The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-30

The Democratic candidate for President was
nominated on the fourth day, in the face OF
| his own protest, in the shape OF telegram
| directing the withdrawal of his name, sent TO
Senator Jones-sent after Sewall, his running
mste, had been ditched for the Vice-Pres'-
dental nomination, and Thomas E. Watson, OF
Georgia had been named for second place on
| the ticket. Bryan had already sent message
saying he would not run if Sewall were not
nominated with him. 1t was also made In the
teeth of an opposition so bitter that aiter me
| Convention adjourned some OF the fauicais
| held trump" Convention.
The last session of the Convention, when
! lasted from $50 o'clock in the morning unu,
almost 5 o'clock in the afternoon, was marked
| By scenes of turbulence and noisy excitement,
which several times bordered Oh actual riot,
and which almest precipitated personal COLL
| sions. One fist-fght did occur; Rhode lsiand
! delegate was elected, and West Virginia dele
gate. infiamed by the action of the Convention,
walked sullenly ont of the hail. The storm
center. as on the three previous days, was IN
| the Texas delegation; but the really dramatic
| features of this wild session were enacted
| behind the scenes. Rumors of what was gong
on in the wings reached the delegates, but
they knew nothing definitely, and TO the very
end 8 message from Mr.. Bryan, which might
! have changed the result, was kept from their
ears.
Ii was stated on coed authority that Bryan
said in bis letter that, considering ali the CIR
| cumstances and conditions, he concluded tha'
the Popuist Convention should not consider
| his name for the Presidency; but If 1T de-
| termined to nominate him notwithstanding
| this declaration, THAT there may be no mis-
understanding. / desire in advance to say thae
] shall not dining the campaign discuss any
other issues than those outlined in the chicago
platform ] desire above everything else to be
| instrumental in having enacted into the laws
| IF +b Init the free
coinage of gold and silver at the present ratio
of is TO l. without awaiting the consent OF any
| other country. The Popuist platform presents
| several new issues, to discuss which during inns
| campaign will, in my judgment, endanger 'hs
success of our cause"
Gen. Weaver of Iowa, the Populist candidate
! in 1892, placed Bryan in nomination, ana Gen.
Field, of Virginia, who was his running mate,
after brief speech, moved to make the nomi-
nation unanimous. Chairman Allen held the
| motion was in order and until chat motion was
decided the call of States for nominations,
which was the order of the Convention, could
not proceed. The ruling almost precipltated
| riot. Some cheered some cursed, some fought,
and there would probably have been serious
trouble had not the Bryan leaders wisely con-
| cluded to abandon this, so regarded, nigh
handed program. But in doing so they opened
the fioodga and for six hours the Conven-
ton was deluged with oratory. Almost every
State and Territory had its inning on the plat
| form.
When the rolgcall was completed it was
found that Bryan had 1042 out of the ], 400
votes ia the convention. Frank S. Norton, of
Chicago, was the only other candidate. Igna-
thus Donnely, of Minnesota, and Gen. Coxey,
| of Industrial Army fame, were nominated, but
| their names were withdrawn. Norton received
321 votes, Eugene Y. Debs 10, and Donneiiy !.
Norton got the Majority of the solid vote oil
Texas, Michigan, New York, Missouri, Rhode
Island and Wisconsin. and respectable portion
of the votes of Alabama. California, Kentucky
Illinois and Ohio. The Con vention MAS hastily
adjourned after Bryan had been declared the
nominee.
The following is the full text of the platform
as finally adopted by the Populist Convention
The Peopie's Party, assembled in National
Convention, reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders OF the he
public, and also to the fundamental principles
of Just government as enunciated In the plat
form of the party In 1882.
We recognize that tn ough the connivance o.
the present and preceding Administrations the
country has reached a crisis in its National lie
as predicted in our declaration four years ago
and that prompt and patriotic action is the
| supreme duty Of the hour. We realize thai
while we have political independence oul
| financial and industrial independence is yet Il
be attained by restoring to our country the
constitutional control and exercise of the func
tons necessary To peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrendered by GU
public servants TO corporate monopolies. 1h'
influence of European money changers has beer
more potent in shaping legislation than tn
voice of the American people. Executive
power and patronage have been used to corrup
our legislatures and defeat the will OF thu
people and plutocracy has been enthroned upol
/ tn Cfpra he (ynv
eminent intended by the fathers and for tn
welfare and prosperity of this and future gene
rations we demand the establishment of al
} economic and financial system which shall
l make us masters of our own affairs and indie
pendent OF European control by the adoption O
the following declaration of principles:
We demand a National money, safe ant
) sound. issued by the General Government only
without the Intervention of banks of issue, t
be a full legal tender for all debts public an
> private as a just equitable and efficient mean
of distribution direct to the people and through
the lawful disbursements of the Government
We demand the free and unrestricted coinag
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio Q
IS TO i without waiting for the consent Q
> foreign nations.
We demand that the Volume Of circulatn
medium be speedily increased to an amour
sufficient to meet the demands of the bushes
: population of this country and to restore tn
> Just level of prices of labor and production.
: We denounce the sale of bonds and the in
: crease Of the public interest bearing bond det
L made by the present Administration as unnece
E sary and without authority of law, and that q
: more bonds be issued except by specific act {
Congress
We demand such legal legislation as wi
= prevent the decentralization of the lawful none
r of the United States by private contract.
We demand that the Government, in pay
meut of its obligations, shall use its option as
y the kind of lawful money in which they are
;. be paid, and we denounce the present and pr
ceding Administrations for surrendering til
option TO the holders of Government oblig
= tons.
n We demand graduated income tax, to Il
70 end that aggregated wealth shall bear its ju
proportion of ration, and we denounce the
l. cison of the Supreme Court, relative to Il
Is inccme-tax law, a misinterpretation of Il
u Constitution and an invasion of the right
powers of Congress over the subject of taxatio