People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-08-21
why the Lights Went Out.

president. 1t was plain the conven-
ton was going for Watson. The
Sewall men were trying to force an
adjournment. The galleries had their
cue and cried "adjourn, adjourn"
Tom Patterson of Colorado, Stone of
Missouri, and Gen. Weaver of Iowa,
were holding conference back of
the chairman's desk. 1t was anything
to beat Watson. Gen. Weaver in
person appealed to the delegates to
adjourn as they were sin no frame
Of mind to nominate" He was
greeted with cries OF @no," and Sena-
tor Allen ordered the roll call. The
Southern delegations were split up
over favorite sons, and it was plain
no nomination would be made on the
first ballot. Several men of Nebraska
ran, with trembling lips, to the Texas
and Tennessee delegations to beg
them to change their votes to Wat
son. Tom Patterson, the Populist
Democrat of Colorado, and Governor
Stone, the silver Democrat of Mis-
souri-as L saw with my own eyes
broke up their conference and Stone
walked away to remote part of the
building. In less than two minutes
after Stones disappearance the cleo.
trio lights began to futter and pale.
While Texas clamored for recognition
to change her vote for Watson the
row of gallery chandeliers went out,
leaving us in twilight, and the
moment after Tennessee changed her
vote giving Watson the votes to
nominate, every light went out and
the blackness Of Missouri bourbon
Democracy reigned above men who
shouted and cried and shook hands
aud cheered for Tom Watson of
Georgia, the heroic Populist and
leader of the South. After ten min.
ntes the light was again turned on
aud at "16 to 1" sixteen minutes to
one O'Clock, Chairman Allen an
nounoed Tom Watson's nomination
and adjournment Immediately fol-
lowed.
No power on earth can ever per-
suade me that it was not the hand of
Governor Stone that turned off those
lights. And the malignant bitter
ness and viuperation, the wrath,
lurid damnation curses, invectives
and personal abuse that poured from
the Democrats il the galleries snd in
the hotels upon that convention of
Populists for presuming to name
Populist for vice president were con-
6rmation. l never heard anything
like it. 1t was hell itself turned
loose. St. Louis Democrats, with
whom I became acquainted and
whom l met afterward in the hotel
Hobbies were white as molten lava
with rag. A for me, l drew a long
breath and said "Thank God, Popu-
lism still lives and Tom Watson is it's
leader. Let the heather rage" Let
the Pcpulists of Northwest Nebraska
bear these things in mind. This is
no exaggeration. 1t was the deliber-
ate purpose of the Bourbon Demo
mocracy to break and destroy the
Populist party at St. Louis.
The story of Bryan's nomination is
already well told to you. 1t was
made possible without a bolt by the
nomination of Watts IN. Peace had
already stretched her wings over the
hall when the convention met next
morning, and when State after State
which had come there hostile to Bry-
an swung into line for Nebraska's
gallant son every vote was pnn of
rejoicing in the hearts of the dele
gates. Even the bitterness of Texas
was gone and Georgia raised shouts
of victory when she cast So of her 81
votes for W. J. Bryan.
Ono word to close this long letter.
The Populist party is the coming
party of America. 1t has met it's
greatest crisis; met it bravely, con
quered its enemies, conquered its
own self Illness an partissnism-the
path Of brotherhood union and vic
tory lies broad before us.
A. Z. SHELDON.
The Alabama Election.
The result in Alabama is due to