1896 National Democratic National Convention

1896 National Democratic JohnMPalmer.png Reminiscences, or, Four years in the Confederate Army - a history of the experiences of the private soldier in camp, hospital, prison, on the march, and on the battlefield, 1861 to 1865 (1898) (14793579403).jpg Nominees (Palmer and Buckner) September 2–3, 1896 Tomlinson Hall Indianapolis, Indiana John M. Palmer Illinois Simon Bolivar Buckner Kentucky 888 1 J. M. Palmer: 769.5E. S. Bragg: 118.5 acclamation The 1896 National Democratic National Convention was a presidential nominating convention held September 2, 1896, in Indianapolis. The convention was a splinter-convention for the National Democratic Party, a splinter faction of the Democratic Party that was organized by gold standard-supporting Democrats unhappy with the regular Democratic Party's nomination of William Jennings Bryan (a gold standard opponent) for president. The convention nominated John M. Palmer for president and Simon Bolivar Buckner for vice president. Background The pro-gold Democrats reacted to William Jennings Bryan's nomination for president at the 1896 Democratic National Convention with a mixture of anger, desperation, and confusion. A number of pro-gold Bourbon Democrats urged a "bolt" and the formation of a third party. In response, a hastily arranged assembly was held on July 24 at the Auditorium Annex in Chicago, Illinois, which formed the National Democratic Party. The meeting convened in closed session, and voted to hold its own presidential nominating convention.Will Call a Convention; Sound Money Democrats Meet in Chicago in Secret Session; Resolve for New Ticket and Platform; Committee Appointed to Draft a Form for the Call with Orders to Report This Morning to the Meeting https://www.newspapers.com/image/148714449 Newspapers.com Omaha Daily Bee July 31, 2026 1 July 24, 1896 A follow-up meeting in August scheduled a nominating convention for September in Indianapolis and issued an appeal to fellow Democrats. In this document, the National Democratic Party portrayed itself as the legitimate heir to Presidents Jefferson, Jackson, and Grover Cleveland. Logistics 400 Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, exterior as seen from southwest corner (sketch, circa 1896).jpg Exterior view sketch of Tomlinson Hall, the venue of the convention Floor plan of Tomlinson Hall in Indianapolis as arranged for the 1896 National Democratic Party (Gold Democrats) convention.jpg Floor plan of Tomlinson Hall, as arranged for the convention The convention was held inside Tomlinson Hall in Indianapolis.Floor Plan of Tomlinson Hall Arranged for Convention https://www.newspapers.com/image/668079462 Newspapers.com The Chicago Chronicle subscription July 31, 2026 2 August 30, 1896 888 delegates representing forty-one states and three territoriesthere were no delegates representing Idaho, Nevada, Utah, or Wyoming gathered at the convention, held on September 2. At the convention, it was decided that the splinter party would adopt the name "National Democratic Party".McKee Thomas Hudson The National Conventions and Platforms of All Political Parties 1789 to 1905; Convention, Popular, and Electoral Vote; Also the Political Complexion of Both Houses of Congress at Each Biennial Period; Sixth Edition Revised and Enlarged https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_Digital_Library_(IA_nationalconventi00mckeiala).pdf 314–318 The Friedenwald Company July 31, 2026 1906 The convention also included meetings of several committees: the national committee, committee on credentials, committee on resolutions, committee on permanent organization, committee on rules, and committee to notify the presidential nominee.Committeemen Selected at the Meetings of Various State Delegations Vice Presidents and Gentlemen Who Will Notify the Nominees https://www.newspapers.com/image/32569327 Newspapers.com subscription The Courier-Journal July 31, 2026 6 September 3, 1896 In Preparation for the convention, buildings along the main roads in the city of Indianapolis were decked with American flags and bunting. Hotels decorated their public spaces with red, white, and blue accents and portraits of prominent Democratic Party figures, including presidents Jefferson, Jackson, Cleveland; as well as former vice president Adlai Stevenson and past Democratic presidential nominees Winfield Scott Hancock and Samuel Tilden. Minimal decoration was placed on the Indiana Statehouse, while the county and city buildings were heavily decorated.Indianapolis Is Ready https://www.newspapers.com/image/668079462 Newspapers.com The Chicago Chronicle subscription July 31, 2026 2 August 30, 1896 Nominations Some delegates planned to nominate former president Cleveland, but they relented after a telegram arrived stating that he would not accept the nomination. Senator William Freeman Vilas from Wisconsin, the main drafter of the National Democratic Party's platform, was a favorite of the delegates. However, Vilas refused to run as the party's sacrificial lamb. The choice instead was John