"Chicago Nomination"

Populists generally fell into two groups:  fusionists and middle-of-the-roaders.   In 1896, fusionists (mostly westerners) wanted unite pro-silver forces and form a coalition with William Jennings Bryan and the Democrats.  Mid-roaders (mostly southerners) opposed veering off the road to reform for expedient coalition victories and advocated a straight Populist ticket.   Bryan's Democratic running mate, Arthur M. Sewall, was a banker and capitalist from Maine.  This made him particularly obnoxious to Populists, and gave mid-roaders a strong argument against endorsing the Democratic ticket.  In the end, the People's Party nominated Bryan for President and Populist Thomas E. Watson for vice president.  It looked like a compromise, but really pleased very few.

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