Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-08
G.. A. TOWNE WlTHDRAWS
DECLINES POPILIST NOMINATION
FOR VICE PRESIDENCY.
Says He Will Support Bryan and
StevensOn-Letter to Motif
cation Committee.

| Charles A. Towne of Minnesota, who was
nominated for Vice President by the popu-
| lists, is out in letter to the populist nou-
| fication committee withdrawing his name
from the ticket After reviewing the ac-
ton of the populst convention, Mr.. Towne
gives the following as the reason for his
| present action:
| 1T was, of course, the expectation of
| your convention that its nomination 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 Fourth of July. The
| silver republicans, 1,:,S5 delegates, repre-
| senting twenty-eight states and territories,
| We're, indeed, eager to name the ticket
| chosen at Sioux Falls; but to the great
| democratic convention another course COM
| mended itself. The name of your nominee
| was presented to that convention, and was
| received with remarkable demonstrations
| of approval by the enormous number of
| citizen spectators and with the utmost re-
spect by the delegates.
But geographical considerations, and the
| fact that in certain parts of the country 1t
| was deemed wise to defer to sentiment
| demanding that the candidate should be a
man absolutely identified with the demo-
| cratic organization, not only by holding its
| principles and advocating its cause, but
| also by name and profession, determined
| the selection of the Hon. Adlai Z. Steven
son of Illinois. a man of unimpeachable
| character and of ripe political experience
| who member of Congress more than
| twenty years ago, was a close associate
| and colaborer of Gen. ]. B. Weaver and
other great leaders in the reform political
movements of that day, and who, as Vice
President, from 1893 to 1897. distinguished
| himself by rebelling against the betrayal of
| democratic principles by President Cleve-
| land.
| when Mr. Stevenson had been nomi-
mated, what was it my duty to do? Ny
name had gone before the convention along
with his, and 1 had been beaten. The NOM
| ination had been made decisively and with
| absolute fairness. The candidate chosen
| was personally uneXceptionable; his loyalty
| to our principles was beyond question, and
| his career had been long eXemplification
| of them. Manifestly it was my duty to
| support that nomination. Acting upon this
| conviction, l went before the silver republic
| can convention and succeeded In persuading
| it not to nominate me, and the vice presi-
Dental question was finally referred to the
| silver republican national committee, with
| full powers Later in the night this COM
mfttee placed the name of Mr.. Stevenson
on it's ticket as candidate for Vice Presi-
| dent.
| This recital clearly develops the situa-
| ton as 1t is. Everybody knows that
either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr.. Roosevelt is
| to be the next Vice President of the United
| States. l am expected to take laborious
| part in the campaign. ] shall, Of course,
| advocate the election of Bryan and Steven
son. The democratic convention, before
which 1 candidate, nominated Bryan
| and Stevenson. The silver republican party,
| of which organization l was the official
head for nearly four years, has nominated
Bryan and Stevenson. In what light should
| L appear before the American people If.
while advocating the election of one ticket,
1 should be going through the form of run
| ming another? Nobody in the United
| States would think L had the slightest
| chance of being elected, and nobody would
| believe that I considered myself seriously
as a candidate unless at the same time he
| believed me to be absolutely lacking in
common sense. Whom could such a phan-
tom candidacy deceive? What respect
| should l deserve, indeed, IL In such mat
| ter 1 should attempt to deceive anybody
whatsoever?
Il know the peoples party to be COM
posed of men most exceptionally keen and
expert In political judgment So obvious a
sham could not elude their vision. Either
they would resent my implied compliments
ry estimate Of them they would be JUS
titled in forming one of me which could re-
suit only in injuring the cause which 1t had
been the professed object Of my mistaken
folly to advance.
Consistency and candor in politics, there
fore, my own self-respect a proper defer
ence to the peoples party. and a sincere re-
gard for the welfare of the cause of polit-
| zeal reform IN the United States all coun-
sci that 1 now respectfully replace in your
hands the honorable trust which your great
party committed to me in contemplation of
different complexion of affairs than that
which has resulted.
I'm conclusion, may be permitted to ex-
press the profound satisfaction which | feel
democratic party. In 1896 l was of those
who, keenly feeling the recreancy of the
republican party, were much in doubt
whether the memorable democratic conven-
ton at Chicago, in adopting it's splendid
platform and nominating William ]. Bryan
for the presidency, was actuated by an i'm
pulse or by purpose. The magnificent
achievements at Kansas City have settled
all possible doubt on that subject The
platform adopted not only re-enacts the
principles of 1885, but, in language whose
force dignity and beauty have never been
eQualed in similar document, responds to
the new issues presented in the growth Of
| the trust monopolies and the imperialistic
policy of the administration, by an appro-
pirate enunciation of those sublime doc
trines Of human rights and liberties whose
profession and observance 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 commit
ted to that tried and trusted hand whose
grasp has never weakened, which no fear
can make to falter, and no burden can dis
may. The leadership of Bryan which could
have redeemed a bad PLATFORM sanctifies
good one. 1t made memorable an unsuc-
cessful contest 1t will crown a victory
with imperishable splendor.
with every sentiment of respect and
gratitude, remain most sincerely yours,
CHARLES A. TOWNE."
Martfneln Cannot Go,