Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-10
Undecided Whether to Nominate
a Candidate For Vice
President.
MAY LET DEMOCRATS DO IT
From Which Democrats Can Take
Their Choice-Strong Sentiment
in Favor OF Towne-Tent IN
able to Stand the Weather.

of delegates and the approach to the time
of calling the national populist convention
to order served to accentuatc the differ
ences of opinion among the delegates as
to the policy to be pursued with reference
to the nomination of "A candidates for the
vice. presidency. As time goes on II be-
comes more and more evident that this is
practically the only question which the
convention will have to decide and 1t is
occupying the attention alike OF delegates
and visitors so exclusively as to render
the situation quite monotonous on that
account.
| Most of the delegates in attendance held
conferences this afternoon but none Of
them which were not already decided
reached any definite conclusion. The
greatest difference of opinion among the
delegates from States Is shown in the Ne
braska Kansas, Iowa and Missouri dele
cations. Nebraska delegates feel that they
are in a peculiarly delicate position, be-
cause they are especially anxious to sub
serve the interests of Mr. Bryan. They
held two meetings during the day but
4 failed to reach a conclusion and Will meet
again tomorrow morning az o'clock for
further consultation as to what course to
pursue. A majority of the delegates from
Nebraska are apparently favorable to the
reference o. the whole question to COM
mittee of one from each State to be APP
pointed to confer with the democrats at
Kansas City and it is believed that sen
ator Allen is in accord with this sentiment
In his eXhortat tons to the delegation he
has dwelt especially upon the Importance
Of avoiding the complication which the
mention of Watson for Nice-President
caused in 1896. the inference being that he
believes that any nomination at this time
would be liable to cause a similar compli-
cation in the coming campaign.
I In this position Senator Allen is sharp
~ antagonized by Senator Butler of North
Carolina and Senator Pettigrew of this
State. 1t may be said. in fact. that the
United states senators who are present
are holding conflicting opinions upon this
all absorbing question and 1t begins to
look as if they would carry their differ
ences into the convention arena itself.
In case they do the convention will lie
by no means a monotonous affair. Thomas
Patterson OF the Colorado delegation is a
Jealous supporter of the proposition to
name n committee of conference and not
+ to nominate a vice presidential candidate
The Colorado delegation. numbering 80
members, held meeting to-day and
| unanimously decided TO stand out for a
conference committee. Butler and Petit
! grew are unQuestonably eXcrtlng their
utmost endeavors in behalf of Mr.. Towne
| and while they appreciate that there are
still many obstacles to overcome, they OK
press themselves az confident of success
, There is certain element, led by Cen
, Weaver of Iowa, which is advocating the
nomination of a straight populist, while
there are others still who express the
opinion that if a candidate other than a
populst be nominated, he should be a man
of democratic proclivties, so as to make
sure of his endorsement by the democrat
ic convention. In this connection some OF
I the Illinois delegates have suggested the
name OF ex-Nice-President Adai f.. SteN-
enson.
! Some of the New York delegates favor
! Congressman Sulzer. They say that Mr..
Sulzer is in accord with many OF the pop
ulist views.
Stil another proposition which has been
made and this is advocated by dc!egctes
Washbuinl and Brown of Massa chusetts is
that the convention should name several
persons, any one of whom would b. ac-
ceptabe to the popuistS as vice preSi-
Dental candidate, and appoint n commit
tee to confer with the democrats as 10
which of them should be placed upon the
ticket. This proposition is apparently
gaining in favor, but Is not yet strong
as either the suggestion in Towne's be-
half or the one to avoid any nomination
whatever.
Some Of the delegates, notably those
from Nebraska and Missouri are advanc-
ing the idea that the convention AS Il
whole should adjourn Immediately after
converting to meet in Kansas City on the
same day that the democratic and silver
republican conventions are to assemble
there.
The delegates have not yet reached the
point of talking openly on the question of
n ce-prosdental nomination, but there
Is growing feeling on this subject and
unless means is found of harmoniZing
the sentiment before the vice presidential
nomination is reached in the order of bus
mess. there will almost cerainly be a very
spirited fight over that point,
There will be probably some contest over
, ha nf oh, 10