The herald., 1896-08-21
The CANDIDATE

With a sigh of relief the delegates OF
the at last late Democratic congresslon-
al convention will awake this morning
and realize that their steps today need
not be moved towards the TurnVerein
hall With qualification they VIII re-
member that they have really succeed
ed in nominating candidate. Six long
days it took. two at Ventura and four in
this city. The contest was peculiarly
keen one and as the event proved. might
have been considerably less protracted
had it not been for the Immortality of
either the candidates or their f1ehds'
But the event is eminently satisfactory
although two good men and true had to
be sacrificed to attain ii. on Mr.. Hose
broad shoulders lay an altogether unde-
served onus. the sroundless suspicion OF
being on too friendly terms with the
Southern Pacific railroad. Mr.. Roses
declarations on this point were as clean
and as impeccable as his record. but
the suspicion was too strong for those
delegates who could not be satisfied with
any candidate unless he were pro-
nounced and bitter foe of the railroad.
Besides this Mr. Rose had the support
of a certain number of delegates who
are VIGOROUSLY regarded as a railroad
clique. and this fact added to the bit
terness of the opposition against him.
The hostile resistance TO Mr.. George
Patton's candidature was no less We
hement and vigorous. The situation was
hopeless and the deadlock threatened
TO be interminable. 1t was obvious that
the patience of the delegates and of the
party generally had been strained to
the bursting point At last, by the
simultaneous withdrawal Of both cam
didates. the siege was raised and what
was rapidly degenerating into farce
termina ted to the relief of all concerned.
The convention wasted no time in the
Of another candidate. whose
personality and principles We're alike
pleasing to ali the delegates. The name
of Major Harry w Patton had been
freely and faVorably mentioned for sew
eral days in the event of the withdrawal
of his namesake and Mr.. Rose. 1t is a
matter for congratulation that his Sc
lection was so general. his nomination
so popular and his endorsement so un
animous. In plain. manly speech of
acceptance Major Patton very clearly
defined his stauncn adherence to the
planks of the state conventions plat
form and was cheered to the echo as he
announced on the one hand his Jealous
espousal of the cause of free silver and
on the other his unalterable opposition
to the funding bill. These are the two
most trenchant issues Of the campaign
to Californians and it is satisfactory to
n. :. 10,
respect to them. Major Patton's per-
sonality is well known throughout the
district and the result is that he is a
thoroughly respected and honored cit
izen. As a newspaper man Of many
years experience in Southern California
his long and intimate acquaintance with
the needs Of the people and the natural
requirements of the district has given
him an exceptional and invaluable cx-
perience. Respected alike by political
friend and foe-other foes he has not
it is certain that Major Patton will con-
duct clean and irreproachable cam
paign.
Another most gratifying feature of
Major Patton's speech in accepting the
nomination was his deliberate and def
mite declaration that he would be not
only willing but anxious to submit to the
decision of the fusion committee. should
it be deemed expedient that he retire
in favor of the Populist candidate. He
aVowed his entire disinterestedness and
affirmed that no personal ambition could
stand in the way Of the welfare of the
great cause of free silver
The necessarily long and monotonous
sessions of the convention have been a
severe test of both the patience and
temper of the delegates and it is again
Il matter for congratulation that with
one eXception-the explosion of motor
ious bully and blackguard-the proceed
ings of the convention under exceeding
ly trying circumstances We're conducted
with decorum.
Tho ultimate issue Of the convention.
after long and heavy travail is quite
satisfactory \ candidate has been Sc
lected whose ability and experience
have alrea.y been we'll proved and who
is well equipped to worthily uphold the
standard OF William J. Bryan and the
people.