The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-26
PANDEMONIUM
In ST. LOUIS
Pist-Plghts and Riots DiSgraced the
Last Hours Of the Pop
Convention.
BRYAN FINALLY NOMINATED
The Lone Star State Asked Questions Which
We're Not AnsNsred-kump cOnysn-
tion iisld-khat kili the
Harvest Bey

81. Louis. July 2s.-willian Jen-
nings Bryan, OF Nebraska, who was
nominated by the Democratic national
convention at Chicago a fortnight ago,
was today made the standard-bearcr
Of the Peoples Party by vote Of 1852
to s2l. The Denbocratlc candidate was
nominated in the face Of his own pro-
test. In the shape OF a Telegram d.
recting the withdrawal OF his name,
sent 20 Senator Jones. after Sewall. his
running mate. had been ditched for
the presidential nomination last
night, ard Thomas r. Watson, u
Georgia, had been named for second
place on the ticket. II wss also made
In the tace Of opposition 80 bitter that
after the convention adjourned some |
OF the radicals held a ''rump" con-
Ventlon.
The last session Of the convention,
which lasted from $50 this morning
untn almost clock this evening, was
marked by scenes OF turbulence apd
messy excitement wfich several times
bordered on actual riot. ana which al
most prec.pltated personal collisions.
one fist fight did occur. a delegate was
elected. and a West Virginia delegate,
infiamed by the action OF the conven-
tion, walked suiIenly out of the hall.
The storm center. as on previous.
days was In the Texas delegation. But
the really dramatic features Of this
wild session. were enarted behind the
scenes. RumOFs OF what was going on
in the wings reached the delegates,
but they kneE nothing definitely and
10 that very end the message from
Bryan, which might have changed the
result. was kept from their ears.
The Poputst Bryan managers decid-
ed at the outset boday to disregard
Bryan's telegram OF last night and TO
nominate 'hm and straighten out the
tangle afterwards. Gen. Weaver plac-
ed Bryan In nomination and General
Field. Of Virginia, moved to make the
nomination unanimous. Chairman Al
lien held that the motion was in order
and that until the motion was decid-
ed. the c1ll OF states for nominations,
(which was ordered by the convention,
could not proceed. This ruling aimosz
precipitzied a riot. Some cheered,
some cursed. some fought. and thsre
would probably have been serious
trouble had not the Bryan leaders
concluded % abandon this so-~gardeh
.high-haAned program. But In doing
ESQ they opened the floodgates, and for
six hours hours the cOnventbn was,
deluged with oratory. Most OF the
speakers secosyled Bryan's nomination
About fifty sseconding speeches We're
made The ,Middle-of-the-roade eontin-
gent insisted upon knowing al every
opportunity II, in view OF his telegram,
,whether Bryan would stand On the
platform and accept the nomination.
HBut all these pointed questions were
neatly parriefi.
The Texas heIegation sent a message
to Bryan at Lincoln. putting the di-
llrect question 40 him. To this no an
swer was received, but the Demoez tic
candidate had been in constant COM
munication with Senator Jones. chair
man of the Democratic national eoN-
Tiittee, and waail came to the conven-
ton hall that Zones had a message
which he wanted the convention to
hN&r, 1t was then, upon suggestion
of Senator Allen. that motion was
carried in the uonfusion just before
the ballot was taken. that may prove
to be the key by which the complica-
ton attending the desired union Of all
the silver forces may be unlocked. 1t
/ committee plenary powers-all the
powers. as the molten stated-of the
conventi0n itself. SsSne of the radicals
pricked up their ears when the motion
was put, and there was a vague pro-
test but 1t is certain that the rank
aud file of the convention did not real
ize its full import. As the roll call
was proceeding, Governor Stone, of
Missouri, appeared on the platform,
with the Bryan message. but Senator
Allen would not permit him to read 1t
to the convention. The Populist lead
ers had decided to go ahead with Bry-
ans nomination. irrespective of the
wishes OF the Democratic managers.
Rumors that such message was in
the convention aroused the Lone Star
delegates to a frenzy and stump"
Ashby demanded to know II there was
a message from Bryan on the secre-
tary's table. Chairman Allen promptly
responded that there was not, but
there was some talk of Fictitious"
message somewhere, he had not seen
It, Literally, of course. Senator Allen
was correct. He said afterwards in ex-
planation of his action that Bryan
was the overwhelming choice of the
convention; that the telegram, what
ever it was, was not addressed to the
convention, or to. Populist delegate;
that it was purely a Democratic ne