BRYAN IS NOMINATED

William Jennings Bryan.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 31, 1896.

BRYAN IS NOMINATED

BY THE POPULISTS AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN SPITE OF HIS PROTEST.

The People's Party Convention Disperses in Very Bad Humor—Many of the Delegates Declare the Ticket a Theatrical One.

   ST. LOUIS, July 26.—The national convention of the People's party, after four days of heat, turmoil and unlimited oratory, completed its labors at 4:40 o'clock and adjourned sine die.

   Notwithstanding the receipt of one or more telegrams from W. J. Bryan declining to permit the use of his name on the Populist ticket unless Arthur Sewall, his associate on the Chicago ticket, was also endorsed, Mr. Bryan was put in formal nomination as originally contemplated by General Weaver of Iowa, and was seconded by one or more spokes men from every state and territory with about ten exceptions.

   On the ballot Bryan received 1042 votes against 321 for Colonel Norton of Chicago, who at the last moment was selected as the candidate of the unreconstructed "Middle-of-the-Road" element. It was the intention of this faction early in the morning to place Eugene V. Debs in nomination and thus force the labor issue to the front, but Mr. Debs telegraphed declining to serve and his telegram was respected.

   Strenuous efforts were made without avail by Ignatius Donnelly and others to obtain some kind of an assurance that Mr. Bryan would accept the nomination and stand upon the platform. The permanent chairman, Senator Allen of Nebraska admitted that he had received some kind of a telegram from Mr. Bryan but said he paid no attention to it. He also said he had received one, supposed to be from Governor Stone, but would not open it until he reached his home in Nebraska.

   Before adjourning the convention adopted a resolution clothing the national committee with plenary powers to do anything and everything which the convention itself might have done if in session. This of course would authorize it to take down the names of either Mr. Bryon or Mr. Watson, or both, if necessary, and to construct an entirely new ticket.

   The national committee was enlarged so as to consist of three members from each state and territory. But naturally the power conferred upon this cumbrous body will eventually be lodged in an executive committee of more manageable size.

   A noticeable feature of the last moments of the convention was the fact that though the result of the ballot for president was announced, it was not followed up by any declaration on the part of the chair that Mr. Bryan had been duly chosen the candidate of the People's party for president of the United States.

   The convention separated in bad humor, many of the delegates openly denouncing the ticket as a "theatrical" one. It, however, met the unqualified approval of Mrs. Lease of Kansas (whose name, usually printed as "Mary Ellen" was officially stated to be "Mary Elizabeth"). In an impassioned address she assured the delegates that they had risen to the grandeur of the occasion and had done honor to the party and to themselves.

CORTLAND MAN CHOSEN.

Seven Special Excise Agents Appointed Yesterday.

   ALBANY, July 2S.—Seven special agents under the Raines liquor tax law were appointed to-day by Commissioner Lyman from the civil service list. They are Gardiner C. Hibbard of Elmira, a dealer in provisions, formerly special agent of the United States census department for the collection of statistics; John Casey of New York city, a stereotyper and electrotyper, formerly inspector in New York city department of public works; C. E McCarty of Rhinebeck, lawyer and insurance agent; A. B. Ostrander of New York city, has been a railroad man, United States weigher at the port of New York and clerk in the department of public works in New York city; Charles D. Drake of Brooklyn, bookkeeper and cashier, formerly United States weigher in the customs service; Frank Place of Cortland, a civil engineer; James J. Scanlon of New York, formerly agent in the United States secret service, business mechanical engineer.

   All of these appointees are veterans with the exception of McCarty. Special agents receive salaries of $1,200 and expenses.

   All of the special agents appointed today but one are Republicans and their references include the names of many Republican politicians, the exception of John Casey of New York city, who is a Tammany Democrat.

THE FREE SILVER PLATFORM.

No Reason for Bolting Bryan's Nomination.

