The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-03
Agreement Entered Into By the
Two National Committees
OF the POpulist and Democratic
Parties,
MAKING PROVISIONS
For the Union of the Two Par
ties ON Electors.
Memorandum of the Agreement
Sent to Bryan.

Vincennes, Ind, Aug. S.-Hon. Sam
uel W. williams, of this city, has pre-
pared and forwarded to Hon. Vim. ].
Bryan a draft of an agreement to be
submitted to the Populistic and Demo-
cratic conference committees, which
seems to throw much light upon the
inside workings and understanding of
the st. Louis Populist convention. Mr..
Williams was the originator of the idea
Of nominating the vice president first.
He was chairman of the sub-commit
tee of the Populist national convention
which was selected to formulate the
order of business of the convention.
Mr.. Williams presented the minority
report, which recommended the nOmi-
nation of vice president first, which re-
port was adopted. Mr.. Williams acts
for the 'middle-of- the-road" element,
and this proposed agreement makes
clear their scheme. and seems to con-
tradict the popular notion that the
PopuEsts desire SeWall's removal from
the Democratic ticket The text OF the
agreement is as follows:
Memorandum Of agreement between
the Peoples party and the Democratic
party, made on behalf of said parties
by the respective national committees,
and to be in force and effect in such
states as may by their committees be
ratified and approved This agreement
relates to the selection of presidential
electors in the several states where
this agreement is in force. and to the
making of the official ballots in said
states and the casting of the votes in
the electoral college of the Bryan cleo
tors elected in these states.
TT is understood that Hon. VIM. J.
Bryan is the Peoples party nominee
for president, and the Hon. Thomas
Watson is the Peoples party nominee
for vice president. 1t is understood
that said w. J. Bryan is the Demo-
cratic nominee for president, and the
Hon. Arthur SewaH is the Democratic
nominee for vice president 1t is
agreed that in each state bound by
this contract each of said political par
ties shall have it's own full national
ticket in the column under its own
party emblem, and full list of candi-
dates for presidential electors. The
identical same names of candidates
shall be in each and both Of said col
urnns. In each of said states each par
ty shall select as nearly as possible
one-haIf in number OF said candidates
for electors; that is to say, in each
state the Democrats shall select one
candidate for elector at large and the
Peoples party shall select one candi-
date for elector at large. In the con-
greSsional districts, in the even num-
bers.- the Peoples party shall select the
candidate for elector, and in the odd
numbered districts the Democrats shall
select the candidate for elector.
ION the official ballot for the Peo-
ple's party the column shall be headed
by the names of Bryan and Watson,
and the Democratic column by the
names of Bryan and Sewall. The in
tent of this is to give the Individual
voter of each of said parties an oppOr-
tunity to vote his own party ticket and
to make a selection as between Sewall
and Watson for vice president. 1t is
understood that all the said electors
elected in the college shall vote for
William J. Bryan for president. It is
understood that after the election, and
prior to the state meeting of the cleo
tors. a special committee OF four, com
posed of two POpulsts and two Demo-
Gratis shall ascertain and determine
from the official returns the total pop
ular vote cast for said elected electors
under the Bryan and Watson column
and the Bryan and Sewall column re-
spectively, and as between Watson and
Sewan the one having received the
highest and largest vote shall receive
in the college the entire vote of all the
Bryan electors elected as aforesaid"