The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-08-09
HAS no CANDIDATE.
PopulisA Party Without a Nominee
for Vice President.

Duluth, Mimi, Aug. Former Con-
gresham Charles A. Towne, who was
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:
'IIon. p. M. Ringdal, Chairman, and the
Members of the Committee on Notification
Of the Candidate for Vice President Of the
Peoples Party National Convention, held
a. SIOUX ans, 8. D., may anu 40, ISVv---
Gentlemen: When, on the 9th OF July, at
Kansas City, had the honor to receive
from you the official notification of the ac-
ton of your national convention In nom
mating me for the office Of vice president Of
the lnited sfa,ss = reaassteo IN View 81
the presidential situation, that you permit
me to take the subject under careful adj
vtsement before announcing decision
either accepting or declining that nomina-
ton. This request you were pleased to
grant, and now, after mature consideration
of all the factors involved that concern the
welfare of the cause of political reform In
this country. and my own duty thereto,
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, l cannot
forbear to express to you, and, through
you, to the great convention whose com
III
&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 distinction to amy
citizen.
1.-TWO circumstances. however, add emA
phasis to this consideration in the present
instances First. that the nomination was
unsolicited by me; and, secondly, that the
convention, as in the case also of its NOM
NEE for the president went Out OF iIs Own
70 my mind this action Of the Sioux F'alls
convention, in nominating for president a
representative OF me oemocrat It R par ~
the silver republican party, is one OF the
most encouraging and inspiring spectacies
in recent politics. lts unseilsh me ana
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 heroism. From such
spirit as this, what service, what sacrt-
flee can be asked in the name of the re-
public?
Action of the Democrats.
at was, of course, the expectation of
your convention that its nomination tor the
vice presidency would prove acceptable to
the conventions of the democratic and sil-
yer republican parties, called to meet in
Kansas City on the 4th OF July. The sill
Yer republicans, l. $3.50 delegates represent
ing IS states and territories, were indeed
eager to name the ticket chosen at Sioux
Falls, but to the great democratic conyen-
name OF your nominee was presented 10
that convention, and was received with re-
markable demonstrations 81 approval by
the enormous number of citizen spectators
and with the utmost respect by the dele
gates. But geographical considerations,
and the fact that in certain parts OF the
country IL was deemed wise to defer to a
sentiment demanding that the candidate
should be man already identified with the
democratic organization, not only by hoid-
ing its principles and advocating its cause,
but also by name and profession, de-
termined the selection of Hon. Adlai e.
Stevenson, of Illinois, man Of unlmpeach-
able character and of ripe political expert
ence who as member of congress more
than 20 years ago was close associate and
colaborer of Gen. j. Il. weaver and other
great leaders In the reform ponucal move
ments of the day, and who, as vice presi-
dent from 1893 to 1897 distinguished himself
by rebelling against the betrayal of demo-
cratic principles by President Cleveland.
''When Mr. Stevenson had been nom
mated, what was 1t my duty 70 do? My
name had gone before the convention along
with his and had been beaten. The nom
ination had been made decisively, and with
absolute fairness. The candidate chosen
was personally unexceptionable; his 10y
atty to our principles was beyond question,
and his career had been long exempliti-
cation of them. Manifestly 1t was my duty
to support that nomination. Acting upon
this conviction, went before the silver re-
sGading II not to nominate me, and the
vice presidential matter was finally re-
ferred to the silver republican national
committee, with full powers. Later in the
night this committee placed the name OF
Mr.. Stevenson on its ticket as candidate for
vice president.
why He Declines.
"This recital clearly develops the situa-
ton as ii now is Everybody knows that
either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt is
to be the next vice president of the United
States. / am expected to take laborious
part in the campaign. shall, of course, adj
yocate she election ef 2ryaa ard StcvsT-
son. The democratic convention. before
which 1 was candidate, nominated Bryan
and Stevenson. The silver republican
party, of which organization 1 was the ofii-
cial head for nearly four years, has nom
mated Bryan and Stevenson. In what
light should 1 appear before the American
one ticket, should be going through the
form 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 seriously Is candidate unless at the
same time he believed me TO be absolutely
lacking in common sense. Whom could
such phantom candidacy deceive? What
respect should / deserve indeed IL in such
body whatsoever? / know the peoples
party to be composed of men most excep-
tionally keen and expert in political judg-
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