The representative., 1900-05-10
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BRYAN AND
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EH\I0M F0Mnu1GIG \0IAH6 II nom

(By a Staff Correspondent

(By a Staff Correspondent.)
Bryan and Towne. The Populist ticket
has been named at Sioux Falls. and the
| scene now shifts to Kansas City.
After perfect deluge of talk, out Of
which a few bits of oratorical driftwood
were worth preserving, Charles A. Towne
was virtually named by acclamation. That
this was not actually done was due to q
kick made by the Montana delegation.
which was sore over the participation Of
T0wne in the withdrawal of c. s. Hartman
as candidate for congress in 1898. The
rules were finally suspended, after the
various other candidates had withdrawn.
The striking and significant feature Of
this part of the proceedings was the sar-
casm leveled at the selection of a Demo-
crat and Silver Republican by Populst
convention. The singular spectacle has
been presented of a national convention
yielding it's convictions Of political expedi-
ency and wisdom to a mere sentiment fos-
tered by the selfish interests Of two United
IN great peril Despite ffe shorts IS Sorf
up enthusiasm the nomination Of Towne fell
fiat after little perfunctory applause.
THE CONVENTION OPENS.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the convention
was called to order for the important busi-
ness in hand, by millionaire Democrat
from Colorado, Thomas M Patterson, OF the
Rocky Mountain News, whose selection had
been the subject Of much adverse criticism
during the interim of adjournment.
Patterson's appearance on the platform
was greeted by some applause from the
Colorado delegation, but his reception by
the rest Of the convention was one of almost
sullen acquiescenece.
His speech was the forcible presentation Of
the issues of the coming campaign. and
the dominant tone of his remarks was laud-
alton Of Bryan as Populist, based on the
proposition that the Democracy OF former
years had struck its colors in 1896 to the
principles Of the Peoples party.
The whole trend of Patterson's speech was
against a ce-presidenial nomination, and
when later Gen. Weaver took the plat
form to call a conference of state chairmen
for a conference on this burning issue dur
ing the noon recess 1t was evident that
neither Allen nor Pettigrew was anxious for
a finish fight.
The result OF the conference during the
recess was simply to postpone the vice.
presidential fight to the night session. A
poll OF the state chairman showed ma.
jority in favor of nomination., and al
though Gen. Weaver urged preparation Of
a resolution Of some sort to report back to
the convention, the conference decided 1t
had no such authority.
Michigan delegate voiced the sentiment
Of quite portion Of the delegates when he
said that II Towne was nominated outright
1t would injure Bryan, but II his name was
cent to Kansas City In the hands Of con-
ference committee he would be nominated
there, and everything would be lovely. The
Minnesotans stood pat for TOwne and even
went so far as to warn Senator Allen that
II their favorite is turned down Bryan will
be held responsible. This did not tend to
harmonize the conflicting elements.
MORE ORATORY.
While the convention was awaiting the
report OF the committee on resolutions.
short talks we're made by Mrs. Bigelow,
of the Bryan Womans clubs, and
Mrs. Eva Mcdonald Valesh, who made
report on her observations Of the Occur
d'Alene Investigation recently in progress
in Washington.
One of the fairy tales Of the day Is that
after Towne is nominated he will, by agree
ment withdraw. This will pacify the nomi-
nators and will relieve the Kansas City
convention of serious embarrassment.
When the committee on resolutions was
ready to report Jerry Simpson, as a mem
ber of that committee, took the platform
and explained that the delay in the report
was not due to any differences of opinion,
but because it was desired to give the party
the best platform 1t has ever had It had
also been dificult to secure a typewriter.
The declarations Of the platform for fat
money and Is to 1 were cheered but not
two propositions seemed to penetrate even
the clouded understanding of finance Of
Populist delegate. The utterance on the
Philippine and the Boer questions called
out the loudest applause. The initiative and
referendum did not excite the usual enthu-
siasm, while government ownership as
remedy for trusts was only tentatively ap-
plauded. The platform lost much Of its ef~
fectiveness In the reading.