Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-04
BRYAN's RUNNING MATE.
NO CHOICE YET-SEvERAL VICE
PRESIDENTIAL BOOMS WITH
HELD YESTERDAY.
(By Telegraph to VirginIan-Pilot.)


(By Telegraph to yirginian-Pilot.)
Kansas City, Mo-, July Son the
evening before the National Democrat
ic Convention the vice-Presidential
nomination is still unsettled. 1t is
usual expression in q contest like this,
when there are many candidates and
no one has a majority, to say that it
is "anybody's plumb" But it more
aptly expresses the situation to say
that its "nobody's."
The chief development of the day
was the paralysis, to a certain extent,
of several booms. The morning open
ed with great confidence on the part
of the friends of MIR. Towne. The fore
gone conclusion that 16 to was to be
specifically mentioned III the platform,
and the disappointment of those who
ADVOCATED Il different course, made it
look for a time as if Bryan, 16 to /
and Towne were to be the three dis
tinct features of the Kansas City Con-
vention.
The manner in which the Towne
boom seemed TO grow aroused these
delegates who want Straightout
Democrat for second place, and who
object TO being accused of having to
follow the Populist platform and tick
ct. 1t was that condition that turn
cd attention to Elliott L. Danforth, of
New York, and for a time it seemed
that the East and South combined to
name the New Yorker.
And while the action of the New
York delegation 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 vas not for Towne
One thing that New York has indi-
Gated pretty surely is that the State
Mt too
didate, at least the majority under the
control of Croker, for Keller is not
considered in serious light at all.
In this same connection, 1t may be said
that the Sulzer candidacy also suffer-
ed somewhat, as Sulzer supported the
nomination of Nellar, peculiar action
for an avowed candidate. OF course
this act is evidence of the discipline
OF Tammany Hall, but 1T also confirms
the impression among outside dele
gates that Suffers 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 Il. Ste
Nenson in nomination, and quite a lit
tie boom was started for him by some
of the delegates. Among those who
talked earnestly for Stevenson was
Henry ID. Clayton, OF Alabama, who
made the principal speech opposing
Towne in the three party conference.
HE said that Stevenson had once been
elected: that he was popular in Illi-
nois; was n man whom the Gold Demo-
Gratis had once voted for and would
probably vote again. 1t was also said
that Massachusetts would vote for
George Fred Williams on the early
ballot. and that there was n prospect
of general favorite son" movement
until the convention would settle on
some one acceptable TO n majority
MIR. Croker told the three-party con-
florence that he had a candidate AMI
that he would bring him out during
the day. 1t was soon known that he
referred to Lewis II. Nixon, of New
York. who was at one time 4 construc-
tor in the navy, and is now largely
interested in shipbuilding. 1t was sup
posed that Nixon would be presented
during the meeting of the New York
delegation, and the I<ellar endorse
men was complete surprise. 1t is be-
lieved Kellar is not meant to be
pushed.
The conference of the representatives
OF the Democrats. Populists and silver
Republicans, held in the middle OF the
day, while not advancing the pros
poets of any candidate. was not en-
couraging to the friends of Towne.
VINO felt after it was over that they
had hard proposition to face. An
other feature of the day was n delega-
ton canvass made by friends of
Towne. This was undertaken for the
purpose of making a show of strength.
The canVassers found earnest support
ers in some of the delegations and OBJ
tanned assurances of voters, but not
In any such number as to give them
very much encouragement. AT the
same time Towne intends to remain in
the field and his friends say that as
each and every boom collapses it will
be demonstrated that he is the logical
candidate. and the man who should be
selected.
The days developments instead of
NrHKlnE tHc SITUATION clearer. simply
resulted in tangling it up more than
ever before. leaving the selection of the
vice President not to the leaders and
managers, but to the convention.