Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-27
BRYAN THE MAN
Named by Populist Convention
for the Presidency.
Nominating Speeches Were Many But
Majority Were for Nebraskan.
Confusion Marked the Beginning Of Session
Watson May not Accept.

| win hoafSe voices and red eyes, were
plentiful Saturday The enthusiastic
and exciting yells in which they have
peen indulging for the last few days anG
loss Of sleep are beginning to show theil
eHects. The convention was tardy In
assembling. The weary, WORKOUT pa.
triots who have struggled and wrangled
since last Wednesday had very tired
look. but there was plenty of fight left
IN them. The fact was developed be-
yond preadventure that where two O,
more Peoples party delegates got to-
gether, there was sure to be an argu-
ment and sometimes a wrangle, and of
ten noisy contention.
The situation was peculiar The chosen
running mate of Bryan was defeated
Friday night He was turned down,
with vigor that was surprising Ar
| thur Sewall of Maine was not pleasing
to the Populists, and Mr.. Watson OF
Georgia was nominated for vice presi-
dent. AT that time about half the dele
gates labored under the belief that
| Bryan would be chosen to lead the
ticket. They had not learned that he
| had sent word that his name must not
be presented for nomination should Mr..
Sewall be defeated.
Some Of Bryan's enthusiastic admir-
ers declared before the convention was
called TO order that they would nomi
| nate him regardless of his wishes. But
some wanted one thing ard some an
other, and the political prophets were
puzzled beyond measure.
| There was inextricahle confusion on
the floor OF the auditorium before the
| convention met The delegates stood
ABOUT in animated groups discussing the
| situation and what was best to do. The
| Bryan feeling was very strong. but the
| telegram from him declaring that h
| would not accept the nominate rem
dered the situation chaotic. Many de-
| sired to nominate Bryan in the face of
| this telegram. Tom Pattison of Colo
RADIO and Ex-Governor Lewelling of Kan
sas, however. said this would not do
| They counselled an endorsement OF
| Bryan instead of a nomination, pointina
| out that an endorsement did not require
an acceptance. and was the way out of
the tangle
"Cyclone'' Davis and other radicals.
liVNtNtl. iisiSitt Niiil ID an tpuld lltt
refuse, and if he did, the Responsibilities
for the disaster at the polls would rest
on the Democracy. not the Popuiists.
Senator Allen called the convention to
order at 9:35.
After the invocation, Connecticut
delegate arose to protest against any
further display of the lung power thar
had characterized the first three days
Of the convention. He thought it was
about time the convention exercised 6
little horse sense His statement was
given a round of applause.
Chairman Allen allowed that the frs;
thing in order was the election of mem
bcrs of the national committee and the
committee to notify the candidates for
president and vice president. The hall
presented q dilapidated appearance
The paper and dirt that Uttered the
floor when the convention adjourned
shortly before l o'clock in the morning
had not been removed the state guideons
had not been Strengthened, and they
pointed like a bunch of telescopes at ali
the consultations in the heavens.
The only fresh thing in the hall was
strip of muslin tackled to the balcony
above the stage. bearing the legend
Work In the Interest of Humanity"
There were not 100 people in the gallery.
One belated straggler, who had probably
remained in the hall all night. continued
his slumbers peacefully, stretched out
on the floor in a remote portion of the
hall. The band was not present, and
there wasno music.
Sergeant alarms Mcdowell, in ex-
g \ ~.
contract with the Business Mems league
of St. Louis expired last night, and the
musicians had been instructed by the
league not to put in an appearance to-
day. Good. Good" feebly shouted the
weary delegates. We're glad of it,"
Some of the delegates stretched their
limbs and yawned.
Ignatius Donnelly got on a chair and
announced that his private land plank
did not appear in the printed platform.
He wanted the convention to understand
that it had been adopted. Several reso-
lutions were presented and referred
without reading or debate.
The chairmen then called for the nomi-
nations of president, and Judge Green
of Nebraska took the stage to place Mr..
Bryan in nomination He said the con-
vention was here to name the next presi-
dent of the republic. The convention had
he said, selected the.yice presi-
dent that noble son of the south, Thomas
E. Watson.
He had not named his candidate. how |
ever, before Texas delegate interrupted
with the point of order that the states
must be called in alphabetical order for
nominations. Judge Green was driven |
off the stage by the Texans point Of |
order. but the convention resented it on |
the motion of an Arkansas delegate. the |
rules were suspended, and Judge Green |
was recalled to the stage. He did not |
place MIR. Bryan in nomination, how
ever. When Alabama was called. Kolb
welded to General Weaver of Iowa, but
Colonel Gather of Alabama got to the
platform first and injected a speech
about joining the cotton fields of the
south with the wheat fields of the west.
At the conclusion OF his remarks. Cen
,ral Weaver came forward and formallv
placed Mr.. Bryan in nomination.
General Weaver, in his opening re.