State Library
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PROTECTION! INDUSTRY ! ENTERPRISE ! PROSPERITY!
GLOME 27.
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1896.
inniBER 31
y
BRYAN THE NOJIINEE,
Populists Name the Boy Orator
for President.
NO DECLINATION PRESENTED.
Bryan Had 1,04a
Votes aiid
31.
Ed tor NortM
St. Louis, July 25. The Populist
Vational Convention, "without caring
a copper for William J. Bryan's de
claration that he would not accept a
nomination for President by the Popu
lists unless Arthur Sewall "was nomi
nated for Vice-President, formally
nominated Bryan late afternoon after
another day of wearisome oratory.
The whole number of votes cast was
l.0T". of which Bryan received 1,042.
Eugene V. Debs 8, S. F. Norton of
Chicago 321, J. S. Coxey 1, Ignatius
Donnelly 3. The 4 'Middle of the Road"
u;en continued their fight against
tfryan to the last.
In view of the fact that the "Mid-
i!e of the Roaders" had been desired
l.v every one of their more - prominent
Idlers, they certainly put up a bet
tr lijrht than many at.first anticipat
ed. The Texans - to-day-' cast their
Vv 101 votes -against Bryan. The
Alabama, (California, Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and
Wisconsin Pops divided their votes,
Uu-v. stuck fairlv-well to the "Mid-
Of the Road" Texans.
Die nomination, of Bryan today
ha demonstrated what, has' been
known here from the start, and that
w:!s that there were forces enough at
uork to injure Bryan's nomination at
my time. Senator Jones, Gov. Stone,
and Senator Stewart of Nevada are
justed over the' turn that affairs
' taken. Thev have labored for a
'i'.iitination or endorsement of the
' ".'.: -ui ticket. Senator Jones, as
Chairman of the lemocratfc -.National
Committee, feels .very much cut up
uv.er the mUiuUou, and Senator Stew-
i :uid other warm friends of Bryan
1 ! ire with more than ordinary blt
'r'ess that the Populists have mangl-'
-J the Chicago ticket.
liAIU) WORK AHKAD.
Senator Jones must now open nego
tiations with the Populists in the diff-
itiit States as to a union of electoral
tickets, uud the promises of a dismally
inplieated situation are becoming
more evident every hour. There, was
just a show of a bolt a moment after
hairman Allen announced the vote
''hieh'nominated Bryan. The Texas
J iien w-re seen to pick up their hats
ith the apparent intention of leaving
the hall. Instantly they were sur
rounded by other delegates, and in
two or three minutes they put down
.1-1. . - ' .
ut ir nats again anil gave aweaK im
itation of applauding. Ex-Gov Gibbs
was. asked whether the Texas men
-
would bolt the nomination, and he
viid: .
"No, there won't be any bolt, but
hryau has got to stand on our plat
form. If he does not stand on. our
platform then Texas will have a sep
arate set of electors who will vote for
a candidate for President.'
Senator Jones, Chairman of the
democratic National Committee, and
others do not seem to- believe that
there is any hurry for the Populists to
notify Bryan of his nomination by
t his Convention. The Senator said:
"If Mr. Bryan is not formally noti
id of this nomination it will not be
ijecessary for him to make any state
ment whatever concerning it.1
That is part of the sawdust game
w hich is being played, and which is
referred to later on in this article.
With the rising of the sun this mora-.
he Populists were at work. Many
of them had not gone to bed. The
fellows who didn't go to bed were
those who were rejoicing over the de
feat of Sewall. There was a good deal
of grumbling because the Convention.
fter a very hUe night session, had
en called to re-assemble at 9 o'clock
this morning. Most of the complaint
uiie from the Eastern Populists, but
their Western brethren told them that
f they had their way they would have
very session of the Convention begin
t 7 o'clock in the morning. Each one
asked his neighbor if Bryan would ac
cept the nomination of this Conven
tion. They were aware of the con
tents of the telegraphic message that
Bryan had sent to Senator Jones say
ing that unless Sewall was nominated
hera Senator Jones was authorized to
withdraw the' name of Bryan.
