The herald., 1896-07-25

POLITICIANS CHOOSE A CANDIDATE

marked upon the battlefield, which
clutching with its muddy fingers at the
wheels Of his artillery, bore down Ma
poleon and his eagles at Waterloo To-
day the ditch was in open view.
From the beginning it has gaped like
chasm athwart the path of the Bryar
managers. In vain they attempted te
bridge 1t. Moreover, today, for the frs
time, the middle of the road element dis.
played generalship worthy of the name
Recognizing the fact that all hope OF
defeating Bryan's nomination was lost
they concentrated all their efforts
against Sewall. They did more; they
devised cunning scheme by which the
convention was forced to nominate the
vice president before the president II
was an unprecedented thing, but IL
served to mass the votes in favor of a
Populist candidate for vice president
and uncover them in advance, in the fear
that If Bryan were first nominated the
enthusiasm might break down the oppo-
sition to Sewall and stampede major
ity of the votes for the Nebraskan's run
ming mate.
When the proposition was made to
change the regular order Of the nomina-
tions the Bryan men strained every
nerve to prevent it. They even pleaded
jerry Simpson, on behalf Of Kansas.
went so far as to intimate that the vote
of the Sunflower state would be cast for
a southern man for vice president If
the regular order was not reversed.
When the roll was called they rallied
every vote at their command. Senator
Butler of North Carolina was a powerful
ally with the ninety-five votes of the
old North state behind him, and Con-
gressman Skinner, the chairman of the
delegation, cast the solid vote of the
state against the change. When the vote
was figured up, however, and he ascer
tained that there was a majority of
twenty-five in favor of the proposition.
uhoer MS direction and after a very
pretty theatrical exhibition from Mr..
Skinner, the vote of the delegation was
cast for the proposition, and the antis
emerged from the contest with a major
ity of ITO. This made the defeat of Sc
wall and the nomination of Populist
for vice president certain. After that
the conference of the joint committee
of the two conventions could come to
nothing, and the Silver convention
and adjourned sine die.
The Bryan men, although they pre-
sented minority platform demanding
an irredeemable paper currency and
crowded with bitter denunciation of the
Democratic and Republican parties. did
not attempt to press it after their vic
tory. The majority report which is
moderate and contains few radical
such as a demand for the
gradual assumption by the government
of the, ownership of the railroads and for
direct legislation, through the initiative
and referendum, was adopted without
division and the minority report laid on
the table.
The Democratic managers consulted
after it became evident that Sewall
could not be nominated and Mr.. Bryan
was communicated with by telegraph.
Tom Patterson, of Colorado. who had
possession of the telegram announcing
Bryan's position at midnight still de-
clined to make it public.
The Democratic leaders decided that
Bryan would not be disloyal to his run
ling mate and word was sent to the
leading Bryan managers in the conven-
Ion that the silver knight Of the west
would not accept h nomination unless
Sewall was also nominated.
The convention fcA five hours tonight
istened to nominating speechesIin in pro-
'ound ignorance of this fact. Tom Wat
son of Georgia, Congressman Skinner of
North Carolina, Mimms of Tennessee
5urkett of Mississippi, Mann Page of
virginia, were nominated. About II
o'clock the Bryan men decided to spring
he telegram on the convention.
Senator Stewart was selected to make
ne announcement, coupled with a plea |
or uniting the silver forces, but the
crowd were in the saddle.
they howled down the venerable sena-
or and after hurried consultation the
eaders decided not to permit the an
ouncement to be made at that time. IT
GEMS undoubtedly true, however. that
'ryan will not accept the presidential
omination unless Sewall is also nomi-
ated