Show TOWNE IS A QUITTER Declines Nomination Tendered Ten-dered by Populists I REASONS FOR HIS ACTION First Nomination was Unsolicited Second the Convention as in Case Also of its Own Nominee for President I Presi-dent Went Out of its Own Political Organization to Select a Candidate This Coupled With tho Fact that Kansas City Convention Turned Him Down Causes Him to Decline Duluth Minn Aug 7 Former Congressman Con-gressman C A Towne who was noml I nated for VIceProsldent by the Popu II i list convention held In Sioux Falls In II I May has sent the following letter to I I the committee on notification I I Gentlemen When on tho 5th of July at Kaunas City 1 I had tho honor to rc ctlvo from you tho official nomination of your national convention for tho olllcu of VicePresident I 1 requested In Iew of the anomalous and delicate circumstances I I circum-stances In tho Presidential situation that I you permit me to tnko tho subject under I caretul advisement before announcing a j Ilecl lon This request you were pleased to grant and MOW after mature consideration consid-eration rl all the factors ml Involved I I that concern the welfare of tho cause of political politi-cal reform In this country and my own duty thereto 1 am constrained to Inform you In all respect that 1 must decline lie nomination tonJercd me by that convention con-vention PLEASED AT HONOR CONFERRED In announcing this Conclusion 1 cannot forbear to express > to you and through you to Uio great convention whoso commission com-mission you hold as well as to that patriotic I body of advanced political thought that your convention represented represent-ed my deep sense of the honor conferred upon me to bo the unanimous choice of that convention for tho second place In the service of the Nation Two clrcjm stances however add emphasis to this I consideration In tho present issue I First t tho nomination was unsolicited by l me and secondly the convention as In the I case also of Its nominee for tho I President went out of Its own political organization to select a canUldato HOW I1K REGARDS N03UNA1ION To my mind this action of the Sioux Falls convention In nominating for President Presi-dent a representative of the Democratic part and for YlcoPrcsldent a representative represen-tative of the Silver Republican party Is I one of the most encouraging and Inspiring Inspir-ing spectacles In recent politics Its unselfishness un-selfishness and magnanimity Its testimony testi-mony to the precedence of the cause of tho peoplp over any merely partisan advantage I advan-tage raised the procedure of that convention con-vention Into the serene upper air of true civic heroism From such a spirit as this what service what sacrifices can bo asked In the name of tho Republic WHAT WAS EXPECTED I It was of course the expectation of your convention that its nomination for tho VicePresidency would provo acceptable to the conventions of the Democratic and Silver Republican parties called to meet In Kansas City on the Fourth of July The Silver Republicans 1330 delegates representing twentyeight States and I Territories wer Indeed eager to name tho ticket chosen at Sioux Falls but to the great Democratic convention another commended Itself WHY HE WAS TURNED DOWN The name of your nominee was presented pre-sented to that convention and was rc celvifu with remarkable demonstrations of Approval by the enormous number of citizens and with the greatest respect by the delegates But geographical considerations consid-erations and the fact that In certain parts of the country It was deemed wlso to defer to a sentiment that the candidate candi-date should be a man already Identified with the Democratic organization not only holding Its principles and advocating advocat-ing Ira cause but also by name and profession pro-fession determined tho selection of Adlai E Stevenson of Illinois a man of unimpeachable unim-peachable character and of ripe political experience who as a member of Congress Con-gress moro than twenty years ago was a close assistant and laborer of den J B Weaver and othor great laborers for tho reform political movement of those da sand s-and who as VicePi csldcnt from 1S03 to 1S37 distinguished himself by rebelling against the betrayal of Democratic principles prin-ciples by President Cleveland WHAT HE CONSIDERS DUTY When Mr Stevenson was nominated what was it my duty to do My name has been before tho convention along with his and I had been beaten The nomination had bcoi made decisively and with absolute fairness The candidate ohoson wits positively unexceptionable his loyalty to our principles was beyond question and his career had been n long exemplification of them Manifestly It swims my duty to support that nomination Acting upon this conviction L went before be-fore the Silver Republican convention and succocQcd In persuading It not to nominate me and the VicePresidential nomination was finally referred to the Silver Republican national committee Later this committee placed the name of Mr Stevenson on the ticket for Vice PresIdent SITUATION AS IT IS This recital clearly develops the situa tion as it now Is Evony boy knows that cither Mr Stovenson or Mr Roosevelt Is to be the next VIcePresUlent of the United SlatcH I am expected to talce a laborious part In the campaign I shall of course advocate the election of Bryan and Stevenson The Democratic conven tion before I which I was a candidate nominated Bryan and Stevenson Tho Silver Republican convention has nominated nomi-nated Bryan and Stevenson PHANTOM CANDIDACY In what light should 1 appear before tho American people If while advocating tho election of one ticket I shouTd bo going tin mugh tho form of running on another an-other Nobody In the United Slates r would think r had the slightest chance of blng elected and nobody would believe that I considered myself as a candidate I unless at tlo same time ho believed me to be absolutely lacking In common sense I Whom could such u phantom candidacy deceive What respect should I deserve Indeed If In such a matter I should at tempt to dccclo anybody whatsoever 1 know the Peoples party to be composed of men most exceptionally keen and cx pelt In political judgment So obvious a ham could J1 < elude their vision Either they would roHcnt my Implied uncomplimentary I uncompli-mentary estimate of them or they would bn Justified In forming ono of mo which could n > Bull only in Injuring tho cause which It has been the professed object of my mistaken following lo advance Consistency and candor In politics there fore my own selfreaped a proper deference defer-ence to the Peoples party and IL sincere regard for tho welfare of the cause of political reform In HIP United Stnts all counsel that I now respectfully place In your hands the honorable trust which your great parly committed to me In contemplation I orh a ilffforont complexion of affairs than that which has resulted I SAT ISI I ED WITH IEMOCRACY lu 1 conclusion I I may bo permitted to express the profound Kallufactlon which 1 feel In contemplating tho present alll dude of the Democratic party In I 1K I was ono of those who keenly J feeling tho recreancy of ho I Republican party was much In doubt whether the memorable Democratic convention III Chicago In adopting Us splendid platform and noml I mIsting William J Bryan for the Presi l dency was actuated by an Impulse or I by a purpose Tho magnificent achlovo I moms at Kansas City havo settled filiI j point tin thit subject The platform In 1 notouly rornnctlon of tho principles of j I l 9rt hut language whose force dignity t I and beauty havo never boon equaled In a Jlmflar document Idaponda to 1 the new I Issues presented In tlio growth t > r tho I 1 trust monopoly and the Imperialistic policy of tho Administration by an onun I elation ot ihsir aubllrnu doctrines of human hu-man rights mind liberties whoso profession and observance liavo bc9n Limo peculiar glory Of our country and aro tho l sure I I bash of tho ultima happiness of man kind And again the duly of carrying J I the banner of thq cause has bceh com l jnltiod to that trIo and InmUHl hand I Iwhoso grasp has never woaKorifcdwhich I no ftar can mak jto falter and nocbunlnn i can dismay Tho leadership ot Hryan which could havu redeemed aulxid plai Jormi sanctifies a good one Ilmado l ro < mpr 1bloqn unsuccessful oontdst It vlL crown a victory wjli irapcrlshablo splendor With every sentiment of 1e I wpcct and gratitude T remain most sin ccroly yours ClIAIiLKS A TOWNE |