The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-07-16
The Democratic Convention.

Ailldu y. bryan OF Nebraska Tor Dfesi-
deht and on Saturday, Arthur Sewall of
Maine for vice president. Each nomna-
ton required five ballots and there were
from $50 to $50 delegates at the several
ballots who declined 10 vote. New York
steadily declined to vote, on the theory
that it was improper for New York 10
participate in the nomination of any man
on the platform already adopted The
states of New York, New Jersey, Penn.
sylyana, Connecticut, Rhode Island.
Maine Massachusetts. New Hampshire.
Wisconsin and Delaware declined TO Join
in the vote to make Bryan's nomination
unanimous.
Senator Jones was to have made the
closing argument on the platform for
the silverites Thursday, but he ruined his
voice in the discussion on the report of
the committee on credentials and Bryan
stepped into the gap and made a big
free-silver, populistie speech that com.
plety demoralized the convention and at
the same time secured TO him the nomi-
nation.
The nomination of Bryan for president
was fitting one after the adoption of
the populistic, free-silver platform.
Bryan has been for years one of the
most ultra free-silver men it the west,
and his rabid speech set the convention
on fire. He is perfectly satisfactory to
the wing of the Democratic party domi-
mated by Altgelt of Illinois and Tillman
of South Carolina but is not at all salts
factory to the sound-money wing of that
party and a bolt is freely talked Of
The Illinois sound-money Democracy
started the movement for new con-
vention Saturday, and the movement
was participated in by members of the
party from other States, while numerous
leading Democratic papers have re-
pudiated the action of the Chicago con
vention. Among these are the New
York sun. the New York Times
Brooklyn Eagle, New York Herald
Boston Globe, Boston Herald Chicago
Stats Zeitung, the Hartford Times and
many others. The platform is too much
for the Lewiston Daily sun. The
Charleston ). G, Daily News and
Courier, says;
"Hundreds Of thousands of Democrats
all over the country who have never
voted for any but Democratic candidates
will not vote this year for Democratic
candidates who stand on a free-silver
platform.
If the nomination of Bryan was a sur
prise 10 the county, that of Arthur
Sewall of Maine for vice president
was greater one. Mr., Sewall
has not been in accord with his party on
leading issues. Being good business
man he favored protection to certain in
dustries, has not felt kindly toward an
internal revenue tax. but has been for
several years in favor of free-eoinage of
silver and is out of Joint with the major
ity of his party in Maine on this issue.
1t is hard accounting for Mr.. Sewall's
to account for it unless so far as its
motive may be lesson to Republicans
in Maine. 1t is suggested that the
object was 10 strengthen the Democratic
party in Maine with Il view of cutting
down the Republican majority here in
September to influence other states
later. If this is so. it behooves Republi-
cans to organize thoroughly and put in
their best work in every city, town and
every Republican to the polls in Septem-
Der. and, whether 80 or not, Republicans
should be astr early in the interest Of
the party of honest money, protection
and prosperity,
The contest for yice-president seemed
to be between millionares. and there is
little doubt but the ability to provide
money for the campaign was the first
consideration of the managers of the
Nolit'Sl' talb-tN VI tHISO wanna itAtA slit
necessary bank account and his name
was used without his consent until he
peremptorily forbade it by wire. Of the
three leading millionaire candidates Mr..
SeNaIl proved to be the strongest and
got the honor.
The Maile delegation was polled for
Mr.. SewaA by DR.. Gordon a he ex-
plains, as IA matter of state pride, when
but minority of the delegates were in
the convention, aud three Of them, G..
Yev Holman. j. II. Sherman and r.
Goldthwait, demonstrated TO the chair
man as follows;
please take notice that the under
signed members of the Maine delegation
have not attended today's proceedings
and authorized no one to vote fer them
on a candidate for Vice President"
Candidate Wnslow is reported TO have
said: 1t is not true that the vote of
Maine was cast unanimously for Sewall.
There were seven of Us absent from the
convention hall when this result was
announced.
Aunty Kruger.