The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03
BRYAN'S RUNNING MATE
CHIEF TOPIC AMONG POLITICIANS AT
KANSAS CITY
AN ENDORSEMENT FROM BRYAN
Sufficient to Name the M~an-Pleuty
Who Would Accept the Honor-New
York or Indiana the states From
Which it is Generally Thought He
should Come George Fred Williams
Admits Himself Not n Logical Can di-
date His Attack on ID. b. Hill.

Kansas City, June 2s.-"The running
mate problem is as. conspicuous as IL
was at Philadelphia, and at this dis
lance the guessing is fully as indiscrim
mate. There are penty of candidates,
men who want the honor, and there is
little of the talk about d~eclination that
marked the republican convention. The
aggressive men are Sulzer, New York,
and Towne of Minneapolis, while tn.
names in the back ground form a basis
of speculation, including Benjamin F.
Shiveley, of Indiana, and Judge a. B.
Parker, of New York, who are put in
the available class. The belief is gen.
eral hat some kind of an endorse
ment from Colonel Bryan would be
sufficient to name the candidate, but
he will be a bold man who would dare
to proclaim that any one particular
candidate is the choice of the man al
ready determined upon for president.
There are not enough delegates here
to give an intimation of what is likely
to occur Dispatches received here
from different sections indicate that
the delegates who nave been sounded
on the question w not yet made up
their minds, or they do not care to ex-
press a preference for any candidate.
There is an impression that good poll
tics calls for a selection from New
York, and if a satisfactory candidate
cannot be found there then next
best thing to do would De to go to In
diana.
Western democrats would be glad to
a an eastern man who would add
strength to the ticket in that section.
From the Nebraska point of view, ana,
in fact, looking at the map from Kan
sas City, Indiana might be considered
east. Both New York and Indiana are
considered backgrounds. Both were
carried for Mckinley in 1896. but the
confidence of the democrats in their
ability to reverse the vote in Indiana
and the strong hopes they entertain of
carrying New York is one Of the in
teresting features of the situation
here.
1t is this condition that causes the
democrats to talk of a vice presidential
candidate from one of those states,
There will have to be more delegates in
the city and something like alignment
of forces for and against certain can
didates for vice president before eve
guesses can be made with any degree
of intelligence.
If Mr.. Sulzer, of New York, is not
nominated for vice president, 1T will
not be on account of any lack of boom
ing on the part of his friends who are
here. The managers, with B. D.
O'Connel at their head, are losing no
opportunity Of making known the fact
that Mr.. Sulzer is not only in the race,
but that he will win if he can. Badges
bearing the inscription Bryan and
Sulzer and Victory with portraits of
the men. are being distributed TO all
who will wear them, while another
method of campaign has been adopted
in Speeding broadcast a small hand bill
This document contains only a few
words and quotes from a speech made
by Champ. Clark in the house Of rep
resentatives. in which the Missouri
man said: "In this distinguished pres
ence 1 nominate for vice president
J William Sulzer, of New York, who is
faithful to the cause at all, times, in
all places and under all circumstances.
1 honor Mr.. Sulzer for his courage, his
honesty and his fidelity exhibited amid
environments which would discourage,
~dishearten and appall a more timid
man.
An interview from Mr.. Sulzer, tele-
graphed from Lincoln and published
here, quotes him as sayin gthat he
stood with Bryan on the Boer question
and every other question. He also de-
clared that the New York delegation
would do whatever is best for the par
ty n if the convention wants Is to 1,
the delegation will not oppose it.
George Fred Williams, member Of
the national committee and delegate to
the democratic national convention
from Massachusetts,, arrived in Kan
saS City to-day. Mr.. Williams has
been among those mentioned as posi-
BILE vice presidential candidates, but he
says that having pronounced views
and not being afraid to express them,
makes it impossible for him to be con-
sidered in this convention. He is by
far the most breezy and unreserved
man that has yet appeared here and ne
talks on every phase Of the situation
without, however, committing himself
or the New England delegates upon
the vice presidential situation, save to
say that he believes that Towne would
be the strongest man that could be
named with Bryan.
Mr.. Williams talked about EX-Sen-
ator Hill in a manner to indicate his
entire disapprobation of that gentle
man. What is Hill coming here for?"
he asked and answered the query:
For the sole and avowed purpose OF
trying to secure a modification of the
platform of 1896. He ought to be here
in sackcloth and ashes instead Of try
ing to tell us what we should d c. New
York with Fill as her leader remained
silent in the Chicago convention, after
the majority had declared its will on
the platform. Now he comes here to
say I will help you if you do as I
say If we wiz he will say. 7 helped
you If we lose he will say L told you
what to do and you see the result L
don't like that attitude. Croker
and Murphy come here in a different
spirit willing to take the platform that
is made and abide by the result. 1t is
likely that Hill will not be so promi-
nent when Croker and Murphy take
charge"
Mr.. Williams is one of the men who
is determined to work for a specific
declaration of the ratio of Is to 1 in
the platform. He says that there must
be no deviation from that declaration.
IF We were right in 1896, why should
We change now?" he said. ITO sim
ply reaffirm the Chicago platform is
not sufficient. Nor would it be enough
| to declare for bimetallism. Every man
could declare himself a bimetallist and
| place the ratio at % to / or so to ! to