New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-12
CONVENTIONS LAST DAY.
THE NOMINATION OF SEWALL.
COMBINATION OF THE POPULISr AND
THE PLUTOCRAr COMPLETED
AT LAST.

JOHN r. MLEAN DROPS THE PRIZE WHEN I'D
WITHIN HIS aRAsP-PIvE pREARY BALIor
BY scANrY REMNANT OF THE
coNvENrIoN-wARY CAPITALISTS.
[BY rnLEoni PH TO THE rRrBUNE1
Chicago July 1.-THE entertaining play -
"The Populist and the Plutocrat" was put upeo
the boards for the frst time at the Coliseum
OF this city to-day by those enterprisng mana
gers. John p. Altgcld and BENJAMIN r. TIL
man. 1t disclosed yesterday that Wiiliam
J. Bryan would enact his wel-known part OF
the "Populist" but until to-day the name OF
the gentleman who was TO take tho title role
Of the "Plutocrat" hidden from the public
gaze One OF the reasons for this secrecy was
the requirement of Altgeld and TiIiman tina
the part Of the "Plutocrat" was to be taken ~
a man OF large wealth. Not many people o.
this character came forward when they read
In the Chicago newspapers dispatches from al
over the United States predicting that the parry
would be a failure. John r. Mclean or ono.
II was thought at one time. would he willing
to assume the role, and William J. Bryan. the
.Popust" had a conference with him on shs
subject at the Clifton House late lest right
Whether Mr. Bryan too frankly disclosed 10
Mr. Mclean that he was TO be the anger OF
the Democratic party. and thus opened an abyss
Of expenditure to him which revolted his SOUL
is not known What did become perceptible to
the public was that Mr. Mclean suddenly DE-
parted toward Ohio. leaving word behind him
that he was not seeking the character OF "Plu'
tocrat." That a determined effort was after
ward made to draft him for this position b
only one OF many proofs that THE Populist ana
init n
for hard cash. and was determined to capture
a capitalist at all hazards Indeed. the pafnfuI
rumor went around last night that the f1u-
tocrat' he'd been pu. up to the highest bidder
and Joseph c. Sibley the Populist millionaire
of Pennsylyania was one Of the gentlemen
named for the place. Arthur Sewail the
millionaire shipbuilder OF Bath, Me-, was an
other No one was thought fit to act the part ex-
cept a multi millionaire. Such rage for I'M
pressing a millionaire to act this character IN
Populistic play was thought to be remarkable
LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST.
... Dar,ocratic National Convention met
et 10 o'clock the "Plutocrat had not yet been Sc
,ected The Vice Presidency was still Tor saie'
with BRYAN Altgeld. Tillman. Harris. Vest COCK
r.u ard walthall as the auctioneers. The Con-
vert,on Hall showed the lack Of public interest
and even OF large proportion OF the delegates
a
tbeuse,ves in the further proceedings OF the Con-
vcntion. Only about 5000 spectators were pres
ont of the 10000 that usually have been within
tho Convention Hall When the Convention was
in session three four acres OF unoccupied seao
thus attracted ones attention. WITHIN the m
closure devoted to the delegates also were many
vacant chairs. 1t is probable that one-tniro OF
the delegates had departed for their homes- On
the first ballot 25S delegates were reported 10 %
absent and only 6S2 present; and this 6S2 exAS'
gerated the actual number present since roll
call in the Ohio delegation showed that uners
were fifteen absentees and yet the chairman
was permitted to cast the full vote OF the dele9a-
ton. forty-six votes for various candidates The
"rump" character OF the Convention was best
disclosed In the central part Of the hall. where
the gold Democrats had occupied seats. There
scores of seats were unoccupied. Roswell p.
Flower and four other delegates represented
New-Y -York's big delegation Of seventy-two men,
hers Rhode Island was absent. There were
nfty-nine men in the Pennsylvania delegation
who were either absent or who would not vote
for Vice President. could they be tempted to
do so even when William r. Harrty. their chair
man. received votes for Vce-Pesdent.
Looking at the delegates with one-third OF
| their seats unoccupied. and at the space devoted
| to spectators, with only one-sxth OF their seats
occupied II seemed as n the lightning OF popular
condemnation OF this Democratic National Con-
venton had already entered the great room and
annhilated large portion Of its occupants Tho
leaders Of the silver Democrats themselves
seemed aware that the Convention was scantify
attended. because they waited until II o'clock
before starting It Upon its hard mission Of dis
covering a millionaire for Vice President.
GEORGE FRED'S NAME THE FIRST.
Senator White, the chairman Of the Convezs-
ton called out: THE States will now be called
in their order. and they can state their choice
for Vice President"
George Fred Williams, OF Massachusetts, had
the happiness unhappiness to first hear his
name mentioned for Vice President. Possibly
Mr.. Williams did not feel compmented to bs
asked to mount Populstic platform. but, II 90,
he showed no manifestation OF such feeling: ON
the contrary. he sat " the Convention and
calmly listened to the casting OF votes which
| would have linked him with William J. Bryan.
O'Sullivan. OF Worcester. free siiverite who
wears Western sombrero to indicate his SYM
pathy although living In the "efYete East" for
silver. said that Mr. Williams had the courage
OF his convictions and was a free-coinage man
He then added: You have given the West and
South the platform; give us a candidate. You
have nominated a Nebraska man for President
and the East will vote for him because we want
| to give you a fair price for your wheat. so you
can buy our cloth and shoes and other manu-
featured articles" He attacked William C.
Whitney. and said: The Standard OIL mag
nate was in the Convention trying TO divide
the Massachusetts delegation because GeorEs
Fred Williams had opposed scheme Of the
West End Railway whose president kr
Whitney's brother" The charge created Q
sensation. but Mr.. Whitney was far away speed
ing back to his New-York home. and no reply
was made to II.