San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11

Mr.. Cievel0nd, Dut TOOK no part ~
the conventions deliberations.
In 1906 1 began attending Repub.
lican conventions MS we'll as those OF
my own party. The first was the Nc
Kinlcy convention, which was held
at St. Louis about two weeks before
the Chicago convention at which j
was nominated. / was at that time
editor of the World Herald at Omahn,
and attended the convention ostensibly
in the character of newspaper man.
As q matter of fact, however. / was
there to encourage the Silver Re
pubIicans in the fight that they were
making.
Beginning in 1893 1 had been more
and more intimately acquainted with
the Silver Republican men like Sen
atOrs Teller, Dubois, Pettisrew and
Cannon, and Congressman Shafroth,
Towne, Hartmann and others. L was
in conference with them during the
course of the fight over the platform,
and sent back editorial correspondence
to my paper.
The convention turned out as / ex-
pected, and the looked-fOr bolt took
place. ] felt sure that the action OF
this convention would have q large
influence at Chicago.
THE SILVER FIGHT.
The free silver fight of 1896 was
foreshadowed in a letter which Presi-
dent Cleveland wrote to a Chicago
club early in 1906, indicating that the
fight was to be on the money ques-
ton. This aroused the Silver Demo-
Gratis to a realization that they would
have to control the organization, or be
read out of the party.
A conference was called for June.
1895, at Memphis, Tenn. l attended
this conference.-the fact, j had spoken
in Memphis month before in an
swer to Mr.. Carlisle, who had gone
to Memphis to deliver an address in
tended to line up the South in favor
of the gold standard.
For the next year I Travelled
throughout the country lecturing IN
some places and making public
speeches in other places-evcrywhere
helping. as best / could, in the or
ganization of the silver forces. At
Wilmington, Del, L paid the hall rent,
introduced myself and spoke to a
handful of people in a small room. At
one other place 1 helped pay the ex-
penses of the meeting.
1t was through these speeches that l
became acquainted with n number OF
the delegates who were present at Chi
cago. j was perhaps acquainted per-
sonally with more delegates than any
other man who was mentioned as a
candidate.
REFUSES STATE AID.
Ny own state would have instruct
ed for me il l had permitted 1t, but
l objected. i did not want to be pre-
sented as a candidate for two reasons I;
first, there was likelihood of me being
instructed for in other states, and,
second, because l wanted to help other
men who were candidates to secure
their own states.
Coming events cast their shadows
before,
The possibility Of my nomination at
Chicago was fore-shadowed some years
before. When I delivered my tariff
speech in Congress in March, 1852, l
received a telegram from a friend in
Jacksonville, ILL.,, which ran about as
follows:
How old are you? Am for you
for the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation if you are old enough"
This was one of the earliest out
bursts Of enthusiasm. From time to
time, newspapers mentioned my name
in connection with the nomination.
This occurred with increasing fire.
quency after my silver speech in Au-
gust, 1898. Beginning in 1895 | be-
gan to receive letters from prominent
Democrats in different states declar-
ing themselves in favor Of my nomi-
nation. Among the earliest Of these
were Milton r. Miller of Lebanon,
Oregon, who has become increasingly
prominent in politics since that time.
Governor J. Il. Osborne of Wyoming.
in whose home town. Rawlings, l had
spoken in 1894 or '95. Hon. John A.
Tomlinson Of Birmingham. Alabama,
Mr.. Cassidy Of Crystal Springs, Miss,
Ex-Governor Baxter of Wyoming, and
others.
All Of these letters followed the
same line of arguing in favor Of my
eligibility. During the year 1895 l
visited Springfield at the invitation
of bi-metallists and spoke at a con-
vention which was the beginning of
the organization of the silver forces
Of the state. / met Governor Altgcld
there, and have letters received from
him afterward suggesting the posi-
bility of my receiving the nomination
for vice president. he being favorable
to Congressman Bland.
| went to Chicago some days before
the convention to meet a committee
of the Silver Democrats, as they were
called. although we described oursei.
yes as bi-metallists when we had occa-
sion to use description. and was
present when Senator Daniels was
decided upon for temporary chairman.
When reached Chicago the outlook
was not encouraging for my candidacy.
While there were a few who were
friends, the majority of the delegate
seemed to be divided up among other
candidates, Mr.. Bland leading. NY
chances seemed to be so poor that
spoke TO Tomlinson about the matter,
who was on hand arguing very earn
estly for my nomination.
OFFERS TO WITHDRAW.
explained to him that there seemed
very little prospect of my nomination,