Items of Interest July 12, 1900 Issue

Items of Interest

The National Democratic convention, in session at Kansas City last week, unanimously nominated William J. Bryan for President. On the first ballot for Vice-President nearly two-thirds of the votes were cast for Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois, who was Vice-President during Cleveland's last term. When it was found that Stevenson was so far in the lead, all the states which had voted for other candidates changed their votes for Stevenson and he was thus unanimously nominated on the first ballot. The platform which was adopted begins with a re-affirmation of faith in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States and a denial of the right of one nation to impose upon another a government of force. This part of the platform deals at some length with the issues growing out of the Spanish war. The trust issue is the second plank of the platform, and promises that the party will employ the whole constitutional power of Congress over inter-state commerce, the mails, and all modes of communication, to make such monopolistic trusts unprofitable. The third plank denounces the Dingley tarift law and declares for a tariff framed solely to meet the expenses of the government economically administered. Fourth in order is the currency plank which re-affirms the demand of the Chicago platform for free coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the co-operation of any other nation, and an additional clause is attached denouncing the recently enacted currency law. A number of subordinate issues are briefly touched upon. Election of United States Senators by direct vote is favored. Government by injunction is denounced. The establishment of a national department of labor, with a secretary having a seat in the Cabinet is recommended. A liberal pension system is endorsed. The immediate construction of the Nicaraguan canal under the exclusive control of the United States is demanded. Statehood for the territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma is promised.

The National convention of the Silver Republican party, which was held in Kansas City at the same time as the Democratic convention, nominated William J. Bryan for President by acclamation, and referred the nomination for Vice-President to the national committee with power to act. After the convention adjourned the committee met and named Adlai E. Stevenson for Vice-President. The convention endorsed the Democratic platform.

Colorado is in evidence in the nation's political conventions this year. Thomas M. Patterson, a Denver lawyer, was permanent chairman of the Populist convention at Sioux City; Senator Wolcott of Colorado was tem porary chairman of the Republican convention at Philadelphia, and Governor Thomas of Colorado was temporary chairman of the Democratic convention at Kansas City last week.

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A Woman in Alaska
July 12, 1900
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