Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-05-19
The NIGH SESSION.
Stormy Discussion Over Vice Presi-
dency--Towne's Victory.

Stormy Discussion Over Vice Presi
dency---Towne's Victory.
Sioux Falls, s. D., May 11.-At s:1(
i N b evening the convention recon
vened, and Mr.. Washburn, of Xassa
chusetts, spoke at some length in fla
vor of his plan Of submitting a list Of
five men for vice president. He yield
ed the floor TO General Weaver, who
appealed to the convention to adopt
the plan of Mr.. Washburn. +. Gerry
Brown, of Massachusetts,, deprecated
the sharp tone the debate was taking
and closed with an appeal for har+
money, no matter what the decision OF
the convention might be.
Edward s. Greco, of Michigan, was
then recognized, but just here an In.
cident occurred that threw the conven'
ton into an uproar, and which for a
few moments threatened to result in a
free fight.
Before Mr.. Greece speaks" said the
chairman, "'the chair wishes to an
nounce that there is "a package of let
ters here for the south Dakota delega-
ton. 1t was found on u chair and was
probably lost by some member of the
delegation"
Former Congressman J. II. Kelley
Of South Dakota, who had been clam
oring for recognition all day, at once
advanced, and, with his voice shaking
with anger, said:
1.-The South Dakota delegation is
! glad to receive this recognition from
the chait, for it is the only recognition
it has received from you. You are a
miserable bunco steerer," Mr.. Kelley
shouted. "You came into this conven-
ton with professions of good faith.
You are not fit TO preside over n popu-
list convention and you never will
again"
In an instant there was an uproar
and cries of put him OUT were
heard. Finally the excited delegates
quoted somewhat for q moment.
'The chair desires to make an ex-
planation," said Chairman Patterson.
II have honestly endeavored to let the
convention hear from both sides in
succession"
Calls Chairman n Liar.
81 deny that as a falsehood," broke
in Mr.. Kelley, and again the owen
ton became a perfect pandemonium.
Several excited delegates stripped off
their coats, ready for business, while
one gray bearded but brawny dele
gate ran toward Mr.. Kelley. lie was
stopped before he reached him.
Mr.. Greece spoke urgently in favor of
sending a committee of conference to
Kansas City, as proposed by Mr.. Wash
burn.
The chair then recognized Mr.. Kel-
ley, of South Dakota, who said:
II very much regret the little alter
cation | had a short time ago and /
also regret that the chairman should
think that / intended to intimidate
him. / give you my word of honor
as n man that / intended nothing of
the kind" Mr.. Kelley then turned his
attention to the pending question and
urged that u nomination be made at
once. Mr.. Kelley was given an ovation
by his fellow delegates as he took his
seat.
After q long discussion on the par
liamentary position of the various mo-
tions, amendments and substitutes,
the chair ordered n vote on the amend
ment offered by Jerry Simpson, which
provided that the national committee
CllD'lh SO w hllsd WY IOl d u
encc with the free silver republicans
and democrats regarding the vice
presidency.
Amid much confusion the vote re-
suited, 262 votes for and 492 votes
against. In the midst of the applause
which followed the announcement of
the result Senator Allen arose.
"Mr. Chairman" he said, 81 desire
to name Charles A. Towne, of Mime
sofa, for the Office Of vice president
and to move that the nomination be
made unanimous" Cries of mo, no."
came from several delegates.
Jerry Simpson made the point ofor-
der that Mr.. Washburn's compromise
measure should be acted upon, and
the chair ruled the point we'll taken.
The roll call was ordered on the reso-
luton, which was also defeated.
Senator Allen then took the chair,
Chairman Pattcrson's voice hating
given out.
''The convention will now proceed to
the nomination of candidates for vice
president" he said. The call of states
for the announcement of names was
then demanded.
Illinois was the first to respond,
Tornado" Jones nominating DR..
Howard S. Taylor.
A. j. Westfall, of Iowa, put in nom
ination j. III. Davis ('Cyclone"), of
Texas.
II. II. Tibbels, of Nebraska, immedi-
atcly seconded the nomination. When
Kansas was reached Jerry Simpson
nominated Central Committeeman j..
w. Breidenthal.
George f. Washburn, of Massa-
chusetts, nominated Il. Gerry Borwn,
of that state.
Bowler Nominates Towne.
j. w. Bowler, of Minnesota, nom
mated Charles a. Towne in an elo-
quent speech. He said:
"In my judgment 1t would have
been wiser and better for us all to
have held this convention at the same
time and place fixed upon by u
but in pursuance of an honest
cndeayor to preserve the unity of IN
party the national committee mag
unanimously made a concession by vir-
tue of which we are assembled in adj
vance of our allies.
"NVe thus find ourselves confronted
with a grave responsibility which we
might have very wisely divided with
the democrats and silver republicans.
We have very properly decided TO ac-
cept it, and in doing SO we must make
mistake in the choosing Of Il candi-
date for the Office Of vice president.
No ordinary offering will be likely
to be acceptable to our allies. He must
be n man of recognized honesty, abil-
ity and courage. If we offer such q
we can rely upon the party
who gave us William j. Bryan and the
Chicago platform in 1896 to heartily
indorse him. If we do this we will
crystalline the voters who are opposed
to the policy and methods of the re-
publican party into a grand, invincible
phalanx, which will o on to vic
tory at the polls.
"Fortunately for us, we have in our