Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-26

n. Thompson as a personal concession TO
him Bryan and as in a measure part pay
ment for the efforts he had exerted in be-
half Of pOpulist candidates in the past.
Accept the Thompson Dose.
All the barriers had now been broken
down. The obstacle to yielding first place
to a democrat had been removed when the
nomination had been rendered to Bryan.
The most available populist material had
failed when Harrington fell down so la
mentally. The delegates were tired and
sleepy and hungry. More than a third OF
them had left the hall and the roll call, in
which counties with from four to twenty
votes were voted by a single delegate, gave
Thompson 93s out of a nominal 1,IO4. The
motion to make IT. unanimous encountered
plenty Of lusty noes. Mr.. Thompson was
waiting TO make his acknowledgements.
Strange as 1t may SEEM" he said, the
nominations which l have sought the con-
v~entions have refused to give me, while
the nominations l have not sought have
been given to me by almost unanimous con-
sent"
Processing his belief In popullst princi-
piles, although a democrat, he said with
reference TO the two platforms, mo one
would know which was which unless the
letters were written across the top of It,"
Winding Up the Work.
ITS a sorry day for populists," said
one Of the detected leaders as he filed out
Of the hall without looking for the further
business of the convention. The rest was
easy. The conference committees recon-
vened, agreed to divide the untitled places
according to the proposition previously
made. but slightly modified, so that the
popullsts got Ave Of the minor nominal
tions and the democrats but two besides
the governor.
That the fusionists realize their desperate
situation in the impending campaign was
forcibly shown at nearly every turn. Har-
rington promised publicly TO put in sixty
days on the stump to explain the beauties
Of populism to the people and Bryan an
nounced that without regard to calls for
lectures, banquet speeches or journalistic
embassies, he would be at the command
Of the Joint campaign committee from now
until election. |
The people of Grand Island did the best
they could to take care Of the conventions ,
and the attending delegates and deserve
credit for their good intentions. 1t was
not their fault that the facilities at their
command we're so inadequate. "No state
convention ought to be held in Nebraska
outside of Omaha or Lincoln was heard
from hundreds of mouths, and II the lesson
Of the Grand Island meeting is learned the
mistake of locating a big party convention
in one Of the interior towns will not be
soon repeated. I,
Democrats Thoroughly Aroused.
The stormiest period in the democratic
convention was between 4 and $50 this
morning. The delegates had been tediously
balloting and waiting for over eight hours, !
not including the afternoon session of yes
terday. Ballot after ballot had been taken,
with G. ]. smyth always in the majority,
but with precision each successive nominal
ton had been rejected by the populists. At
$3.50 a recess was taken and when the
delegates reassembled fifteen minutes later
many OF them were in a condition border
ing on the hysterical.
During the intermission w. j. Bryan. G.
]. Smyth, P. L. Hall. w. H. Thompson,
Judge DUNE and several party leaders got
together on the stage and held an ami
mated consultation, In which the situation
was thoroughly canvassed and an effort
made to determine upon some plan which
would be acceptable to the friendly al
lies"
1t was conceded that smyth's prospects
for a fusion nomination we're fading. Every
message or intimation from the allies
camp was OF a ueHduts luuCpcuuCut haIulSt /
and II seemed more than ever certain
that no democrat would be given the popu-
list endorsement. While this conference
was going on the delegates started up the
appropriate I'VE Won't Go Home Till
and followed 1t with other ia
miliar songs. the entire assemblage joining.
Bryan and Smyth left the hall and con-
tinued their conference in an ante-room in
the rear of the building. Chairman Hall
OF the state committee. who had relieved
Travis as presiding o%fcer, raped for or
der at 4 O'Clock. Instantly there was a
changed expression on the countenances of
the delegates. All seemed affected alike.
A moment before they had been singing
good naturally; now they were serious and
determined, some one way, some another,
but all intent upon accomplishing some
thing.
wouldn't Hear Roll Call.
1.-THE secretary will call the roll for an
other ballot for governor" announced MT.
Hall, but there came a vigorous storm OF
Smyth was urged for another
unanimous nomination and the names of
Vifquain and Thompson were presented for
similar endorsement. A discussion ensued,
in which other questions came up for
discussion and for the time being no fur
Their effort was made to unanimously nom
any candidate. Numerous motions
providing ultimatums Of one kind and an
other to be sent to the populists we're Of
fered and at intervals the convention pre-
scented a scene of wild confusion and ex-
element. In all parts Of the hall men
arose to plead for the nomination Of an
or straight democratic ticket.
The sentiment seemed to be growing and
in this direction. Each d~eclara-
tion f~avoring the nomination OF an inde-
pendent ticket brought forth applause.
While the discussion was at its height
Bryan and smyth ~re-entered the hall and
to the stage. A consultation was
held with the chairman and then Smyth
was introduced. He spoke for fifteen min
utes, thanking the delegates for their loyal
support, but assuring them that he did not
wish longer to remain in the way of a
nomination.
81 am confident Bryan is the only demo-
crat on whom the populists would agree"
remarked the speaker.
I'VE don't want Bryan against his
wishes" shouted several delegates, and
Smyth proceeded, concluding his address by