Senator Peffer was one of the first
of the big Populists of to reach the
Convention hall this morning. kHe
was asked what he thought would be
Bryan's attitude, and he indulged in
remarks which gave the impression
that something like a sawdust game
was going on. Senator Peffer believed
that Mr. Bryan could have done noth
ing else than send that despatch to
Senator Jones. 'But Senator Peffer
also observed that Bryan did not send
that despatch until after he was fully
aware that Sewall had been practie-f
ally defeated in the Convention. Sen
ator Peffer said, however, that it was
not necessary for Bryan to come on
and say officially that he would not
accept the nomination of this Conven
tion just because Sewall didn't get a
nomination.
Senator Stewart of Nevada was in
a far different frame of mind. He
pranced up and ' down in his anger.
He declared that Bryan could not de
cently accept the nomination of this
Convention, because it had thrown
overboard Sewall. . Senator Stewart,
however, explained that he was mere
ly expressing his personal views. .
ALLKX WILL "PERSUADE" BRYAN.
Senator Allen, the permanent Chair
man of the Conventiqn, will do his
utmost to see that Bryan accepts the
nomination of this Convention. Sen
ator Allen has a little something at
stake himself.' He is coming up for
re-election in Nebraska pretty soon,
and he believes that he and Bryan
and Gov. Holcomb should be mixed
up and reap the political advantage
in their State that might come from a
union of interests.
Senator Allen, of
course, "was well
aware last nigl
messages that
Senator Jones
it ,of the; telegraphic
had passed between
and Nominee Bryan.
Just wiiy Seuatbr Jones handed out
Nominee .'Bryan's despatch, spying
that he could not accept the nomina
tion of the Populist Convention of
Sewall was not taken also, is one of
the i inexplicable mysteries to fM.r-r
Alien. . It is also a profound r.tu un
solved conundrum to a majority 'f th?
Populist leaders here who t:.'!tt:v I?j
grabbing anything tha.T vo i'd helpr
themselves personally find p Mt.!' .
They never throw anything over their
shoulders. Everything is flsh that
comes to their nets.
TOM WATSON. OP GEORGIA NAflED FOR
VICE-PRESIDENT.
On Ballot Fleeted Him.
St. Louis, July 24. The opposition
to Sewall in the Populist convention
practically, swamped the Bryan forces
at the day session of the convention
by making it impossible to prevent a
division of the Chicago ticket. The
leaders were powerless to check the
the strong feeling against the Bath
ship-builder and banker.
They had carried the day in the
committee on resolutiour in framing a
comparatively moderate platform,
which they afterwards got through
the convention with ease. Their strat
egy was skillfully displayed at other
points, but the intense undercurrent
of feeling agaiust Sewall was fatal to
them. It was a sunken ditch un
marked upon the battle field which
clutching with its muddy iugrs at
the wheels of its artillery, bore down
Napoleon and his Eagles at Waterloo.
Today the ditch was in open view.
From beginning it has gaped like a
chasm athwart the iath of the Bryan
managers. In vain they attempted to
bridge it.
Moreover, today, .for the first time,
"the middle-of-the-road element dis
played generalship worthy of the
name. Recognizing the fact that all
hope of defeating Bryan's nomination
was lost, they contracted all their ef
forts againt Sewall. They did more.
They devised a cunning scheme by
which the conventien was forced to
nominate tha Vice President before
the President It was an unpreceden
ted thing, but it served to mass the
votes in favor of a Populist candidate
for Vice President and uncover them
in advance in the fear that, if Bryan
were first nominated, the enthusiasm
might break down the opposition to
Sewall and stampede a majority of the
votes for the Nebraskan'a running
mate."- ; '
When the proposition was made to
change the regular order of nomina
tions, the Bryan men strained every
nerve to prevent it. They even plead
ed. Jerry Simpson, on behalf of Kan
sas, went so far as to intimate that the
vote ef the Sunflower State would be
cast for a Southern man for Vice Pres
dent if the regular order was not re
versed. When the roll; was called they ral
lied every vote at their command.
