The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-04
A PARALYSIS OF BoOMs.
Adlai E. Stephenson Now Looms Up as Vice
Presidential Possibility.
(Rv The Associated Press.


Kansas City, Mo-, July 3.-On the even
ing before the National Democratic con-
yention the Vice Presidential nomina-
ton is still unsettled 1t is usual ex-
preston in contest like this, when there
are many candidates and no one has a
majority to say that it is anybody
plum" But it it more aptly expresses
the situation to say that it is nobody's.
The chief development of the day was
the paralysis, to a certain extent, of sew
eral booms. The morning opened with
great confidence on the part of friends
of Mr.. Towne. The foregone conclusion
that 16 to / was to be specifically men
toned in the platform and the disappoint-
ment of those who advocated a different
course made it look for time as If Bry-
an. 16 to 1, and Towne were to be the
three distinct features of the Kansas City
Convention. The manner in which the
Towne boom seemed to grow aroused
those delegates who want a straightout
Democrat for second place and who object
to being accused of having to follow the
Pooulist platform and ticket. 1t was
that condition that turned attention to
Elliott F. Danforth of New York, and
for a time it seemed that the, East and
South combined might name the New
Yorker.
And while the action of New York dele
CATION in defeating Danforth and putting
up Kellar seemed to make Danforth' s
selection improbable. the tide that set
toward Danforth during the day served to
show that the mass of the delegates was
not for Towne. One thing that New
York has indicated pretty surely is that
the State does not want Vice Presiden-
tial candidate, at least the majority under
the control of Croker, for Kellar is not
considered in a serious light at all. In
this same connection, it may said that
the Sulzer candidacy also suffered some
what, as Sulzer also supported the nomi-
nation of Kellar, a peculiar action for an
ayowed candidate. OF course this act is
an evidence of the discipline of Tammany
Hall, but 1t also confirms the impression
among outside delegates that Sulzer S
candidacy is not serious.
Late in the evening, after the action OF
the New York delegation became known
the announcement was made that Illinois
was to place Adlai E. Stevenson in nomi-
nation, and quite little boom was start
ed for him by some of the delegates
Among those who talked earnestly for
Stevenson was Henry ID. Clayton, of Ala
bama. who made the principal speech OPP
posing Towne in the three-party confer
ence He said Stevenson had once been
elected; that he was popular in Illinois;
was a man whom the Gold Democrats
had once voted for and would probably
vote for again. 1t was also said that
Massachusetts would vote for George Fred
Williams on the early ballot, and that
there was a prospect of general IA
vorite son. movement until the conven-
tion could settle one acceptable to
majority.
Mr. Croker told the ree-party con-
ference that he had a candidate, and
that he would bring him out during the
day. 1t was soon known that he referred
to Lewis Nixon. of New York, who at one
time was constructor in the navy, and is
now largely interested in shipbulding.
The conference of the representatives
of the Democrats Populists and Silver
Republicans, held in the middle of the
day, while not advancing the prospects
of any candidate. was not encouraging
to the friends of Towne, who felt after
it was over that they hal a hard propo-
sition to face. Another feature of the day
was delegation canvass made by friends
of Towne. This was undertaken for the
purpose of making a show of strength
The canvassers found earnest supporters
in some of the delegations and obtained