Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-08-16
OUT OF THE RACE.
Charles A. Towne, POpulist Nominee
for Vice President, Declines.
His Letter to Chairman of Notification
CGmmtItse-Win Advocate the Election
of Bryan and observation-disclosures
City Platform Endorsed

Duluth, M1nn., Aug. S.-EOrmer
Congressman C. A. Towne, who was
nominated for vice president by the
populist convention held at Sioux
Falls in May, has sent the following
letter to the committee of notifica-
ton:
Hon. P. NJ. Ringdal Chairman, and the
Members of the Committee on Notifica-
ton of the Candidate for Vice President
of the Peoples Party National Conven-
ton held at Sioux Falls, S. D., May 49,
1900:
Gentlemen:-When on the 5th of July
at Kansas City, I had the honor to re-
ceiVe from you the official nomination of
your national convention for the office
or vice president, I requested in view of
the anomalous and delicate circumstances
in the presidential situation that you
permit me to take the subject under
careful advisement before announcing a
decision. This request you were pleased
to grant, and now, after mature consid.
Grafton of all the factors involved that
concern the welfare of the cause of polit-
zeal reform in this country and my own
duty thereto, am constrained to inform
you in all respect that I must decline
the nomination rendered me by that con-
vention.
In announcing this conclusion, I can
not forbear to express to you and through
you to the great convention whose COM
mission you hold, as we'll as to that pa
triotic body of advanced political thought
that your convention represented my deep
sense of the honor conferred upon me,
to be the unanimous choice of that con-
vention for the second place in the serv-
ice of the nation. Two circumstances,
however, add emphasis to this consider
alton in the present issue: First, the
nomination was unsolicited by me; and,
secondly, that the convention, as in the
case also of its nominee for the president,
went out of its own political organization
| to sale
this action of the Sioux Falls convention
| in nominating for president represent
ative of the democratic party and for
vice president a representative of the
| silver republican party is one of the most
encouraging and inspiring SpectacleS in
recent politics. It's unselfishness and
magnanimity, its testimony to the pre-
| cedence of the cause of the people over
any merely partisan advantage, raised the
procedure of that convention into the
From such a spirit as this, what service,
what sacrifice can be asked in the name
Of the republic. It was, of course, the
| expectation of your convention that its
nomination for the vice presidency would
prove acceptable to the conventions of
the democratic and silver republican par
ties called to meet in Kansas City on
the 4th of July. The silver republicans,
1880 delegates, representing % states and
territories, were indeed eager to name
the ticket chosen at Sioux Falls; but to
the great democratic convention another
commended itself. The name of your
nominee was presented to that conven-
ton and was received with remarkable
demonstrations of approval by the enor-
nous number of citizens and with the
greatest respect by the delegates. But the
geographical considerations and the fact
that in certain parts of the country it
was deemed wise to defer to a sentiment
demanding that the candidate should be
a man already identified with the dem
ocratic organization, not only by hold
ing it's principles and advocating it's
cause, but also by name and profession,
determined this selection of Hon. Adlai
E. Stevenson, of Illinois.
When Mr.. Stevenson had been nomi-
mated what was it myo duty to do? MY
name had gone before the convention
along with his and I had been beaten
the nomination having been made de-
cisively and with absolute fairness. The
candidate chosen was possibly unexcep-
tionable, his loyalty to our principles was
beyond question and his career had been
a long exemplification of them. Mani
testify it was my duty to support that
nomination. Acting upon this conviction
1 went before the silver republican con-
Vention, and succeeded in purSuading it
not to nominate and the vice presi-
Dental matter was finally referred to the
silver republican national committee with
full powers. Later this committee placed
the name of Mr.. Stevenson on it's ticket
as candidate for vice president.
This recital clearly develops the situa-
ton it now is. Everybody knows that
either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt is
to be the next vice president of the
United States. I am expected to take
laborouS part in the campaign. shall,
of course, advocate the election of Bryan
and Stevenson. The democratic conven-i
ton, before which I was a candidate,
nominated Bryan and Stevenson. The
silver republican party has nominated
Bryan and Stevenson. In what light
people, if, while advocating the election
of one ticket, L should be going through
t e form of runninT on another?
In conclusion, 1 may be permitted to
express the profound satisfaction which
1 feel in contemplating the present atti-
tude of the democratic party. In 1896
was one of those who keenly feeling the
recreancy of the republican party, were
much in doubt whether the memorable
democratic convention in Chicago, in
adopting it's splendid platform and noIni-
mating William ]. Bryan for the presf-
dency, was actuated by an impulse or by
a purpose. The magnificent achievements
at Kansas City have settled all possible
doubt on that subject. The platform
adopted not only re-enacts the principles
of 1896 but, in language whose force, dig
nifty and beauty have never been equalled
in similar document, responds to the
new issues presented in the growth of
the trust monopoly and the imperia1istic
policy of the administration, by an ap-
propriate enunclat1on OF those sublime
doctrines of human rights and liberties
whose profession and observance have
been the peculiar glory of our country
and are the sure basis of the ultimate
happiness of mankind. And again the
duty of carrying the banner of the cause
has been committed to that tried and
trusted hand whose grasp has never
weakened, which fear can make to
falter and no burden can dismay. The
leadership of Bryan which could have
redeemed a bad platform sanctifies a
good one. 1t made memorable an unsuc-
cessfuI contest. 1t will crown a victory
with imperishable splendor.
CHA RI IFS A TOwNEt