The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-08
MR.. TONNES DECLARATION
His Reasons for Refusing the Popu.

list Nomination.
Towne. who was nominated for the Vic
Presidency by the Populist National Con
vention at Sioux Falls in May, has sen
The following letter Of declination to tn
Committee of Notification:
The Hon. P NJ Ringdal, Chairman,
and Members OF the Committee on
Notification of the Candidate for Vice
President of the Populist Party,
nominated at the National Conyen-
ton Held at Sioux Falls, May and
10, 1900:
Gentlemen-When on the 5th of
July. at Kansas City, had the honor
to receive from you the official notifi-
cation of the action of your National
Convention in nominating me for the
office Of Vice President OF the United
States. 1 requested. in view of anomai-
GUS and delicate circumstances in the
Presidential situation. that you per-
nit me to take the subject under care
full adyisement before announcing a
decision, either accepting or declining
that nomination. 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, 1
ana constrained to inform you in all
respect that l must decline the nomi-
ton rendered me By the Sioux Falls
Convention
It was, OF course, the expectation or
your Convention that its nomination
for the Vice Presidency would prove
acceptable to the Conventions of the
Democratic and Silver Republican par
ties, called to meet In Kansas City on
the 4th of July. The Silver Repub-
licans' 1880 delegates, representing
twenty-eight States and Territories,
were. indeed, eager to name the tick
ct chosen at Sioux Falls, but TO the
great Democratic Convention another
course commended itself The name
of Your nominee was presented to that
Convention and was received with re-
markable demonstrations OF approval
by the enormous number of citizen
spectators and with the utmost respect
by the delegates, but geographical con-
siderations aud the fact that il Ger
tain parts of the country Il was deemed
wise to defer to sentiment demanding
that the candidate should be a man
already identified with the Democratic
organization, not only by holding its
principles and advocating its cause,
but also by name and profession. de-
termined the selection of AdIai E
Stevenson Of Illinois, man of uninl-
peachable character and of ripe poIit-
zeal experience.
Manifestiy it was my duty to sup
port that nomination. Acting upon this
conviction / went before the Silver Re
peTsuading it not TO nominate me. and
the Vice Presidential matter was finally
referred to the Silver Republican Com
mittee with full powers. Later in the
night this committee placed the name
of Mr.. Stevenson on its ticket as can
didste for Vice President.
This recital clearly develops the sit
uation as it now is Everybody knows
that either Stevenson or Roosevelt is
to be the next Vice President of the
United States. l am expected to take a
laborious part il the campaign. l shall,
Of course, advocate the election of Bry-
an and Stevenson.
Consistency and candor in politics,
therefore, my own self-Tespect, a prop
er Difference to the Peoples Party, and
a sincere regard for the welfare Of the
cause Of political reform in the United
States, all counsel that I now respect
fully replace in your hands the honor
able trust which your great party COM
mitted TO me in contemplation Of diff
ferent complexion of affairs than that
which resulted.
In conclusion, l may be permitted
to express the profound satisfaction
which l feel in contemplating the pres
ent attitude Of the Democratic party.
In 1896 I was one of those who, keenly
- IL n
party, were much in doubt whether the
memorable Democratic Convention at
Chicago. in adopting its splendid plat
form and nominating William ]. Bryan
for the Presidency. was actuated by an
impulse or by a purpose. The mag
niffcent achievements at Kansas City
have settled all possible doubt on that
subject. The platform adopted not
only re-enacts the principles OF 1896.
but, in language whose force, dignity.
and beauty have never been equaled in
a similar document, responds to the
new issues presented in the growth of
the trust monopoly and the imperial
istic policy Of the Administration by an
appropriate enumeration of those
sublime doctrines OF human rights and
liberties whose possession and obserY-
ance have been the peculiar glory OF
our country and are the sure basis OF
the ultimate happiness of mankind:
and again the duty of carrying the
banner of the cause has been com
mitted to that tried and trusted hand
whose grasp has never weakened.
which no fear can make to faiter and
no burden can dismay The leadership
of Bryan, which could have redeemed a
bad platform, sanctified good one 1t
made memorable an unsuccessful con-
test. 1t will crown victory with i'm
perishable splendor
with every sentiment of respect and
gratitude, l remain. most sincerely
yours, CHARLES A TOWNE.'