The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-08
TOWNE RETIRES.
POpuliSt Nominee For the Vice
Presidency
Writes a Letter Declining to
Make the Race.
BRYAN AND STEVENSON
Says He is in Duty Bound to
Support the Ticket.
Nominated by the Democrats
and Silver Republicans.


mated for vice president by the Populist
convention at Sioux Falls in May, has
sent the following to the committee of
notification:
Gentlemen: When on the 5th day of
July, at Kansas City, had the honor to
receive from you the official nomination
OF your national convention for the
office of vice president, I requested, in
view Of the anomalous and delicate Cir
cumstances in the presidential situation
that you permit me to take the subject
under careful advisement before an
nouncing a decision This request you
were pleased to grant, and now, after
mature consideration of all the Factors
involved that concern the welfare of the
cause of political reform in this country
and my own duty thereto, 1 am con-
strained to inform you in all respect
that 1 must decline the nomination ten
dered me by that convention.
In announcing this conclusion can
not forbear to express to you ana
through you to the great convention
whose commission you hold, as well as
to that patriotic BODY of advanced pO-
1tical thought that your convention
represented, my deep sense of the honor
conferred upon me, to be the unanimous
choice of that convention for the second
place in the service of the nation. The
circumstances, however, add emphasis
to this consideration in the present is
sue: First, the nomination was unso-
licited by me; and, secondly, the con-
venuon as in the case also of its NOM
inee for the presidency, went out of its
own political organization TO select
candidate.
To my mind this action Of the Sioux
Falls convention in nominating for
president a representative of the Demo-
cratic party and for vice president
representative of the Silver Republican
is one of the most encouraging and in
spring spectacles in recent politics Its
unselhshness and magnanimity, its tes-
timOny to the precedence of the cause
of the people over any merely partisan
advantage, raised the procedure of that
convention into the upper air of true
civic heroism-
From such a spirit as this what ser
vice, what sacrifice can not be asked in
the name of the republic? 1t was of
course the expectation of your conven-
ton that its nomination for the vice
presidency would prove acceptable to
the conventions of the Democratic and
Silver Republican parties called to meet
in Kansas City on The Fourth of July.
The Silver Republicans, 1880 delegates
representing tWenty-eight states and
territories, were indeed eager to name
the ticket CHOSEN at Sioux Fails, buI
to the great Democratic convention an
other commended itself. The name of
your nominee was presented to that
convention and was received with re-
markable defnonStrati lions of approval
the enormous number of citizens
present and with the greatest respect
by the delegates.
the fact that in certain parts of the
country it was deemed wise to defer to
a sentiment demanding that the candi-
date should be a man already identified
with the Democracy determined the
selection of Adlai e. Stevenson of Hill
nOis a. man of unimpeachable character
and of ripe political experience, who as
a member OF congress more than twenty
years ago was a close assistant and CO.
laborer of General ]. B. Weaver and
other great leaders in the reform po- 4
= dow md f1n
as vice president from 1893 to 1897, dis
tinguished himself by rebelling against
the betrayal of Democratic principles by
President Cleveland.
When Mr. Stevenson had been noni-
mated, what was it my duty to do? My
name had gone before the convention
along with his, and 1 had been beaten.
The nomination had been made de-
ciSively and with a notable fairness. 4
The candidate chosen was positively I'M
exceptionable; his loyalty to our pr1n-
ciples was beyond question and his
career had been a long exemplification
of them. Manifestly it was my duty
to support that nomination. Acting
upon this conviction, l went before the
Silver Republican convention and sue
ceeded in persuading it not to nominate
me, and the vice presidential matter
was finally referred to the Silver Re
publican national committee, with full
pow ers. Later this committee placed
the name of Mr.. Stevenson on its ticket
as candidate for vice president
The ercital clearly develops the situa-
ton as it now is. Every body knows |
that either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. RoOse- |
welt is to be the next vice president OF
the United States.
am expected to take a 1aboriou5 part /
in the campaign. 1 shall, of course, adj |
vocate the election of Bryan and Stew |
enson. The Democratic convention, be- |
fore which / was candidate, nom1- |
mated Bryan and Stevenson. The Silver |
Republican party has nominated Bryan /
and Stevenson. In what light should /
appear before the American people II, /
while advocating the election of one |
ticket / should be going through the /
form of running on another? NOBODY /
in the United States would think had /
the slightest chance OF being elected, /
and nobody would believe that I con- /
sidered myself as candidate unless at /
the same time he believed me to be alb /
sohltely lacking in common sense W nom /
could such a phantom candidacy de- /
ceive? What respect should deserve, /
indeed, If in such a matter should at |
tempt to deceive anybody whatsoever? |
/ know the Peoples party TO be COM
posed of men most exceptionally keen |
and expert in political judgment
So obvious a sham could not delude i
their vision Either they would resent |
my implied uncOmpl1Tnentafy estimate OF i
them OF they would be justified in form
ing one of me which could result only in /
the cause which it had been the |
Tsrofessed object of my mistaken folly to
advance. Consistency and candor IN
politics, therefore, my own self respect,
a proper Difference to the Peoples party,
and a sincere regard for the welfare of
the cause of political reform in the Uni
ted States all counsel that / now re- /
spectfuliy replace in your hands the
honorable trust which your great party
committed to me in contemplation of /
different complexion of affairs than that
which has resulted.
In conclusion, 1 may be permitted to
express the profound satisfaction which
feel In contemplating the present att1-
tude of the Democratic party In 1886
was enc Of those who, keenly feeling
the recreancy Of the Republican party,