Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-17
BRY AN AND SEWALL
Are the Democratic Standard
Bearers.

Bryan's OrRtory Stampeded the Conven-
tiOn---Sewaii. Also. Was Not Regarded
as a Formidable Candidate,
William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska
was nominated Friday in the name of the
Democracy for the presidency by the silver
Democrats assembled in Chicago, on the
fifth ballot. About 17j Eastern gold men
refused to participate in the baloling, but
there was no bolt by any delegation. Four
members of the Vermont delegation voted
for Bryan on each ballot and four refused
to vote. Bland had been the leading can
didate all through the convention and for
months previous. His support was well
organized and it looked as though he could
hold the fort and at least dictate the nomi-
nation, but the spectacle was witnessed of
a silver-tongued man who was not seriously
considered even as a dark horse by ma
jority of the delegates, and whose past did
not warrant such consideration, carrying
the convention by storm and selling the
prize by force of eloquence alone. He had
made a speech the night before which set
the convention on fire, and the friends of
the other candidates had to force an adj
journment to prevent his nomination per-
haps by acclammation. When the conven-
ton began balloting Friday it was thought
that they had cooled off, but on the first
ballot it was seen that Bryan had hold
on the convention. He began with 10
votes, Bland having 235. On the second
ballot he increased his vote by IS, while
BANDS increased only AZ. On the third,
Bryan had 2l9, an increase of %, while
Bland had advanced but eight votes. On
the fourth ballot the stampede began
when it was announced that Bryan had $50
OF haA
votes. 1t was a scene of wild confusion.
State after state tlocked to the Nebraska
mans banner, until % or more had de-
clared their allegiance. Then forming
procession they marched around the hall
receiving constant additions to their ranks.
When a semblance of order was restored
the fifth ballot was taken and it was found
that he had 500 votes. Delegates imme-
diately came forward and changed their
votes in sufficient numbers to give him the
necessary two-thirds demanded by the rules
of the convention.
In this way the first man to capture
great political party by eloquence alone was
nominated for the presidency. General
Garfield won his nomination by his per
sonal appearance before Republican con-
vention, but behind him lay not only dis
tinguished military record, but a career in
Congress eXtending over more than 10 years.
Mr.. Bryans official experience has been
limited to two terms in the House of Rep
resentatives, not 20. Among men who
nominated him, few have the least knowl-
edge of any part of his entire organism
aside from his eloquent tongue. They know
no more about his will power, his temper
in leadership, his adaptability to executive
tasks, of his capacity for labor, than they
know of the same elements in the compo-
sitioh, of the Ahkoon of Swat. He is the
first delegate in Democratic national con-
ventionN since Horatio Seymour in 1865 to
receive the nomination for president. No
other Democratic candidate for president
since Lewis Cass of Michigan in 1S4S has
lived west of Pennsylvania. He is the first
candidate for president on either of the
leading tickets who was born west of Ohio
and Kentucky; the first native of the
newer West to achieve this honor, except
John G. Fremont of California, in 1856.
He Is thu srst candidate Of either the Re
publicans or the Democrats to be nominated
from a trans Missouri state. No important
party, if any, ever before nominated for
president man under 40 years of age. He
is four years short of that, and perhaps six
or seven years younger than any former
candidate. He cannot remember an Incl
dent of the war, having been born the year
in which Abraham Lincoln was elected to
the presidency.
The Democratic national convention fin
ished its work and adjourned Saturday
afternoon. 1t selected as its vice presiden-
tial candidate Arthur Sewall, the veteran
shipbuilder and railroad magnate of Bath,
Maine. Sixteen candidates were voted for
on the first ballot EX-Congressman Sib-
ley of Pennsylvania started in with the
lead, having l63 votes. Mclean, the Gin
cinnati millionaire, had Ill, Sewall 100
and George Fred Williams of Massachu-
sets rs. A movement was started by Gov.
Altgeld of Illinois to secure the nomination
of "Silver Dollar Bland, who had been
the leading pre-convention candidate for
president. On the second ballot Bland had
294 votes, Mclean 15S, Sibley 113. Sewall
had dropped to 81 and George Fred Will
liams to 10, and the other candidates
seemed to be out of the race. The third
ballot brought Bland 2j5 votes, Mclean
210, Sewall 81. On the fourth ballot
Sewall had run up to POI, while Mclean
was leading with 296. The fifth and de-
cisive ballot resulted in 514 for Sewall, rs
for Mclean, 100 scattering, and 235 dele
gates not voting When Mclean led on
the fourth ballot the chairman of the Ohio
delegation read telegram from him stat
ing that all votes cast for him were against
his expressed wish and without his author
ity.
Mr. Sewall was placed in nomination by
delegate from California, seconded by a
delegate from Colorado. Mr. Sewall was
known personally to only few of the del
eOates