On that point, at least, national party platforms abandoned their customary practice of trickery and deceit.

Compelled to choose between the support of the commercial centers and that of the mining camps, the Republican convention came out squarely for the gold standard and nominated William McKinley for President.

Thirty-four members of the convention, including four United States Senators and two Representatives, bolted.

It was a year of bolts, the only party convention that escaped being that of the Socialist Labor party, which ignored the monetary issue save for a vague declaration that "the United States have the exclusive right to issue money." The silver men swept the Democratic convention, which then nominated William Jennings Bryan for President.

Later on, the Gold Democrats held a convention and nominated John M.Palmer of Illinois.