Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-14
THE BIG CONVENTION.
REFLECTIONS INSPIRED BY THE
PROCEEDINGS AT ST. LOUIS.
VIII the Party BE the Victim Of Treach-
cry ~ Suggested by the st. Louis
Republic and Other Organs.

and prohibitionists from their respect
i've parties this year, was again en-
phatically illustrated by the proceed
ings Of the national peoples party
convention at st. Louis. But since po-
litical "chaos" is only possible when
the power of party leaders" fails Of
commanding the unquestioning re-
speot Of the people, and since 1t Is In
disputably true that the oppressive
and outrageous conditions at present
existing are the result of implicit obe-
dlence Of the past commands Of those
whom accident placed in control Of po-
litical affairs, the disturbance Of our
political ocean may be hailed as a
happy omen that the spirit of indie
pendence still exists in the breasts of
those for whose benefit alone govern
ments can claim the right to exist and
that that spirit is now fully aroused to
the necessity of important and radical
changes in the policy Of our govern
ment. 1t was this spirit and the sense
OF this necessity that prompted infiu-
entail republicans and prohibitionists
to withdraw from their respective par
ties and inspired the dominant faction
OF democracy to mark out a course for
their party so radically different from
that which 1t approved four years ago
that the administration Of its own
choosing repudiates the new policy as
the vagaries Of "cranks," Socialists"
and "populists," and it was this same
trrepressible and indomitable deter
mination to compel those in control of
governmental affairs to inaugurate
measures which the people have come
to believe necessary for their relief,
that at times seemed to bid fair to
turn the peoples party convention into
a bowling, heartless horde Of senseless
beings who were prompted solely by
the belief that the supreme duty of the
hour was abundantly complied with if
each would make all the noise he
could.
1t was not lack Of respect for age
that caused the convention to howl the
venerable Senator Stewart from the
rostrum, nor want of appreciation of
past services rendered by General
Weaver which at the same critical mo-
ment caused his mouth to be stopped
by the angry yells Of the peoples
party delegates, but the intuitive
knowledge that they were both en-
deavoring to guide the convention into
a channel which it had decided not to
enter. This scene occurred on the
question of nominating Thomas E.
Watson for vice president.
The usual order of nominh Ag the
candidate for president first had been
reversed by the adoption Of the minor
ity report Of the committee on rules,
which provided for this way OF pro-
cedure In the belief that IL the usual
order was preserved and Bryan nomi-
mated first the convention would be
tricked into seeming Endorsement. of
the entire democratic ticket by the
nomination of Sewall for vice presi-
dent. The delegates had recognized in
the intelligent, interrupted and gener-
ous-hearted w. ]. Bryan, whom the
democrats had Unexpectedly and in
moment Of forgetful delirium, inspired
by his own eloquence, honored with
the position of chief standard-bearer of
their party, a person in every way
worthy of their confidence, and had de-
termined to show their willingness to
unite with democracy in seating him
in the presidential chair. But while
these rugged representatives of the
new force that is rapidly coming to the
front in American politics were thus
ready to display degree Of patriotism
hitherto unknown in partisan politics,
they could not and would not be guilty
Of the disqualification involved in
the proposition to nominate the rail-
road magnate and national banker
whom the democrats had selected as
their candidate for vice president. And
1t was while this contest between Wat
son and Sewall was on, and at the hour
Of midnight, when the delegates were
exhausted with the efforts of con-
tinuous session, that Senator Stewart,
who was not delegate to the conven-
ton, attempted to speak in behalf of
his fellow-millionaire on the demo-
cratic ticket and was driven from the
stage by the cries of time! time"
etc. General Weaver followed and met
with like fate because of the wide
spread belief, inspired by his recent
course, that he stood ready to sacrifice
everything for free coinage of silver.
This scene, followed, as 1t speedily
was, by the unanimous selection of
Watson as the choice of the convention
for vice president amid display of
widest enthusiasm, in which the dele
gates from every state Joined, coupled
with the fact that simple doubt in
the minds of the delegates as to
whether Mr.. Bryan would accept their
nomination for president, prevented
his nomination from being made unan-
imous, tells of latent determination
in the representatives Of the peoples
party to place principle and patriotism
above party and office-getting, of which
those who are considering the advisa-
bility of taking Watson from the ticket
and substituting Mr.. Sewall in his
stead would do we'll to take heed. 1t