Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-14
MAY ACCEPT TOWNE
Speculation as to Action of Democrats
at Kansas City.
POSITION OF BRYAN In TIE MATTER
Future Of Their Party Discussed by
Prominent PopuIists.
ABBOTT REVISED PLATFORM
POSITION OF BRYAN In TIE MATTER
ABBOTT REVISED PLATFORM
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
SIOUX FALLS, May IL. 1900
The populists who nominated Charles A.
Towne for Vice President this week. after
a most bitter fight in their national conven-
ton. are now wondering what effect this
action will have upon the democratic con-
vention in Kansas City, July 4. That Mr..
Towne was possibility as democratic
vice presidential nominee was fully substan-
tiated by the events of the past week The
fact that Mr.. Bryan had intimated that
he preferred no nomination should be made
by the popuists at Sioux Falls. and an
expression by Mr.. Towne to the effect that
he would prefer the appointment of a COM
mittee to confer with the democrats, car
ries out the theory that he was being held
in reserve as a man upon whom the demo-
Gratis silver republicans and populists might
agree upon later on as the most available
candidate.
Mr.. Towne. however, was anxious not 10
have another populist candidate for the
vice presidency in the field. which might
prevent an Endorsement of himself by the
democrats when the time came. and in pri-
vate kilograms to his friends at Sioux Falls
during the populst convention he said that
while he favored committee. If nomina-
Ai'ii He.S ilitstS liz "ooi' w P''''''>H ~ w
cept it.
The situation as it affects the national
democratic convention in July is peculiar.
and is one which may lead to some en-
bG rrassment. If the democrats nominate
Mr.. Towne for Vice President, as they will
undoubtedly nominate Mr.. Bryan, ii will
be but ratification of the action of the
populists and furnish much material to the
renuhJicans and the conservative democrats
in the fight against the Kansas City ticket
On the other hand. it is believed by many
that the nomination of Towne by the dem
ocra+s would carry Minnesota and possibly
Nicbigan for tho Rrvan ticket in addition
to FURNISHING a strong incentive for the af-
filiation of ali silver renublicans and any
other disaffected element in the republican
,,,,.,,- ,,-,,h H. do,ncr,t;c org,,iz,tion
Pc" y wa"
Question as to Bryhn's Acceptance.
1t is a matter of some speculation now as
to u,betber Mr. Rryap will formally accent
~, -l;..... 49, G.: IN, T.,
.iie ''o'' i'i''i at N"> "
1886 ne pald no attention 10 the NOMINATION.
of the populists and never made formal ac-
ceptance of the honor they rendered him,
tb,s avoiding c.rtain comnIic,tfops which
wouid nave arisen from comparison Oh
."e wv -'at,'i ms :. 10 e ~,
viii accent the populist nomination this
year. and that Mr.. Towne will do likewise.
The platform upon winch these nominal
,i ia w oesl ii,,ue 10 'hs sam ni;, p'Pa
well-known nrincinles to matters of cur
rent history. One curious feature of the
Sioux Fails convention was the final re-
vision OF this PLATFORM by wins Apoott'
hnreaI in Ch;cago and Who ie as close to
Mr.. Bryan and as familiar with his desires
as any man in the democratic party. Mr..
Abbott claimed that he did not write the
platform. Mr.. Jerry Simpson. chairman of
the committee on platform and resolutions.
says that while Mr.. Abbott did not write
the platform. he revised it. put 1t into shape
and cut out many of the things which were
at first injected into ii by the populistS.
Why Mr.. Abbott should have been allowed
to revise the national platform of the popu-
list party does not seem to be understood
by the delegates to the convention. but
those who placed the matter in his hands
We're probably anxious that the document
should meet with the approval of Mr..
Bryan 1t is perhaps too much to say that
the Sioux Falls platform is Mr.. Bryan's or
that he will stand unequivocally upon it.
but there is certainly justification for the
statement that he to a certain extent die
party which has first placed him as can
didate for President before the people this
year.
S,r;. ,s S.,s-s,.r,a. w.,,s..
The spirit of self-sacrifice was apparent
in the Sioux Falls gathering References
made nv the sneakers tn tho cantnre of the
democratic party In 1896 were received bv
the delegates with smiles of complacent
satisfaction. The peoples party has had a
greater influence upon the political
thought of the United States than any re-
form or third party which has been organ
lied into a fitful existence during the past
forty years Its principles have pervaded
one of the great political organizations of
the country. which represented in 1896
6,5O0OO voters. So long as the democratic
party continues to abide by the spirit of the
Chicago platform just so long will the peo-
pies party fail to MAINTAIN separate
political existence OF any serious conse-
quence, but should the democratic party re-
turn to the platform or preceding cam
palgns, there IS no question that the seed Is
latent In the ground to produce another
thlrd party grown unoer the same or some
other name put representing the peoples
party OF ihe present day. statements made
by Dr n. >. iayior OF Chlcago ana .John
Breiuehtii i VI hansas 10 me erect that
the popuhsis might as Wen recognize the
TACT that their party was d thlhg OF the
past were sreeteu win protest from the
delegates, put II IS seheraily recognized,
thousn nor lreeiy ackno"leoged' that IN
lhe . auoptloh 10y .he Gein3cratlc party OF
popuiist pl ii.;d anu 'ne present als-
I i toiiuitloii " me pop1iis. oisdllZa-