Senator Butler of North Carolina was
a powerful ally with the 95 votes from
the Old North State behind him and
Congressman Skinner, the chairman
of the delegation cast the solid vote of
the State against the change. When
the vote was figured up however, and
he ascertained that thcrevas a major-
ity of 2- in favor of the proposition,
tinder his direction, after a very pretty
theatrical exhibition from Mr. Skinner
the vote of th e delegation was cast for
the proposition and the ant i's emerged
from the contest with a majority of
101. This made the defeat of Sewall
and the nomination of a Populist for
Vice-President certain. After that the
conference of th,e joint committee of
the two conventions could come to
nothing, and the silver contention
promptlynominated Bryan and Sew
all and adjourned sine die. r
The anti-Bryan men, although they
presented a minority platform de
manding an irredeemable paper cur
rency, and crowded with a bitter de
nunciation of the Democratic and Re
publican parties,, did not attempt to
press it after their victory. The. ma
jority report which is moderate and
contains few radical propositions, such
as the demand for the gradual assump
tion by the government of the owner
ship of the railroads and for direct leg
islation, though the initiative and ref
erendum, was adopted without a di
vision, and the minority report laid on
tae table. , -
At 6:32 the convention reassembled
and Chairman Allen introduced Judge
Jefferson Pollard, ot e Missouri, who
read the platformbt the silver conven
tion and a message about the nomina
tion of Bryan and Sewall by it. The
reading was repeatedly interrupted by
delegates in various parts of the hall,
rrh" rai?ed the point of order that the
ncmhi -itious for Vie President. Sen
ator Allen overruled these points of
or 1. r. -Many of the planks of the sil
ver party's platform were enthusiasti
cally received, but when the action of
the silver convention in nominating
Bryan and Sewall was read, it was
jeered by the middle of the road con
tingent, and on tlu motion of a Texas
delegate, the iiroceedings of the silver
convention was referred to the com
mittee on resolutions. Nominations
.were then called for. but the conven
tion experienced a good deal of diffi
culty in getting under way.
The Democratic managers consulted
after it became evident that Sewall
could not be nominated and Mr. Bry
an was communicated with by tele
graph. They decided that Mr. Bryan
could not be disloyal to his running
mate, and won! was sent to the lead
ing Bryan managers in the convention
that the Silver Knight of the West
would not accept a nomination unless
Sewall was also nominated. The con
vention for live hours tonight listened
to nominating speeches, in profound
ignorance to this fact. Tom Watson,
of Georgia, Congressman Skinner, of
North Carolina, Mimms, of Tennessee,
Burkitt, of Mississippi and Mann Page
of Virginia were nominated.
About 11 o'clock the Bryan men de
cided to spring the sensation. Senator
Stewart, of Nevada, was selected to
make the announcement, coupled with
a plea for uniting the silver forces.
But the anti-Sewall crowd were in the
saddle. They howled down the ven
erable -Senator, and after a hurried
consultation the leaders decided not to
permit the announcement to be made
at that time. It seems undoubtedly
true, however, that Bryan will not ac
cept the Presidential nomination un
less 8ewall is also nominated.
All evening the out-and-out Bryan
managers had been conferring earnest
ly over the situation. They bad coun
seled with Chairman Jones, who was
in direct telegraphic communication
with Candidate Bryan, Rumors flew
about among the knowing ones, bat
the convention was in profound igno
rance of what was going on. The del
egations were listening to the nomina
tion speeches on the theory that they
were nominating a running mate for
Mr. Bryan.
When New York was reached, Mr.
