Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1900-05-17
BRYAN AND TOWNE
The National Peoples Party Can.
didates for President and Vice.
President.
Tried Men, Representing Certain
Policies and Principles, Wanted
First.
A Sketch of the Noted Minnes0tan.
Enthusiam and Loyalty for
Bryan.

Sioux Falls, S. d., May 1.-THE
national populist convention concluded
it's session at | O'Clock this morning
and adjourned sine die after nominat-
ing Hon. w. j. Bryan for president,
and Hon. G.. a. Towne for vice presi-
dent. This result was accomplished
after a struggle of several hours dura-
tion in which an effort was made to
have the question of the nomination
of vice presidential candidate refer
red to committee to confer with
the democratic and silver republican
convention. A motion to this effect
was defeated 26S to 492. Both candi-
dates we're nominated by acclamation.
The nominating speeches for Bryan
were brief and to the point, while
full of praise for the candidate, who
best exemplitied the policies and prin-
clples laid down in the platform.
Each mention of Bryan aroused en-
thusiasm, and when there was call
to rise in support of the proposition
to make his nomination unanimous not
only did every delegate rise in his
seat, but each rose with a shout and
hurrah and with a waving OF hands.
The scene was an animated one, but it
was not prolonged and after a minute
or two of demonstration, the delegates
sank back into their chairs. Thus was
Bryan again formally made a candl-
date for the presidency. And thus
was his campaign of 1900 inaugurated.
The real contest of the convention
was the fight over the vice presidency,
or rather the fight over the PROPOSE
tion not to make any nomination for
the vice presidential Office, but to
refer the entire matter to committee
to be appointed to confer with the
democrats and silver republicans in
their convention to be held at Kansas
City.
All opposition to Towne finally dis
appeared as his friends pointed out his
ability and the many advantages he
would lend to the ticket.
Charles 4. Towne was born in
Michigan, near Lansing, Al years ago.
His parents were in comfortable cir
cumstances, and young Towne after
receiving a common school education
was sent to Ann Arbor university
where he graduated in both academic
and law courses. After receiving his
sheepskin Towne went to Marquette
Mich, where he opened law office
and practiced his profession for about
three years. He then moved to
Chicago where he struggled to estab-
lish practice for several months but
gave it up and came to Duluth in the
spring OF 1890: He has always taken
an active interest in politics, and un-
til the free silver agitation in 1886 was
Staunch republican. In 1892 he
stumped considerably for the repub-
lican ticket throughout the northwest
and his remarkable eloquence soon
brought him to the front. At the
next republican congressional cOnven-
tion for the Duluth district Towne
was enthusiastically nominated for
congress, and was elected with an
overwhelming majority. In the early
summer of 1896 he declared himself in
favor of free silver. In the fall he
was nominated by the democrats and
pOpulists as their candidate for con-
gress although holding his seat in
that body as a republican. He was
defeated by Page Morris. In the fall
of 1898 he was again nominated by the
fuSiOnistS for congress and was once
more defeated by Norris by plurality
of 1000 votes, although he carried
Duluth the home town of both candi-
dates by l, ,343. In the summer of 1898
he was chosen as national chairman of
the silver republicans.
The Platform - Reported.
The following is a synopsis Of the
platform reported by the committees:
The Peoples party reafirms its ad-
herence to the principles Of it's two for
mer platforms and calls upon all who de-
afro to avert the subversion OF free insti-
buttons by corporate and imperialistio
power to unite in bringing the govern
ment back to the ideals of Washington,
Jefferson. jackson and Lincoln; extends
to its allies assurances Of loyalty to their
common principles and pledges hearty CO
operation in their joint efforts.
1t denounces the act of March II, 1900,
as the elimination of q conspiracy to de-
prive the people Of their control of the
nations money and surrender 1t to q
money trust; denounoes the act, first,
for making all obligations payable In
gold or its equivalent; second, for re-
funding ''coin bonds, not due for years,
into long time gold bonds; third, for pay
ing premium to holders OF bonds to be
refunded: fourth, for doubling the capital
Of bankers BY returning to them the face
hanks TO expand and contract their ctrcu-