The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-08

mated for vice president by the Popullst
convention held in Sioux Falls In May,
has sent the following letter to the COM
mittee on notification:
Gentlemen: When. on the 5th OF July,
at Kansas City, ! had the honor to re-
ceive from you the official nomination OF
your national convention for the ONCE of
vice president. requested. In view OF
the anomalous and delicate circumstances
in the presidential situation. tnat yos
permit me to take the subject under care
ful advisement before announcing a de-
cfsfon. This request you were pleased
to grant, and now. after mature consid.
GRAFTON of all the factors involved that
concern the welfare OF the cause OF polit,
ical reform In this country. and my owr
duty thereto. l am constrained to inform
you in all respect that must decline
the nomination rendered. me by that con-
veDtion.
I'm announcing this conclusion can.
not forbear to express to you, and
through you to the great convention
whose commission you hold, as well as
to that patriotic body OF advanced politi-
cal thought that your convention repre-
sented. my deep sense Of the honor con.
ferred upon me, to be the unanimous
choice of that convention for the second
place In the service OF the nation. Two
circumstances, however. add emphasis to
this consideration in the present issue.
Appreciates the complainant.
First. the nomination was unsolicited
by me, and. second. the convention, ~
~ the case also Of is nominee FOR presi-
dent. went out OF Its own political organ.
isation to select a candidate. To my
mind this action OF the Sioux Falls con-
vention. In nominating for president a
representative of the Democratic party.
and for vice president n representative
OF the Silver Republican party Is one
of the mos. encouraging and inspiring
spectacles In recent politics ITS unsei-
fishness and magnanimity; its testimony
to the precedence OF the cause OF the
people over any merely partisan WANT
age raised the procedure of that conven.
tion into the serene upper air of true civic
heroism. From such a spirit as this.
what service, what sacrifices can bs
asked In the name of the republic,
ut was. of course, the expectation OF
your convention that its nomination for
the vice presidency would prove accept
able 10 the conventions OF the Demo-
cratic and Silver Republican parties
called to meet In Kansas City on the
Fourth OF July. The silver Republicans.
i.Sso delegates. representing twenty-eight
states and territories were indeed eager
to name the ticket chosen at Sioux Falls
but to the great Democratic convention
another commended Itself The name oi
your nominee WAS presented 10 tnat con.
yention and was received with remark
able demonstrations OF approval by the
enormous number OF citizens and with
the creates, respect by the delegates
But geographical considerations and the
fact that In certain parts Of the country
Il was deemed wise TO defer TO senti
ment that the candidate should be a man
already identified with the Democratic
organization, not only by holding its
principles and advocating It's cause, but
also by name and profession. determined
the selection OF Adiai r. Stevenson. OF
Illinois, a man OF unimpeaehahie charac
ter and OF ripe political experience, who
was member of congress more than
twenty years ago, was close assistant
and co-iaboFer of Gen. ]. H. Weaver and
other great lahoFers f1r the reform polit.
leal movement ~ those days. and who
as vice president frpg iSG 70 lsgI. dis
tinguished himself hy reeeilinS against
;he betrayal Of Democratic principles BY
President Cleveland.
HIS Duty ma he sees IL.
when AIr Stevenson was nominated.
what was Il my duty TO dos My naase
had henu before the ecnscntion aiong witA
hts. ard ! had been beaten The nesni-
nation had been made dccfsiyciy and with
absolute fairness. The candidate chosen
was positively Gnexcaptionahia Ills gey-
At44 ~ NAtE t4t-tektatf+ was iseNNnI VHsE~
sion, and his career had hren a long ex-
empltacation os them. Mansfestly. il was
ms duty g support that nomination Act
irg vpan tais conviction. ! went before
the saver Republican convention ana sue.
ceeGei 80 porsaadlng q nof 60 nominate
ms. and the vicv presidential nomination
was aHaily referred to the silver Repuh-
Hcan uatienal committee Later this com.
mttev placed the name q Mr Stevenson
on the ticket for viee president
fnis recital clearly develops the sit.
uation a. u nov is EFers betty knows
that either Mr.. Stevenson or Mr. Roase.
veit is to he the next Nice president os
the Jnlts3 states. am expected TO take
a iaboriags part sa the campaign I shall
of course, advocate the clertioa 0f BRYAN
ana Stevenson The Democrats consen-
tian. before which wRs candidate
nominated Bran au1 SteseEsoa. Tha sgl-
yer heruhiican eeuvsnti0n has nominated
BTyan and Stevenson In what light
should appear before tho American peN-
pie II, while advocating the clectiSn az
one ticket. ] should be going through the
form % running on anuthers NOBODY in
the United States would thsnk l had the
slightest chance 81 being elected and no.
body wossd believe that l considered my
self as a candidate unless al the same
time he believed me 10 be absolutely
laokins in common sense. Whom could
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