The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-12
MANN PAGE FOR BRYAN
The Prominent Virginia PopuIIst Is Out
spoken In Support of the Democrat.
HE PREDICTS A 6REAT TIDAL WAVE
In Favor of Bryan md siiver-Unitcd
Democratic aud PopuIist Vote VIII
Achieve Success-hSe Thinits some
satisfactory Arrangement will be
Nude Regarding Sewali.

Petersburg, Va. Aug. 11.-(speciaD-
Major Mann Page, one of the most
prominent leaders of the Populists, and
VINO was one of the nominees of the
Iopul1st Convention at ST. Louis for
ee-Presldent. was in the city to-day,
ana was interviewed by The Virginian
correspondent OH the political situation.
re SAID: Il believe that IL the St Louis
Iopulist Convention had been organic
eu win more promptness that a re-
,', Luton could nave been passed with
OUT any difficulty endorsing the nomi-
nation OF MIR. Bryan, but the friends
ol MY. Bryan from the West advocated
nomination. and while there was
ieNer AT any time doubt as to his
nomination. there never was n Dossibil-
Nv or the convention nominating Mr.
Sewai. who. while he is u free silver
man. was represented to be a national
pank man. ana az Il railroad president
oDposed to the plank in the People's
party platform. Many who favored IN,
endorsement of the ticket saw the in
consistency of attempting the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Sewall. and this was
ptainiy shown by the adoption of the
minority report requiring the convcn-
ton TO nominate the Vice President
First | am fully convinced that Mr.
BrNan Will undoubtedly receive the sum
eoll Oh the l'eonies party in most of the
southern states. with the eXceo;eon
possiblv of those States that will elect
tnelr state officers and Legislature al
the same time. / believe that those
states viii poll their vote for the Rryan
licket et II treated with anything like fair
dealinS BY the Democratic Committee
or those States. The nomination of two
CanaldateS for Nice-PreSident has I'M
doubtedfS complicated matters, but the
patriotism of the people will find solu-
ton OF this difficulty at the polls II tho
TWO National CortSnittees and the two
candidates for Vice President cannot
come TO some satisfactory understand
ing which should be done as speediIv
as possible consistent with n duo rn
gard for the interest OF all concernnd
one thing that l feel certain of and
tHat Is no set of men, however promi-
hent they may be, will prevent the vote
OF the great agricultural States of the
south and West from casting their vote
for BRYAN electors.
The action OF the leading Rnanciers
ana bankers since the nomination of
Nr, Bryan in their .hreats TO cocrce the
ueotor ciass by withholding discounts
ana loans TO responsible parties on ac-
count OF their political views is doing
huch 10 cement the people in carving
mo effect Jcffcrsons policy. where's
IN ne saws: Let banks exist on coin and
treasury notes AS the Government
mas the only constitutional authority to
issne monay all laws allowing the issue
OF bank notes by any bank. State or
national: should be repealed as soon as
practicablc.''
DO YOU think Watson will with
dent.
cannot answer that question Mt
present said Major Page. "Mr. Wat
sun @ IN ms telegram said he would ac-
cept the nomination for Vice President
IN the interest of harmony, consequently
IL ne should be convinced that har,nony
could be best restored by his withdraw
y! or dccnnlhE l believe he would do so.
II he belieyed that NE BRYAN ticket
would be strengthened thereby
DO YOU think Mr.. Bryan would run
on me ticket with Mr. Watson?" was
next asked.
81 have no means of knowing and T
sSn,pat thiZe with Mr.. Bryan, believing
that his one desire is to promote tbe
success of the cause beyond all personal
consideration as far as he himself is
concerned"
How will the negroes vote?"
In answer TO this question Major
rage said: That is an unsolved pr9h
lem at present. There is nothing so nm
certain and so unrelia BILE as n negro's
vote. believe the more intelligent
ana property owners of the race ara
DISPOSED TO conservative action and arc
desrous of doing what Is best. but they
nave not yet learned to assume indie
pendent action as believers themselves
lf in the Fourth District the cold ana
silver candidates for Congress of tbe
republican party shall remain i'm the
Itiu ana thus divide the colored vote
ON mat question, votes may be given
~ that event to the Bryan ticket"
Malor Page being asked what was
the PoDulist vote in the district re-
n-ied: II do not know Mr.. Cooke who
ran for Governor in 1893, received some
supnort from the Republicans. bnt os
the vote was declared as fixed bv the
ballot box men it is an unknown Gunn-
titv." f""'
Major Page said he supposed Senator
Marion Butler. chairman of the Pom
list National Committee, would call the
committee together very soon. At pres
ent senator Butler was fully occupicd
with his own State Convention. which
l.. 10 meet on the 18th instant.
Major Page said he knew Senator
Butler very well and knew he was
heartily in favor of the success of the
reform ticket. and would do everything
consistent with honor to accomplish
that result Major Page said he was a
member OF the committee appointed ia
inform Mr.. Bryan of his nomipation
but he had not received any instruc,
tions as TO where the committee would
be called together.
Major Page remarked to Your CORE
spondent: This is the first time have
been interviewed since I left St Louis.
though interviews have been published
as eraanating from me. The usual fair
ness that ] have always received at
YOUR hands has induced me to submit
to this interview"
The Republican State Committee will
establish headquarters In Richmond.