M. Palmer, a 79-year-old former senator from Illinois. The Democratic Ticket; Palmer and Buckner Nominated at Indianapolis The New York Times 1 September 4, 1896 June 15, 2010 https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D00E0DB1E31E033A25757C0A96F9C94679ED7CF PDF March 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120314015419/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D00E0DB1E31E033A25757C0A96F9C94679ED7CF liveExtra!; Palmer and Buckner!; Gold Democrats Nominate the Illinois Senator for President and the Kentuckian for Second Place; Candidates Were Named With a Rush; Palmer, in Spite of Repeated Declinations, Placed at Head of Ticket by Enthusiastic Delegates and Gen. Buckner Chosen by Acclamation https://www.newspapers.com/image/842873895 Newspapers.com The Buffalo Evening News July 31, 2026 1 September 3, 1896 This was despite palmer too having made an efforts to communicate his disinterest in being nominated. Simon Bolivar Buckner, a 73-year-old former governor of Kentucky, was nominated by acclamation for vice-president. The ticket, symbolic of post-Civil War reconciliation, featured the oldest combined age of the candidates in American history. Presidential nomination Candidates in this section are sorted by their highest vote count on the nominating ballots, then by reverse date of withdrawal John M. PalmerEdward S. BraggHenry WattersonJames BroadheadDaniel W. LawlerGrover Cleveland center|200x200pxcenter|200x200pxcenter|200x200pxcenter|200x200pxcenter|200x200pxcenter|198x198px U.S. Senatorfrom Illinois(1891–1897)U.S. Ambassador to Mexicofrom Wisconsin(1888–1889)U.S. Representativefor Kentucky's 5th(1876–1877)U.S. Representativefor Missouri's 9th(1883–1885)Attorney-at-Lawfrom Minnesota22nd and 24th U.S. Presidentfrom New York(1885–1889; 1893–1897)757.5 votes130.5 votesW Withdrew:On First BallotDTBN Declined To Be NominatedDTBN Declined To Be NominatedDTBN Declined To Be Nominated Presidential balloting Ballot 1st before shifts 1st after shiftsJohn M. Palmer 757.5 769.5Edward S. Bragg 130.5 118.5 Vice presidential nomination Simon Bolivar Buckner was nominated for vice president by acclamation. Platform The convention unanimously adopted a party platform. Aftermath thumb|right|155px|Palmer/Buckner campaign button Despite their advanced ages, Palmer and Buckner embarked on a busy speaking tour, including visits to most major cities in the East. This won them considerable respect from the party faithful, although some found it hard to take the geriatric campaigning seriously. "You would laugh yourself sick could you see old Palmer," wrote lawyer Kenesaw Mountain Landis. "He has actually gotten it into his head he is running for office."Paul W. Glad McKinley, Bryan, and the people https://archive.org/details/mckinleybryanpeo00glad registration 1964 Lippincott 187 The Palmer ticket was considered to be a vehicle to elect McKinley for some Gold Democrats, such as William Collins Whitney and Abram Hewitt, the treasurer of the National Democratic Party, and they received quiet financial support from Mark Hanna. Palmer himself said at a campaign stop that if "this vast crowd casts its vote for William McKinley next Tuesday, I shall charge them with no sin."Jones, 1896 p. 273 There was even some cooperation with the Republican Party, especially in finances. The Republicans hoped that Palmer could draw enough Democratic votes from Bryan to tip marginal Midwestern and border states into McKinley's column. In a private letter, Hewitt underscored the "entire harmony of action" between both parties in standing against Bryan.Allan Nevins Allan Nevins Abram S. Hewitt: with some account of Peter Cooper https://books.google.com/books?id=DesuAAAAIAAJ 1935 Harper & Brothers 564 9780598825124 However, the National Democratic Party was not merely an adjunct to the McKinley campaign. An important goal was to nurture a loyal remnant for future victory. Repeatedly they depicted Bryan's prospective defeat, and a credible showing for Palmer, as paving the way for ultimate recapture of the Democratic Party, and this did indeed happen in 1904.James A. Barnes John G. Carlisle, financial statesman https://books.google.com/books?id=WT4NAAAAIAAJ 1931 Dodd, Mead 470 The Palmer-Buckner ticket remains the only third-party presidential campaign in history to have earned the endorsement of the New York Times.2016-09-23 Opinion New York Times Endorsements Through the Ages https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/23/opinion/presidential-endorsement-timeline.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/23/opinion/presidential-endorsement-timeline.html 2024-05-05 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 May 14, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210514054216/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/23/opinion/presidential-endorsement-timeline.html live Notes References National Democratic National Convention National Democratic Convention Category:United States presidential nominating conventions in Indianapolis National Democratic Convention