Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-31
The Populist Convention.
It Endorsed Bryan, but Turned Down
sewall for vice President.

Sewall for vice President.
The ticket finally nominated by the Pop
ulists in their National convention at St.
Louis was William Jennings Bryan for
president and Thomas E. Watson of Geor-
gia for vice president. From beginning to
end the convention was a law unto itself.
Friday it turned down its committee on
rules by voting to nominate the candidate
for vice president first. This was crafty,
but successful scheme to prevent an en-
dorsement of Sewall of Maine, Bryans
running mate on the Irregular" Democra-
tic ticket. The ballot nominating Wat
son was not taken till after midnight.
The work of the convention was finally
completed Saturday afternoon after four
days of heat, turmoil, and unlimited ora
tory. Notwithstanding the receipt of one
or more special kilograms from Mr.. Bryan
declining to permit his name to 90 before
the convention unless Arthur Sewall, his
associate on the Chicago ticket, were also
endorsed, Mr.. Bryan was put in formal
nomination as originally contemplated by
Gen. Weaver of Iowa, and was seconded
by one or more spokesman from every state
and territory, with about 10 exceptions,
and on a ballot received 1912 votes against
321 for Col. Norton of Chicago, who at
the last moment was selected as the can
ddate of the unreconstruoted middle-of-
the-road element. The convention sepa-
rated in bad humor, many of the delegates
openly denouncing the ticket as "theatri-
cal' one. 1t, however, met the unqualified
approval of Mrs. Lease of Kansas. In
an impassioned address she assured the
delegates that they had risen to the grand
eur of the occasion and had done honor
| to the party and TO themselves
The platform contains the usual popu-
istic demands, including free coinage of
silver at l6 to l ,denounces the sale of bonds,
and declares the paramount issue of the
campaign to be the financial one.
Mr. Bryan told the United Press Satur-
day night that his action with regard to
the Populist nomination would depend en-
tirely upon the conditions attached. In
answer to question concerning the mat
ter, he said: "When the Populists decided
to nominate the vice president first, Sena-
tor Jones, chairman of the national Demo-
cratic committee, wired me as follows: Pop
ulists nominate vice president first. If not
Sewall, what shall we do? | favor your
withdrawal in that case l wired at once:
Il agree with you. Withdraw my name if
Sewall is not dominated These dispatches
were published in this mornings pa
pers, and the convention understood my
position. In spite of this they have seen
fit to nominate me.
IL Was a Remarkable Convention.
One of the Press correspondents writes:
In many respects the Populist convention
was the most remarkable in the history of
the country. Was there ever political
convention before that nominated a man
for president who had refused to accept?
Was there ever a convention where so
much time was wasted in talk? Was there
ever a convention where so much noise
and disorder occurred? There never was a
time when Temporary Chairman Butler or
Permanent Chairman Allen had the con-
vention in hand. Senator Allen was clear
ly afraid of the gathering. he did not
dare turn down single delegate, no mat
ter how troublesome or disorderly his
questions or his Interruptions or his points
of order might be. Anybody who wanted
| TO talk could do so TO his hearts content,
| and everybody who wanted TO make point
of order was allowed TO use up the time of
theconvention. The result was parliamentary
| chaos, and some rulings by both the tenn
porary and the permanent chairmen must
| have made Gushing and Roberts turn over
in their graves.
There never was time during the first
two days Of the convention, when the
weather was hot, when as many as one
| quarter of the men had on their coats, and
there never was during those days time
when more than half of them had on their
vests. The number of neckties was in
| proportion to the delegates as to Is, and
the sergeant alarms and the other officers
of the convention set the example of APP
| pearing in costume in which New Eng
land farmers generally go a-haying.
The distinguishing character of the con-
vention was its ability to stand talk. The
stream of talk went on continuously, hour
after hour. The stenographers, the news
paper correspondents, the police officers
in attendance, and many of the spectators,
were tired and exhausted from listening to
the speeches, but the delegates never got
enough.
Silver Men Go the Whole Figure.
| The silver convention held at St. Louis
last week finished its work by nominating
Bryan for president and Sewall for vice
president. Both nominations were made