Pence, oa the part of that State yield
' .1- ."
ed his time to Colorado. As Tom
Patterson, who has been one of the
most earnest and active of Bryan's
managers, arose on his chair, the con
vention held its breath. A sensation
of some sort was anticipated, but it
did not occur. The action of the del
egates made-it unwise to spring the
sensational fact that Bryan would uot
accept the nomination on I the terms
tne convention proposed. Mr. Patter
son on behalf of Colorado, simply con
tended for the nomination of Sewall.
The convention hissed this statement.!
Mr. Patterson then yielded . the bal
lance of his five minutes to Senator
Stewart; of Nevada. The middle of
the road men were in an ugly mood
and hey hissed the suggestion. It
was only after an appeal by the chair
man for fair play that order could be
restored. The venerable Senator
came forward to the front of the plat
form and in pathetic tones made his
appeal for the cause of silver in which
the best years of his life had been en
listed. When the middle of the read
ers saw the drift of his remarks they
began to shout "time,' "time." Even
an appeal to the "chivalry of the
South" failed to quiet them, and the
venerable Senator retired to the rear
of the platform. Chairman Allen, ex
pressed his regret that a hearing could
not be accorded to this distinguished
guest. ; i
Rev. Alexander" Kent, of the District
of Columbia, made a vigorous speech
for the endorsement of Mr. Sewall. He
thought it would w have ( been wise to
have endorsed the Democratic Jplat
form. This expression oi opinion cre
ated a small tumult in which Dr. Kent
retired. It was 5 minutes of 12 o'clock
when the chairman stated that there
would' be no more nominating speech
es. - He announced that the roll of
States would be called for a ballot.
Delegate Wood, of Texas, who in the
middle of the road caucus last night
pffered a resolution to bolt the couven
vention and denounced the platform,
made a brief ieech seconding Mr.'
Burkitt's nomination. He was fol
lowed by Gen. Field, of Virginia, who
four years ago was the Populist can
didate for Vice President. Gen. Field
was received as a nestor of the party.
He urged the nomination of Page.
At exactly midnight just as the roll
call was about to ' begin, Gen. Weaver,
of Iowa, appeared at the front of the
platform. He called attention to the
lateness of the hour and advised a
night's meditation. He proposed that
the convention take one ballot and
then adjourn. The middle of the
road men howled him down. Chair
man Allen severely rebuked the con
vention. He severely reprimanded
the delegates, who, he said,, had
howled down some of the niost -distinguished
men in the party, and ordered
the roll-call to proceed.
HOW WATSON WA5 NOfllNATED.
It
Wm Ude Unanimous With Whoop
foic the Ballot Ended. -
St. Louis. Mo , July g-4. Thomas
E. Watson, of Georgia, who was a
member af the Fifty-first Congress,
and who. in the Fifty-second and
Fifty-third Congresses, unsuccessfully1
confuted Col. Black's seat, was nomi
nated for Vice President by the Popu
list Convention on the first ballot
shortly after midnight. There were,
five other candidates, Sewall, Mann
Page, of Virginia; A. L. Mimms, of
Tennessee; Congressman Skinner, of
North Carolina, and CoL Burkitt, of
Mississippi. The nomination . was
made unanimous before the result" of
the roll call was announced. A few
minutes after midnight the roll call
began.
Arkansas started off with 25 votes
for Watson. Tom Patterson, of Col
orado, cast the 45 votes of his State for
Sewall, amid a round of applause
from the Bryan men. Some one
jumped up and challenged the vote,
claiming that he wanted his yote re
corded for Watson.
Mr. Patterson denounced him as an
interloper, and be proved to be. on in
vestigation, a member of the contested
delegation that had been excluded.
Indiana gave her SO votes to, Walton.
Kansas gave Sewall b2 of her 95 rotes.
Louisiana gave the bulk of her vote to
Watson. Maryland divided her rote
between Sewall and Watson. It
looked as if Watson might be nomi
nated on the first ballot onto North
Carolina cast her S3 rotes for Skinner,
Tennessee for Mimsi and Texas for
Burkitt.
This split up the large delegations.
