The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-25
POSITION CLEARLY STATED.
WIRED JONES TO WITHDRAW HIS
NAME IF sEWALL WAS
BEATEN.
Middle of-the-ROad Crowd JubiIant,
But Quite Uncertain just What
to Do Next.

81. IOUlS,t July Z4.-Ar the evening
session the sensation Of the convention
was sprung. The Democratic man
ayers had consulted after it became
evident that Sewall could not be nom
municated with by telegraph They de-
cided that Mr. Bryan could not be in
duced to desert his running mate. and
word was sent to the leading Bryan
managers in the convention that the
Silver knight of the West would not
accept a nomination unless Sewall was
nominated. The convention for five
hours tonight listened to nominating
speeches, in profound ignorance CT
this fact. Senator Stewart, Of Nevada,
was selected to make the announce
ment. But the anti-Sewan crowd was
in the saddle. They howled down the
venerable senator, and after . hurried
consultation, the leaders decided not
to permit the announcement to be
made at that time.
1t was stated by a number of dele
gates who had seen the telegrams from
Bryan would not be nominated The
course to be pursued was not known,
but the impression*Wa that as soon as
Bryan's name was presented, the tele-
grams would be read and Bryan would
not be nominated and that some other
candidate would be selected for presi-
dent who, no one could tell. The sub
stance Of the telegram from Senator
Jones to Mr.. Bryan stated that the
convention had determined to name the
vice president first, and asking what
he would do in case Sewall was not
named. The reply stated that under no
circumstances could he accept a nomi-
nation if Sewall was not also named
1t is understood since the adjourn
ment that an effort was made to Sc
cure Bryan's consent to accept the
nomination. The middle-of-the-road
men say that with Bryan out of the
way the fight will narrow down to
Norton, of Illinois, and Debs, of In
diana ii
The reports current at the convention
hall tonight that Mr.. Bryan had an
nounced his determination not to ac-
cept the Populist nomination for pres
ident in case Of the rejection of Sewall
was based upon the following tele-
grams exchanged between Mr.. Bryan
and Senator j. K. jones' chairman of
the Democratic national committee:
st. Louis-The Popuists will nominate vice
president first If no. Sewall what shall we
do? I favor your dechnation in that case
Answer quick. k
James K Jones,
Chairman National Democratic Committee
Lincoln. Neb.-I entirely agree with you.
Withdraw my name If Sewall is not nomi-
mated. VIM. ]. Bryan
Senator Jones deelined, when seen, to
express any opinion beyond that ex-
pressed in his telegram. He said that
he had placed Mr.. Bryan's dispatch in
the hands of friends at the convention
but that he had done nothing more to-
wards withdrawing Mr.. Bryans name
He also said that he had learned of the
adoption of the minority report Of the
committee on rules and order of busi-.
ness reversing the usual routine and
placing the nomination Of the vice
president ahead Of that Of the president
within few minutes after the report
was adopted. He Immediately sent the
telegram to Mr.. Bryan and within an
hour an answer from the Democratic
candidate for president came back 1t
left no doubt as to- the attitude Of Mr.
Bryan in the event of the failure of the
convention to nominate Mr.. Sewall as
we'll as himself.
Soon after he received the message
OCAdlOI jules udu o. copy OF IT maze
and dispatched the original to Hon. T.
M. Patterson, Of Colorado, who was
then at the auditorium, by A. N.
Smith, Of the Little Rock Gazette. An
effort was made to confine the informa-
ton to a few of the leaders in the con-
vention hall, but within half an hour
it had spread through the press gallery
and began to be whispered among the
delegates on the floor.
Another copy was sent to Chairman
Charles w. Lane. Of the national COM
mittee of the silver party The COM
mfttee was in session in room 484 at
the Southern hotel with full member
ship present
When told that the Populists were
accusing the Democrats Of being instru-
mental In having the lights turned out
at convention hall, the senator replied
that he was sorry the lights were ex-
tinguished, thus preventing the Popu-
lists from completing their work He
declined to say whether he thought Mr.
Bryan might change his mind or to
discuss the possibilities of the situation
from any standpoint.