   But it is hard to see why any Democrat should bolt the nomination of Bryan on account of the free silver platform. The party has not changed. No new departure has been taken. There is nothing new in the silver plank except the clearness and emphasis with which the issue is stated. The Democratic party has always been in favor of free coinage. The first law for the free coinage of silver was placed on the statute book in the administration of George Washington with the approval of Thomas Jefferson. It remained in force for 81 years or during all the period of Democratic ascendency. It was approved by Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren, Benton, Polk, Pierce and Buchanan, and during all that long period in which we had free coinage of silver no Democratic voice was ever raised against it. It was reserved for a Republican Congress in 1873 to strike down the ancient right of the people to use silver as well as gold in the payment of their debts and as a basis for their paper money.

   As soon as the secret legislation of 1873 was discovered an earnest effort was made to right the wrong. In the Congressional elections of 1874 the Democrats swept the country, electing a two-thirds majority of the lower House of Congress. That House passed a bill to restore the free and unlimited coinage of silver dollars, 124 Democrats voting in its favor and only 17 against it. No vote was reached on this bill in the Senate.

   In 1877 another Democratic House having been elected in 1876, Mr. Bland moved to suspend the rules to enable him to introduce his bill for the free coinage of silver. Almost nine-tenths of the Democrats who voted on this motion voted in favor of it, the Democratic votes standing 97 to 10. In the Republican Senate the Allison amendment was added, practically limiting the coinage of silver dollars to $2,000,000 a month, and so affording only a slight measure of relief compared with the original Bland bill; and this measure now known as the Bland-Allison act, then passed the Senate, 25 Democrats voting for it and 7 against it. The bill was vetoed by Mr. Hayes. The House passed it over the veto February 28, 1878, 122 Democratic representatives voting in its favor and 21 against it. The Senate also passed it over the veto, by a Democratic vote of 25 to 9.

   When the Sherman silver bill was pending in 1889, Mr. Bland moved to recommit the bill to the committee with instructions to bring in a substitute bill for the free and unlimited coinage of silver dollars at 16 to 1. This motion also was sustained by about seven-eighths of the Democrats voting in the House, 101 voting for it and 13 against it.

   March 17, 1892, a free coinage bill pending, 130 Democrats voted for free coinage and 81 in favor of laying the bill on the table. The record of the Democratic party in the present Congress is too recent to need review.

   At all time since the foundation of the government, the overwhelming majority of the Democratic party, as represented in Congress, has been in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver. There is absolutely nothing in the record of the party in Congress that can justify the claim of the bolting, gold-worshipping Democrats, that the free coinage plank on which Mr. Bryan stands is a new and strange doctrine. A gold plank would have been a new and strange doctrine, involving a radical departure from all Democratic history and precedent.

   No Democratic national platform ever indorsed the gold standard or ever expressed opposition to free silver. Nor had any Republican convention ever done so prior to the convention which nominated McKinley last month. It is the Republican party that has gone into this campaign preaching a new and strange doctrine that never before found a footing in the platform of any political party.

   The Democratic platform of 1892, on which President Cleveland was elected, declared:

   "We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country and to the coinage of both gold and silver without discrimination against either metal or charge for mintage."

   No possible construction can be placed on these words other than that the Democratic party in 1892 was in favor of the free and unlimited, coinage of silver and it was so understood throughout the West and South. If it was not understood in the East, the responsibility rests upon the newspapers of both parties, which suppressed the fact.—Charles P. Davis, Springfield Republican.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   MADISON.—Oneida Democrats have organized a Bryan and Sewall club.

   Postmaster Wood of DeRuyter had the good fortune to capture a large California trout while fishing in the Reservoir Tuesdav. It is the first one reported as caught, and was admired by many of DeRuyter's enthusiastic fishermen. A quantity of these trout were placed in the Sheds Corners stream some five years ago and it seems they are thriving.

   The examination of Joseph Caparilla, otherwise known as James Peters, the Italian who was arrested last week at Pine Woods for selling lager beer in violation of the Raines law, was held Friday. It showed that the Italian settlement was in fact a community where among other things the beer was common property, and that Caparilla was simply acting as storekeeper for the crowd. It was shown that the beer was bought at wholesale, and that none of it had been sold in this county. Caparilla was discharged.