Later the. roll call was completed,
however, Texas changed her vote to
Watson, and there were other changes
in favo of the Georgian. Col. Burkitt,
of Mississippi, went to tho stand and
withdrew his name.
Pandemonium reigned. Men shouted
out of the inky blackness; others sang,
and a few cursed. The band struck
up a lively air. A few candles were
brought into the press tables, and the
delegates crowded about them, push
ing and swaying In the flickering light.
Several suggested that it was an ill
omen, but a chorus of voices shouted
that it was a pat-up job.
7 Then .Mimms withdrew in Watson's
favor. The Georgian already had
votes enough to nominate, but the
vote of Tennessee was finally trans
ferred to his column. Some one made
a luotion to make the nomlnatipu
unanimous, and it was carried with a
whoop.
Immediately the "middle of the
road" men grasped their banners and
started a demonstration, but suddenly
without warning, the lights went out,
and the convention was left in total
darkness.
Then some oue called attention to
the fact that the nomination of Wat
son wa announced at exactly sixteen
minutes to 1. This tickled the ''mid
dle of the road" men, and they shout
ed. 'Hurrah Hurrah!" Then yelled.
"10 to in i
A few minutes iater the lights were
again turned on, and after-. quiet was
restored, Congressman Howard, of
Alabama moved an adjournment un
til 1) o'clock to morrow morning, anil
the motion was carried.
HR. WAT50N5 CAREER.
School Teacher, Lawyer, PrrldntUI Elro
tar, and Congressman.
i Thomas E. Watson, of Thomson,
Ga., was bora in Columbia County,
Ga., September 5, 1850. He 'received
a common school education, and was
then sent to the Mercer University,
Macon Ga. At the end of the sopho
more yir he left college for lack of
funds, and taught eehool two years.
He read law for a few weeks under
Judge W. R. McLaws, of Augusta,
Ga,, and was admitted to the bar,
commencing the practice of the pro
fession at Thomson,' Ga., hisold home,
November 19TG. He was, a member of
the Georgia Legislature, 182-&1; was
n wciuwi nut ci wu tor uir wwiic nv
large in 1888, and besides the practice
of law has been and still is largely in
terest ed iu farming.
Mr. Watson was elected to the Fif
ty-second Congress as a Democrat, re
ceiving 5,450 votes against 597 votes
for Anthony E. Williams, Republi
can. Mr. Watson served one term In
Congress, being succeeded in the Fifty-third
by James C. C. Black, who
was elected as a Democrat, receiving
17,772 votes against 12,303 votes re
ceived for Mr. Watson, who rana the -candidate
for the People's Party. Mr.
Watson also ran as a Populist candi
date for the Fifty-fourth Congress
from the same district, but was again
defeated by Mr. Black. Watson's un
ique personality made him a conspic
uous figure In the ifouse'of Represen
tative. He was a fiery debater, and
took part in numerous hot parliamen
tary fights. 4
In jtersonai appearance Watson Is
thin and angular, with a clean-thaven
nf Intuitu i if ii ii f r m anil a fi(slr
tow vr ufcv utjv. u . v rm
mop of auburn hair.
1 Th Gold Rcr Inert.
WssHixoToar, July 24. -The Treas
ury gold reserve stands to-night with
offers made and, accepted, at about
$111,000,000. The actual figures are
$103.58.17!. The day's withdrawals
for hoarding purposes were $312,500.
There were no withdrawals reported
for export. So far about $17,000,000 in
gold tendered by New York banks, has
been "taken np in the Treasury cash
and about $500,000, as far as is known
here, remains to be taken up.
Other cities were heard from today
and the following tenders'of gold were
accepted; Chicago $2,500,000, Phila
delphia $2,500,000, Boston $1,000,000,
In every case either greenbacks or
Sherman notes are demanded and giv
en for the gold so deposited. Both
classes of notes are gold demand obli
gations. In a few irutances and for
smau amounts, Uiose who hare onereu
gold hare asked for the new $1 tilrer
certificate just Issued. This note is cf
nnlqe design and very attractive in
appearance.