Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-15
BRYAN AND WATSON
Notified of Their Nomination by the
Populists.
no PLEDGE ASKED OF THE FORMER
Not Even Asked to Indorse the
Platform.
WHY HE WAS SELECTED

Senator VIM. V. Allen, chairman of the
popuIist national convention, mailed to VIM
j. Bryan yesterday the following letter,
officially notifying him of his nomination
- that body:
Dear Sir: At a convention of the peoples
party held at St. Louis, from July % to 2J
Of the current year, you were unanimously
nominated for President of the United
States to be voted for at the approaching
general election 1t was known at the time
that you had been nominated by the demo-
cratic party at its convention held al Chi
cago few days before that time, and that
you would in all probability accept the same
in a formal manner.
Your nomination by the peoples party
was not, therefore, made with any thought
that you were populist or that you &C
cepted all the doctrines declared by the ST.
Louis platform. 1t was due largely to the
TACT that the money question is the over
shadowing political issue of the age and be-
cause you have at all times been an I'M
swervine, able and fearless advocate of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold on terms of equality at the minis of
the United States at the ratio of 16 to 1.
1t was thought also that the observance
OF patriotic duty required union of all
reform forces, and the convention took the
liberty, without soliciting or consulting you,
of placing your name before the people as
its standard bearer. The convention In do
common welfare and acting on it's own mo-
ton, prompted alone by desire to bring
about the best attainable results.
so much has been said respecting the re-
Mobilization of silver by again placing it in
our coinage acts in the position it occupied
when stealthily demonetiZed by the act of
1873, that 1t would be idle for us to discuss
the question. You will observe by the clos
irS language of the ST. Louis platform that
the convention recognized the money ques-
ton was the great issue of the day. and be-
cause populists believe that you are in ac-
cord with them on this question you will re-
ceive their ballots in November.
Not Expected to Abandon Chicago
Platform.
1T has at time been expected or is it
now that you will abandon your adhesion
to the Chicago platform nor that you will
accept ali that is declared in the peoples
party platform, however gratifying the lat
ter would be to all popuiists. 1t must be
understood that the party does not abate
one jot or little of loyalty to its principles
We have declared ourselves in favor of
many important reforms, in our judgment
essential to the liberation of the people from
present unjust and iniquitous industrial
bondage.
I'm accordance with the precedent of our
party We take this method of notifying you
Of your nomination. We shall not send
committee according to other party custom.
In sen ling this letter of notification of the
great honor that has been so justly con-
terred on you by our party il is needless
Tor us TO assure You that you have the con-
hdence ana esteem of all. Your splendid
abilities, known integrity. competency and
eminent fitness for the position Justly en-
title you TO a high rank among the great
statesmen Of the nation.
We feel that, in the event of your cleo
tion, which now seems certain, that you
will carry into the executive the principles
of monetary reform. to the end that the
people shall enjoy better industrial condi-
tons.
1T is not anticipated that this can be
done with undue haste or suddenly as to
wrench or disjoint the business interests of
the country, but that it will be done gradu-
ally and in a way to infuse confidence and
hope Of better conditions for all.
No Pledge Exncted.
'The peoples party will exact from you
no promises farther than those made in
your public utterance3 and exenplifed in
a life devoted to the welfare of the race,
nor will it ask you to abandon the party of
which you are honored member. In
your nomination our party has risen above
mere partisan surroundings to a high plane
of patriotism, believing that a division of
forces would result IN the election of Will
liam Mckinley. the foremost advocate of
a deeply burdensome and unnatural taxa
ton and of the criminal policy of the sin
gle gold standard, resulting ultimately, if
not IN some manner checked, in the COM
plete destruction and disintegration Of our
form OF government
Your elevation to the chief magistracy
of the nation should be regarded as a vim
dication of the rights of the people to gov
ern and we entertain no doubt that you
viii prove a worthy successor of the i'm
mortal Jefferson and Lincoln, and that
your public life, like theirs, will Illustrate
the purity and loftiness of American
craftsmanship. Your extensive and irti-
mate knowledge of public affairs ard the
Guhes the office Will impose, gained in a
NE that has been devoted TO upholding
the cause OF the people, as we'll as your
keen insight to the condition of our coun-
try, in our Judgment highly qualified YOU
TO bring about q change in way that
Will work injury to none and Justice to
all, thus making our government In fact
as II is now In form only. government Of.
by and for the people.
II have the honor to be your most ODE
dent servant.
''WM- VINCENT ALLEN, Chairman"
NOTIE-I(' sTUnN M,