The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-30
IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.
THE RECENT NATIONAL SILVER
CoNyANTToN AT ST. LOUIS.
Letter to the Herald From Albert r.
Taylor, the Assistant Secretary of
the Convention-PoIitic Notes.
ST. Louis. July %.

For. a small convention OF a party
never heretofore nominating a presi-
Dental ticket, the demonstrations at
tending The nomination of Bryan and
Sewall yesterday in the National Sill
yer convention, the Silver party is en-
titled to a vote Of thanks from the
entire west and especially those states
situated so high up in the Rocky
mountains, and our Baby State"
should feel especially complimented
that the first nomination for presi-
dent and vica-president of the United
States should have occurred on Utah's
natal day. The delegation from Utah,
in point of numbers, was not a large
one, but was most ably represented
by Hon. H. F. Bartine. The executive
committee here had hoped that the
silver men Of the middle northwest
would send a, solid phalanx of silver
fighters to the convention, but were
greatly disappointed. Utah sent but
one delegate, Idaho was represented
sturdy silverite. The circle Of states
around the above mentioned states
were most ably represented by large
and enthusiastic delegations of deter
mined silver men and, who, since their
arrival in this city, have been doing
missionary work for the cause which
l believe will be garnered into a great
harvest of voters at the polls next
November.
The convention convened last We'd
nesday morning under very suspicious
circumstances, and it was fully UNI
derstood that the Silver party was a
unit for the endorsement of the Demo-
cratic ticket-Bryan, tSewall and sill
yer. The speeches of the prominent
men who came to this convention were
most effective, and if it can be judged
from the effect it had upon the dele
gates, present, they certainly should
have a great effect upon the news
paper reading pubic. For two days
! the Silver convention delayed taking
any action upon the Chicago ticket, as
they wished to confer with and keep
in the ranks the disturbing elements
which have been SO conspicuous in the
Populist party. 1t was fully under
stood that the Populist party had
mighty struggle on their hands, and
that there was division in the ranks,
the chief objection to the Democratic
nominee for vice-president being Mr..
Sewall's connection with corporations
and the like, and he could not be &C
ceptable as a candidate for that office
by the Populist party The Silver con-
vention was called to meet at st. Louis
at the same time as the Populist con-
vention in order that their endorse
ment might have some telling effect
upon the disturbing factions of the
Populst party. For this purpose a
committee on conference was appoint
ed by the Silver convention to confer
with like committee of the Populist
party. The two committees met in
joint session yesterday at noon. The
Populists were earnest for reform and
recognized the good to be derived from
American union in the struggle; but
the time given for the two committees
/ to confer was so short that they were
unable to reach any definite
conclusion in regard to future
action. However, the joint commit
tees believed that the best interests
! of the country would be subserved
if the Chicago ticket was unanimously
adopted by both conventions. The con-
ference was a stormy one and the time
taken UP by the chair, in attempting
to keep order, as the delegates pres
ent so insisted upon ali talking at
once, that very little was accomplish
ed But the chairman of this commit
tee in his report to the convention
stated shat he had no doubt that the
Populist convention could be surely
counted upon to take action in accord
with that of the national silver party
the standard bearers in the campaign
now opening. The events of last night,
however, disproved the conclusion. In
stead of following the suggestions of
| the Populist conference committee, the
PopuliSt convention last evening began
a stormy crusade against the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Sewall for vice-president
on the Populist ticket. The Texas
delegation and the middle -the-road
people were determined that under no
consideration would they allow Mr..
/ SewalPs name to be placed second
upon their ticket The entire southern
| faction sided with the Texas delegation
and put in nomination Tom Watson,
of Georgia. Country and cause be-
came a secondary principle, and the
party became the first, and although
Mr.. Bryan had teIegraphed the Popu-
! list convention that under no consid-
Grafton would he accept their nomina-
ton of him for president, yet, in the
face of this, they proceeded to ballot
for and did nominate Mr.. Watson as
their choice for vice-president. The
silver speakers who attempted to adj
! dress the Populist convention last
evening were Kissed down, and We're
most shamefully abused by the rowdy
element Our great friend, Senator
/
most shameful reception, and it is to
the deepest discredit OF this Populist
convention that such an action should
! have been allowed by their efficient
chairman.
/ However, the silver party had done
it's duty, and in the interest of re-
form, it showed its confidence in the
Chicago ticket by nominating that gal
liant knight from Nebraska's wind
swept prairies, William j. Bryan, to
the highest office in the gift of this
great republic. We all know Mr.. Bry-
an, and we know what a reception
Salt Lake accorded him when he pass
ed through our beautiful city a year
or so ago in the interest of the silver
cause. At that time Republican and
Democrat alike greeted the young
champion of silver with unbounded
enthusiasm. and next November it is
hoped that Utah's sons and daughters
will recognize that free silver, free
homes, freedom from mortgages on our
farms, and great prosperity will be
theirs, if they march in one solid pha-
Ianx to the ballot box, each and every
one voting for Bryan and free silver.
The national silver committee have
great hopes from Utah and l trust that
their expectations will be realized by a
great majority for Bryan, Sewall and
free silver.
4 ALBERT P. TAYLOR,
Assistant Secretary, National Silver
Convention.
The latest report from the Mckinley
camp is to the effect that Senator
Brown has decided he will not be a can
! dida te for re-eIef.tion before the next