The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-08-09
Charley will Give Democratic
Ticket His Most Hearty
Support.
P0puIist Committee Will Now
lndorse Stevenson for
Second Place.


In letter to P. NJ. Ringdal. chairman,
and the members Of the committee of noti-
fcation OF candidate for vice president Of
the Peoples party. Charles A. Towne has
declined the nomination rendered him by
the Populist national convention at Sioux
Falls.
the letter is of considerable length and
sets forth fully Mr.. Towne's views in re-
gard to the nomination.
1t is believed the Populist committee en-
powered to fill the vacancy caused by Mr..
Towne's withdrawal will Immediately in
dorse Adlai E. Stevenson for vice president
on the ticket with William ]. Bryan.
Former Congressman Charles A. TOwne,
who was nominated for the vice. presidency
by the Populist national convention held
at Sioux Falls in May, has sent the fol-
lowing letter to the committee of notifca-
ton
Hon. P. M. Ringdal. Chairman, and the
Members OF the Committee on Notifica-
tion Of Candidate for Vice. President OF
the Peoples Party National Convention
held at Sioux Falls. South Dakota, May
8 and 10. 1900:
Gentlemen-When. on the fifth Of July.
at Kansas City, had the honor to receive
from you the official notification Of the
action Of your national convention in nom
mating me for the office of vice-president
Of the United STATES, I requested. in view
of anomalous and delicate circumstances in
the pOl1tlCal 6ltuatlOn, Ll0C you permit me
to take the subject under careful advise
znent before announcing decision either
accepting or declining that nomination.
This request you were pleased to grant,
and now. after mature consideration Of all
and factors involved that concern the well
fare of the cause of political reform in
this country, and my own duty thereto. l
am constrained to inform you in all re-
spect that l must decline the nomination
rendered me by the Sioux Falls conven-
tion.
HONORED BY NOMINATION.
In announcing this conclusion cannot
forbear to express to you, and. through you,
you hold, well as to that patriotic body
of advanced political thought which that
convention represented, my deep sense Of
the honor conferred upon me. To be the
unanimous choice of such a convention for
the second highest office in the service of
the republic would be distinction to any
citizen Two circumstances. however add
emphasis to this consideration In the pres
ent instance:
First, that the nomination was unsolic-
tied by me, and, secondly, that the conven-
tion, as in the case also Of its nominee for
the presidency, went out OF It's own political
organization to select a candidate. To my
mind this action of the Sioux Falls cOnven-
tion in nominating for president repre-
sentative Of the Democratic party, and for
vice-president representative of the Sill
yer Republican party, Is one of the most
encouraging and inspiring spectacles In re-
cent politics Its unselfshness and mag
nanimity, Its testimony to the precedence
of the cause of the people over any merely
partisan advantage, raised the procedure OF
that convention into the serene upper air OF
true civic heroism. From such spirit as
this what service, what sacrifice, could not
be asked In the name of the republic?
NOT ACCEPTABLE TO DEMOCRATS.
1t was, Of course, the expectation of your
convention that it's nomination for the vice.
presidency would prove acceptable to the
convention Of the Democratic and Silver
Republican parties called 10 meet in Kansas
City on the Fourth Of July. The Silver Re-
publicans. 1880 delegates representing 28
states and territories, were indeed eager
to name the ticket chosen at Sioux Falls.
but to the great Democratic convention an
other course commended itself. The name
OF your nominee was presented to that con-
vention, and was received with quite re-
markable demonstrations Of approval by the
enormous number of citizen spectators and
with the utmost respect by the delegates.
But geographical considerations, and the
fact in certain parts OF the country that
1t was deemed wise to defer to a sentiment
demanding that the candidate should be q
man already identified with the Democratic
organization, not only by holding its prin-
ciples and advocating its cause, but also
by name and profession determined the &C.
lection OF the Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson. of
Illinois, a man Of unimpeachable character
and of ripe political experience. who was
q member of congress more than 20 years
ago, was also q close associate and CO.
laborer of Gen. J. B. Weaver and other
great leaders in the reform political move
ments of that day, and who, as vice-presi-
dent from 1893 to 1897, distinguished him
self by rebelling against the betrayal Of
Democratic principles by President Cleve-
land.
TONNES PLAIN DUTY.
When Mr.. Stevenson had been nominated,
what was 1t my duty to do? My name had
gone before the convention along with his,
and had been beaten The nomination had
been made decisively and with absolute fair
ness The candidate chosen was personally
unexceptionable: his loyalty to our prin-
ciples was beyond question, and his career
had been long exemplincation Of them
Manifestly 1t was my duty to support that
nomination. Acting Immediately upon this
conviction, went before the Silver Re-
publican convention and succeeded in per
suading It not to nominate me, and the vice.
presidential matter was finally referred To-
the Silver Republican national committee
with full powers. Later in the night this
committee placed the name Of Mr. Steven
son on its ticket - candidate for vice.
president.
This recital elsarly develops the situation
~ It now is. Everybody knows that either
Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt is to be
the next vice president Of the United States,
] am expected to take laborious part in
the campaign shall, of course advocate
the election Of Bryan and Stevenson. The