The leader., 1900-07-11
SILVER REPUBLICANS.
Nominate Bryan for President by Ac-
cIamation-Their Platform.

Kansas City, Mo, July 6-The national
convention of the national silver repub-
lican party met in the auditorium
Wednesday. The delegates were slow in
arriving. and IL was some time after IL,
the hour fixed for the convention. when
Chairman Charles A. Towne's gavel fell,
and the party formed in st. Louis four
years ago, after the bolt OF the advocates
of free silver from the republican nation
al convention was launched on its first
regular national gathering. Twenty-four
states were represented at the conven-
tion. After the reading of the call for
the convention and the declaration of in
dependence, Temporary Chairman Towne
introduced DR.. Howard s. Taylor, of Chi
cago. a poet of the new political move
ment. who read the poem entitled The
Liberty Bell" Mr.. Towne then delivered
an address
Senator TIE ller was introduced as chair
man of the convention, and made an elo-
quent address. dealing with the monetary
question and bitterly denouncing the dis
establishment of silver. The mention OF
Mr.. Bryan's name by Senator Teller Gre
ated perfect storm of applause, but
the demonstration was excelled by that
which occurred when Charles A. Towne's
name was mentioned.
T.. S. Corser, of Minnesota, presented
resolution, providing for a committee of
s. of which Henry NJ Teller shall be
chairman, to present to the democratic
national convention the name of Charles
A. Towne as a candidate for vice presi-
dent.
The various state delegations announced
their selections for members of the con-
vention committees, and pending their or.
ganization and reports, the convention ad-
journed until ten O'Clock Thursday morn
ing.
Kansas City, Mo, July s.-The silver re-
publican national convention spent all of
Thursday in waiting for the report of the
committee on resolutions. 1t was ex-
pected that the platform would be out of
the way and nominations be in order at
least before the close of the afternoon ses-
sion, but so much friction developed in
the subcommittee to which the drafting of
a platform had been referred, that 1t was
not until late Thursday afternoon that the
formal enunciation of the party's princi-
pies was in readiness to be presented to
the full committee. Once the disputed
points had been settled, however, the COM
mittee on resolutions lost no further time,
but promptly voted its approval of the sub
committees work. The main points of diff
ference lay in the attitude of the party on
expansion, and on this point both the sub
committee and the full committee were di-
vided practically on geographical lines.
the eastern members favoring condemna-
ton of imperialism while most of the MEM
bers from the western states opposed this
course.
Kansas City. Mo. July 7.-After long
and exciting debate, during which 1t
looked several times as If Charles A.
Towne would be nominated for vice pres
ident in spite of his protest against such
action. the national convention of the
silver republican party adjourned sine die
without making nomination. the whole
matter being referred to the national
committee with power to act. w. j. Bry-
an was made the unanimous choice of
the convention for president during the
morning session, and it was the intention
to complete the ticket in the afternoon
by the nomination of former Congress
man Towne. The action of the democrat
ic convention, however, in placing Adlai
e. Stevenson in nomination took the dele
gates off their feet, but most of them as
serted their determination to nominate
Mr.. Towne Notwithstanding. For two
hours Senator Teller, former Congress-
man Shafroth, of Colorado, and Cheadle,
of Indiana, and others made speeches in
favor of indorsing the democratic ticket,
but it was not until Towne himself ap-
peared and appealed to the convention
not to nominate him. but to concentrate
their forces. that the delegates Gained
down. and the vice presidential nomina-
tion was referred to the national COM
mittee
ton previous to the decision with refer
ence to the vice presidential nomination,
said he believed 1t his duty to support the
ticket nominated by the democratic con-
vention.
While Mr. Towne was speaking several
attempts were made to interrupt him with
questions. The convention howled down
the attempts until Mr.. Towne yielded to
the questions, after which Mr.. Towne
again insisted that 1t was his wish that the
convention should not nominate him.
The convention gave Mr.. Towne most re-
spectful considera ton, and while he was
speaking it was evident that the conven-
ton was disposed to follow Mr. Townes
advice and wishes.
The conference of the representatives
of the three great parties developed a pc
cuiar situation in some respects. The
democrats were anxious for the with
drawal of Towne from the populist ticket
and the silver republicans said that. SO
far they were concerned. they would,
through their committee nominata
Stevenson for vice president, although
profoundly disappointed that Towne was
not nominated by the democratic con
vention. The populists were not in favor
of the withdrawal of Towne and main
tanned that the populist national commit
tee, acting under instructions from the
Sioux Falls convention, would be COM
PEELED to put another candidate in the
field if Towne should withdraw, and that
the committee could not withdraw him
More than this, they asserted that If
Towne should be withdrawn and they
should not put another man in his place
their organization would be endangered
and such action would result in popu-
lists going over to the middle-of the-road
ticket. nominated at Cincinnati. This
i would lessen the chances of carrying
states in the west and intermountain
country.
The fact that a number of United
States senatorshiDs depended upon the
success of the fusion of all forces was
given as reason why the populist ticket
should be kept in the field 1t was claimed
by the populists that two senators in Ne
braska, one in South Dakota, one In
Kansas, one in Colorado and, possibly
one in Wyoming, depended upon perfect
fusion of the three forces. The populistS
made a plea for delay. saying that q
days from now they would have had ar
opportunity to confer with their people
and the conditions which might make
necessary tho withdrawal of Towne OIL
his retention would then be better un
derstood.
A meeting of the silver republican ma
tional committee was held Immediately
after the close of the conference. and
| at the end of a brief discussion, 1t was
voted UNANIMOUSLY To pidCe Auidf
| Stevenson in nomination for vice presi
| dent and to cooperate in every way with
| the democratic party for the success o.
| the ticket
The populist committee has reached nc
! decision.
Platform of Silver Republicans.
Kansas City. Mo, July 7.-FoIlowing is &
synopsis of the platform adopted by the
national silver republican convention
| The opening sentences recognize the prin
ciples set forth in the declaration of Amer
| lean independence as fundamental ant
ever!astingly true in their application t
| governments among men. Washington!
farewell address, Jefferson's wise states
manship and Lincoln's patriotism ant
| broad phila nthropy are enunciated and EN-
| phasized The principle of bimetallism Il
declared to be the right basis of monetar,
| system The currency law is criticised be
cause destroying the full money power o.
the silver dollar and fixing the gold stand
ard on the country. The party pledges it
| self to seek its repeal. The platform favor
| an income tax, election of senators by di
| vote of people and the ma Re ne,