Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-25
MIR. BRYAN'S POSITION
Democratic Nominee for President on
P9pulist Action So Far.
WOULD NOT ACCEPT NOMINATION.
Now That the PopuIists Have Turn
ed sewalI Down He Would De-
cline the Honor--Populist Leaders
All mt Sea-

ST. LOUIS, MO-, July 2l-Wiliiam J.
Bryan. the nominee Of the Chicago con-
vention, will not accept nomination az
the hands of the Populists II they turn
down his running mate, sewal. OF
Maine. This announcement Is made on
the authority of Mr.. Bryan.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, chairman
OF the National Democratic Committee,
who has been in the city for the past
week. iaborlng TO secure the endorsement
of the full Chicago ticket, has frowneu
upon the proposition to split the Popu-
LIST ticket. and has been charged with
having positively told the leaders tnat
they must nominate Bryan and se"ai'
or do nothing at all.
II has been evident TO Senator Jones
for the past forty-eight hours that ne
cou,d not wean over the men who have
heen so bitter in their antagonism to MT
sewau on account of his identification
with a national bank, against which sys-
tenn the platform adopted this afternoon
,nveighs. AS soon as the convention ue-
c,ded to nominate for vice-President nrst'
Senator Jones wired Mr.. Bryan at his
home I'm Lincoln, Neb.. as follows;
"sT. LOUIS, MO-, July A.-The Popu-
us,s have decided to nominate the vice.
President first. If it is not sewali' "ha'
shall 1 do? favor your declination IN
that event.
lc,oned, "JAAIES X JONES"
,->.,, ,rr,crrrArrON
Mr.. BRYAN certainly did not hesitate
long in determining the character OF DIS
reply. Senator Jones, within sixteen
minutes after he sent his message, had
the following reply handed to him in his
room. at the Planters Hotel:
.rJNcoI.N. NEB, July A-I agree
with YOU fully. If Sewsll is not nominat-
ed. have my name withdrawn.
ls.gred "W. ]. BRYAN"
Senator Jones made no secret OF the
receipt OF this telegram, which probably
means much for the PopuIists now as
sembled In a convention, the length OF
which has already become irksome 10
some of the delegates. The telegram
was shown to a number Of the Senators $
nersonal friends, and they sent 1t to the
convention hall to be read at the right
| time.
To a reporter of the United Press sena-
for Jones said it was manfestly impos-
| sible for Mr.. Bryan to accept a nomina-
ton from the Populists upon a ticket
which repudiated his associate.
There was nothing left for him to DO
but TO withdraw, and as soon as the con-
vention had carried out its fixed purpose
he said the Populists would be enlight-
ened as to Mr.. Bryan's course. Further
than this. Chairman Jones did not care
to talk tonight.
| POPULISTS AT SEA.
| BEFORE the convention adjourned the
| purport of the message from Mr.. Bryan
became known among the leaders. Cow
ernor Stone, Of Missouri; General ]. ~
Weaver. and Mr.. Patterson, of Denver
held a conference. but without result.
Subsequently, Governor Stone said he did
not believe Mr. Bryans name would De
| presented to the convention. de couid
not. ne said, possibly see how Mr.. Bryan
could ever consider a nomination after the
action OF the convention in nominating
MIR. Watson for Vice-President. The lead
ers of the Populists are all at sea, but
among those who have been contending
| for Mr. Sewalls nomination the telegram
brings a ray OF hope. for they believe 1t
will force the convention to reconsider It's
action and endorse the straight Demo-
cratic ticket. There appears, however, TO
be no probability of this being done.