THE POPULIST BOMBSHELL OF 1892 145 



Judge Walter Q. Gresham, of Indiana, would be 

 offered the nomination. Judge Gresham, a Re- 

 publican with a long and honorable public record, 

 had been urged upon the Republican party in 1884 

 and 1888, and "Anti-Monopolists" had considered 

 him with favor on account of his opinions and de- 

 cisions regarding the operation and control of rail- 

 roads. Just after the adoption of the platform a 

 telegram from the judge announced that he would 

 accept a unanimous nomination. Since unanimity 

 was unobtainable, however, his name was with- 

 drawn later in the day. 



This left the field to General James B. Weaver of 

 Iowa and Senator James H. Kyle of South Dakota. 

 Weaver represented the more conservative of the 

 Populists, the old Alliance men. His rival had the 

 support of the most radical element as well as that 

 of the silver men from the mountain States. The 

 silverites were not inclined to insist upon their man, 

 however, declaring that, if the platform contained 

 the silver plank, they would carry their States for 

 whatever candidate might be chosen. The old 

 campaigner proved the stronger, and he was nom- 

 inated with General James G. Field of Virginia 

 for Vice-President. Unprejudiced observers viewed 

 Weavei 's nomination as a tactical error on the part 



