The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-08-17
WITHOUT A NOMINEE
his Letter Giving Reasons for ne.
fustng Ia Accept Nomination for
the Vice Pres idency-Prais
DE nsocrati Platform.


nominated for the vice presidency by
the populist national convention. held
at Sioux Falls in May. has sent the
following letter TO the committee Of
notification:
Hon. Y. NJ. Ringdal. Chairman. snd the
\ Members OF tho Committee on Notification
OF the Candidate for Vice President OF the
! Peoples Party National Convention. held
at Sioux Falls. $. D.. MAJ y and 10. 1900
Gentlemen: When. on the 9Th OF July, ut
Kansas city. had the honor TO receive
from you the official notification Of the ae-
! tion OF your national convention In NOM
mating me for the office OF vice president OF
the United States, | requested in view Of
anomalous and delicate circumstances In
the presidential situation. that you permit
me To take the subject under careful adj
yisement before announcing a decision
either accepting or declining that nominal
| ton. This request you We're pleased 10
grant and now, after mature consideration
I Of all the factors involved that concern the
welfare OF the cause OF political reform in
this country, and my own duty thereto, I
am constrained TO inform YOU In all re-
spect that | must decline the nomination
rendered me by the Sioux Falls convention.
In announcing this conclusion. | cannot
forbear 10 express 10 you. and through
YOU 10 the great convention whose COM
mission you hold. rs well as to that patriot.
&c body OF advanced political thought that
! your convention represented. my deep
sense of honor conferred upon me. To be
the unanimous choice OF such convention
+. FOR the second highest Office In the service
OF the republic would be distraction to any
citizen.
Two circumstances, however. add ems
phasis 10 this consideration in the present
instance: First. that the nomination was
unsolicited by me. and. secondly. that the
convention. as in the case also Of its nom
iaee for the president. went out OF its own
political organization TO select a candidate.
TO my mind this action of the Sioux Falls
convention, in nominating Tor president a
representative of the democratic party.
and for vice president a representative Of
the silver republican party. is one OF tho
most encouraging and inspiring spectacies
in recent politics. Its unselhshness and
magma imity. Its testimony TO the prece-
dence OF the cause OF the people over any
merely partisan advantage. raised the pro-
cedure of that convention into the Serene
upper air OF true civic herolsm. From such
a spirit this. what service. what sacr!.
flee can be asked IL the name OF the re.
puolicy
Action Of the Dem ocrats.
III was. OF course. tne expectation Of
your convention thai Ats noEssEauon Tor tho
wee presidency YOU'D prove acceptap.e 10
yer republican parties. cs.led TO meet in
Kansas City ca the 4tn OF July. The sill
yer republicans. l..So delegates. represent
Ing . states and territories. were inoeed
eager to name the tsc@e, chosen at Sioux
Falls. but to the great democratic conven-
ton another course commended itself. The
name OF your nominee was presented TO
that convention, and was received with re-
markable demonstrations OF approval by
and with the utmost respect by the dele
gates. But geographical considerations.
and the fact that IN certain parts OF ths
sentiment demanding that the eandidate
should be a man already identified with the
democratic organization. not only by hold
ing its principles and advocating its cause.
but also by name and profession. de-
termined the selection OF Hon. Adlai T..
Stevenson. OF Illinois, a man of unim peach.
able character and OF ripe political experi-
ence, who as member Of congress more
chan 20 years ago was close associate and
colaborer of Gen. j. IL. Weaver and other
great leaders in the reform political move
ments of the day and who. as vice presi-
dent from 1893 20 lsy. distinguished himself
by REBEL against the BETRAYAL Of demo-
cratic principles by President Cleveland.
when Mr.. Stevenson had been nom
mated. what was IL my duty 10 dog My
name had gone before the convention along
with his and had been beaten. The nom
ination had been made cscisively. and with
absolute fairness. The candidate chosen
was personally unexceptioEabe. his loy-
atty to our principles was beyonu stion.
and his career had been 4 long exempll.-
cation Of them. Manifestly II was my duty
to support that nomination. Acting upon
this conviction. went before the silver re-
sradiag Il, not TO nominate me- and the
vice presidential matter was nnally re-
ferred 70 the silver republican national
committee. with full powers. Later in tho
night this committee paced the name OF
Mr. Stevenson on It's ticket as candidate for
vice president.
Why lie DecItncs.
This recital clearly develops the situa-
ton as II now Is. Everybody knows tnas
either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt IS
TO be the next vice president OF the CnlIcd
a 81. 10. "a Ia. .rts.
part IN the campaign. shall. of course ad-
vocate the election of Bryan and Steven
son. The democratic convention. before
which was a candidate. nominated Hryan
ard Stevenson. The silver republican
party. of which Organization ! was the ofii-
cs head a, ior near ,eyr years mas n whnt
light should appear before the American
people If. while advocating the election OF
form pnu or OF running ' on another? Nobody in
the United States would think ! had the
slightest chance OF being elected. and no.
body would believe that | considered my
self Sc riously as a candidate unless at tho
same time he believed me 20 be absolutely
rucs phantom ~ eandidacy deceive" WHAT
respect should deserve indeed II in such
a matter should attempt to deceive any
body whatsoever? I know the peoples
party 10 be composed OF men most excep-
tionally keen and expert In political judy
ment So obvious a sham could not elude
their vision. Either they would resent my
implied uncomplimentary estimate OF them
or they would be justified in forming one
| OF me which could result only In inJuring
the cause which 1t had been the professed
object OF my mistaken folly to advance.
| Consistency nd candor In politics. therefore,
my own self-respect. proper difference TO
| the peoples party and a sincere regard for
| the welfare OF the cause OF political reform
| IN the United States. all course that now
| respectfully replace In yoGr hands the hor-
| orable trust which your great party COM
| mitted TO me in contemplation Of a differ
| ent complexion OF Affairs than that which
| has resulted.
I'm conclusion, may be permitted to ex-
press the profound satisfaction which
l feel in contemplating the present attitude
OF the democratic party. In 1896 was one
| Of those who. kcenly feeling the recreancy
| OF the republican party. were much in
| doubt whether the memorable democratic
convention at Chicago. In adopting Its
I su,endid platform and nominating William
| II. Bryan for the PRESIDENCY. was actuated
: by an impulse or by a purpose. The mag
r,acent ACHE vements at Kansas City have
! settled all possible doubt on that SUBJECT.
! TIE platform adopted not only reenacts
he principles Of 1896. but. In language
1 whose force. dignity and beauty have never
4 been equalcd In a similar document. re-
| spends TO the new Issues presented In the
| growth OF the trust monopoly and the !n-
l perialiStic policy OF the administration. by