The Forrest City times., 1900-08-17
WITHOUT A NOMINEE
Mr.. Towne Declines to Be Candi-
date Of Populists.
MS Letter Giving Reasons for NJ.
fusing to Accept Nomination for
the Vice Presidency--Prais
Democratic Platform.


Duluth, Mimi, Aug. s.-Former Con.
gresham Charles A. Towne. who wa.
nominated for the vice presidency nv
the populist national convention. held
at Sioux Falls in May, has sent the
following letter to the committee Of
notification:
Hon. p. NJ Ringdal, Chairman. and tbs
Members of the Committee on Notifcatinr
of the Candidate for Vice President OF fba
Peoples Party National Convention held
at Sioux Falls, s. D.. May and 10. 1900
Gentlemen: When, on the 5th of Julv ~
Kansas City, i had the honor to rece,ve
from you the official notification of the ac~
ton of your national convention In morn.
mating me for the Office of vice president of
the United States, requested I'm visw ~
anomalous and delicate circumference IN
the presidential situation, that you permit
me to take the subject under careful adj
visement before announcing a decision
either accepting or declining that non,ina-
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 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. I cannot
forbear to express to you, and. through
you, to the great convention whose cern-
mission you hold, as we'll as to that patriot-
ic 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 a distinction to any
citizen.
Two circumstances, however. add EN-.
phasis to 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
tnee for the president, went out of its own
political organization to select candidate
To my mind this action of the Sioux Fails
convention, In nominating for president a
representative of the democratic party.
and for vice president a representative of
the silver republican party, is one of the
most encouraging and inspiring spectacles
In recent politics. Its unselfishness and
magnanimity. 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 Serena
upper air of true civic heroism. FronPsuch
spirit as this, what service, what sacri.
nee 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 nominat ton for the
vice presidency would prove acceptable to
the conventions OF the democratic and sill
yer republican parties, called to meet in
Kansas City on the 4th OF July. The sill
yer republicans. 1880 delegates, represent
Ing y states and territories, were indeed
eager to name the ticket chosen at Sioux
Fails, but to the great democratic conyen-
ton another course commended itself. The
name OF your nominee was presented to
nd & oA xr-ith
markable demonstrations of approval by
the enormous number of citizen Spectators
ana saa. with hi the utmost respect by the dele
and the fact that in certain parts of the
country 1t was deemed wise to defer to a
sentiment demanding that the candidate
democratic organization, not only by hold.
ing its principles and advocating its cause,
termined the seiecton na Of Hon Adai E.
Stevenson. of Illinois, a man of unmpeach.
able character and of ripe political experi-
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 political move
dent from 1898 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 to 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 a long exemplld-
cation of them. Manifestly It was my duty
to support that nomination. Acting upon
this conviction. went before the silver re-
suading 1t not to nominate me. and the
vice presidential matter was finally re-
committee, with full powers Later in the
night this committee placed the name of
Mr.. Stevenson its ticket as candidate for
vice president.
why He Declines.
This recital clearly develops the situa-
ton as it now is. Everybody knows that
either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt is
to be the next vice president of the United
part in the campaign. l shall, of course, adj
vocate the election of Bryan and Steven
son. The democratic convention, before
which / was candidate. nominated Bryan
and Stevenson. The silver republican
party. of which organization was the OFF,
cial head for nearly four years, has NOM
light should / appear before the American
people IL, while advocating the election or
one ticket, should be gong through the
the United States would think l had the
slightest chance of being elected, and no.
body would believe that l considered my
self seriously as candidate unless at the
same time he believed me to be absolutely
lacking in common sense. Whom could
such a phantom candidacy uecelVe. what
respect should l deserve indeed IL in such
q matter I should attempt to deceive any
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 eluoo
their vision. Either they would resent my
implied uncomplimentary estimate or them
or they would be justified in forming one
of me which could result only in inJuring
the cause which it had been the protested
object of my mistaken folly to advance.
Consistency and candor in politics, therefore.
my own self-respect; a proper difference 10
the peoples party and a sincere regard Tor
the welfare of the cause of political reform
In the United States, all counsel that now
respectfully replace in your hands the hon.
orable trust which your great party COM
mftted to me in contemplation of dlner-
ent complexion of affairs than that which
has resulted.
I'm conclusion, may be permitted to ex-
press the profound satisfaction which
feel in contemplating the present attitude
of the democratic party. In 1896 was one
of those who, keenly feeling the recreancy
of the republican party were much in
doubt whether the memorable democratic
convention at Chicago, In adopting its
splendid platform and nominating William
J. Bryan for the presidency, was actuated
by an impulse or by purpose. The mag
nificent achievements at Kansas City have
settled all possible doubt on that subject.
The platform adopted not only reenacts
the principles of 1885, but, in language