   TOMPKINS.—Groton is making arrangements for a lecture course the coming winter.

   Lightning, during a storm in North Lansing last week, killed about 25 ewes and lambs for Jacob DeCamp of that place.

   The Grangers of Tompkins county announce that they will hold their usual annual reunion this year at Renwick Park on Saturday, Aug. 29th.

   The big boiler for the Groton electric plant is in position and the work of casing it has commenced. Wires for holding the street lamps are being put up.

   Chairman Williams says that the Ithaca sewer system will be in operation this fall, and that the total cost to the close of this season will be about $170,000. This expenditure is provided for by the issue of bonds to the amount of about $130,000, and the balance by the frontage assessment on abutting property.

HERE AND THERE.

   Grace church Sunday school held their picnic at the park Wednesday.

   Warren, Tanner & Co. have a new advertisement on our last page.

   The remaining bay horse of the team of Mr. E. M. Hulbert died of colic last Saturday.

   Mr. S. J. Parmiter is putting in the electric apparatus for the new Central hotel.

   A ball game between newspaper and insurance men is to be played in the near future.

   Daniels' orchestra furnished music at the large casino at Union last Saturday evening.

   The Orris running team is entered in the races at the State Firemen's convention at Lockport.

   A goodly number of Cortland people went to Sylvan Beach on the hop growers excursion last Saturday.

   The Universalist Sunday school will hold their annual picnic near the residence of Mr. E. Mudge on River-st. to-day.

   Next Wednesday the Corning baseball team comes to Cortland to try conclusions. Ithaca will also play here but the date is not fixed.

   The Epworth League of the Homer-ave. M. E. church netted over $8 from their supper and the sale of cook books last Friday evening.

   The Cortland Park Land Co. have laid out the lots on their grounds and have had a map of the same printed. The lots are sold on easy terms.

   These hot days are favorable for picnics at the park. Many families go there to enjoy the cool shade of the maples instead of boiling in town.

   Justice Dowd decided that there was not enough evidence to convict W. H. Smith, who was arrested last week for cruelty to animals and he was discharged Wednesday.

   The play, "A Tramps Daughter," was presented to a good audience at the opera last night for the benefit of Mr. Kelly, who has drilled the company in their last two productions.

   The excursion to Cascade on Owasco lake under the auspices of the First M. E. Homer-ave. churches last Tuesday was a grand success. There were thirteen [train] carloads of people from this place and vicinity.

   Last Friday Deputy Sheriff Edwards arrested George Matthews in Norwich and brought him to Cortland. Matthews is charged by the Hitchcock Mfg. Co. with misappropriation of funds belonging to that concern.

   According to Samuel Parsons, who has just issued our new directory, Cortland has a population of over 12,000 people. This shows a good healthy increase over two years ago and is a surprise to many who had thought we were standing still.

   About the first of August Mr. Robert Bushby will open an office in the Garrison block for permanent headquarters of the Grand Trunk Railway for the district comprising the states of New York, Pennsylvania,  Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina.

   About 300 people took the special excursion train of the A. O. H. last Saturday for the Thousand Islands. The day was all that could be asked for and the entertainment as advertised was fully carried out. The train reached home about 3 o'clock Sunday morning with a tired but thoroughly satisfied crowd on board.

   The locomotive, I. H. Palmer, which has been making regular trips once a day since last fall over the Erie & Central N. Y. R. R., has gone to the Adirondacks to be used as a passenger engine. A new engine will be put on the Erie & Central New York road soon.

   Cortland now has a baseball team that is a winner. Last week Thursday they defeated the Marcellus Grays by a score of 22 to 5. Saturday they went to Deposit for a return game with the team which won from us here two weeks ago. Our boys showed the effects of their rigid practice since then by winning the game to the tune of I8 to 17.

   The legal bars or objections to the proposed lake road from Ithaca to Glenwood have at last been removed; and those to be benefited by the construction of the road will now doubtless push the matter forward.

Judge Eggleston of Cortland recently decided that the report of the commission, which determined that the road is a necessity, must be accepted; and the time limit in which the objectors may appeal has expired.—Ithacan.