of the
radicals held trump" convention.
The last session of the convention,
which lasted from $50 Saturday
morning until almost o'clock in the
afternoon, was marked by scenes of
turbulence and noisy excitement
which several times bordered on
actual riot and which almost precip-
itated personal collisions One fist
fight did occur, a delegate was elected
and West Virginia delegate, in
famed by the action of the conven-
ton, walked sullenly out of the hall.
The storm center, as on the three pre-
vious days, was in the Texas delega-
ton. But the really dramatic feat
ures of this wild session were enacted
behind the scenes. Rumors of what
was going on in the wings reached the
delegates, but they knew nothing
definitely, and to the very end mes
sage from Mr.. Bryan, which might
have changed the result, was kept
from their ears
The Populist Bryan managers de-
- a. NJ hn ~
Bryans telegram, % nominate him and
straighten out the tangle afterward.
They started out to rush his nomina-
ton through before any other candi-
dates could be put in the field. But
the interference was too much for
them, and their line was broken.
Henry L. Call of New York, form
erly of Kansas, nominated 5. f. Nor
ton of Chicago. He eulogized Mr..
Norton as "philanthropist, a man of
the people and pioneer in the cause
of reform
General Weaver of Iowa, the Popu-
list candidate in 1892, placed Bryan in
nomination, and General Field of Vir-
ginia, who was his running mate,
after brief speech, moved to make
the nomin alton unanimous. Chairman
Allen held the motion was in order,
and that, until that motion was de-
cided, the call of States for nomina-
tions, which was the order of tae con-
vention. could not proceed. This
ruling almost precipi;ated riot. and
there probably would have been
serious trouble had not the Bryan
leaders wisely concluded to abandon
this, so regarded, high-handed pro-
gram.
Oratorical Floodgates Opened.
But in doing SO they opened the
floodgates, and for six hours the con-
vention was deluged with oratory.
Almost every state and territory had
it's inning on the platform. Most of
the speakers seconded Bryan's nomi-
nation. About fifty seconding
speeches were made and some of them
were both eloquent and brilliant.
The middle Of the-road contingent in
sisted upon knowing at every oppor-
tunity, in view of his telegram,
whether Bryan would stand on the
platform and accept the nomination.
But all of these pointed questions
were neatly parted. Judge Green of
Nebraska and others vouched for
Bryan's sympathy with Populistic
principles, but that was all the salts
faction the radicals could get. The
Texas delegation then sent message
to Bryan at Lincoln, putting the di-
rect question to him. To this no an
swer was received, but the Democratic
candidate had been in constant tele-
graphic communication with Senator
Jones, chairman of the Democratic
committee, and word came to the con-
vention hall that Jones had message
which he wanted the convention to
hear.
The Key to the Complications.
1t was then that, upon the sugges-
ton of Senator Allen, a motion was
carried IN the confusion, just before
the ballot was taken, that may prove
the key by which the complications
attending the desired union of ali the
silver forces may be unlocked. 1t was
motion comforting upon the national
committee plenary powers all the
power, as the motion stated-of the
convention itself. Some of the radi-
Gals pricked up their ears when the
motion was put, and there was a
vague protest, but it is certain that
the rank and file of the convention
did not realize it's full import.
The Message From Bryan.
As the roll call was proceeding,
Governor Stone of Missouri appeared
on the platform with the Bryan mes
sage, but Senator Allen would not
permit him to read it to the conven-
ton, and Stone retired, very mach
disconnected. The Populist leaders
had decided to go ahead with Bryan's
nomination, irrespective of the wishes
of the Democratic managers. Rumors
that such a message was in the con-
vention aroused the Lone Star dele
gates to frenzy, and Stump Ashby de-
manded to know If there was mes
sage from Bryan on the secretary's
table Chairman Allen promptly re-
sponded that there was not, but that
there was some talk of Fictitious"
message somewhere; he had not
seen II.