1904 Populist National Convention
| 1904 presidential election | |
  Nominees (Watson and Tibbles) | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | July 4–6, 1904 |
| City | Springfield, Illinois |
| Venue | Illinois State Arsenal |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | Thomas E. Watson of Georgia |
| Vice-presidential nominee | Thomas Tibbles |
The Populist Party held their presidential nominating convention for the 1904 United States presidential election in Springfield, Illinois from July 4 to 6, 1904.
Logistics
The convention was held in the State Arsenal in Springfield, Illinois, which was considered to be a relatively sizable venue.[1]
Former U.S. Congressman Luman Hamlin Weller of Iowa served as the temporary chairman at the start of the convention. J. H. Edmiston was appointed chair of the Committee on Resolutions.[1]
Among the notable speakers at the convention was William V. Allen, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska.[1]
Nomination
In the preceding 1896 and 1900 elections, the party had co-endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan in an electoral fusion arrangement. In 1904, however, the Populists were dissatisfied with the failure of Bryan to emerge as a contender at the 1904 Democratic National Convention, and in response chose to nominate their own unique ticket separate from that of the Democrats.[1][2]After two ballots, Thomas Watson was selected as the party's presidential candidate and Thomas Tibbles was selected as his running mate.[2]
| Presidential ballotting | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas E. Watson | 334 | 698 |
| William V. Allen | 319 | 0 |
| Samuel W. Williams | 45 | 0 |
| Vice-presidential ballotting | 1st |
|---|---|
| Thomas H. Tibbles | 698 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Few Delegates At Populist Convention; Not 200 on Hand When It Opened at Springfield, Ill. All Eyes On St. Louis Party's Future Considered to be Dependent on Democratic Convention's Action -- Platform Features". The New York Times. 5 July 1904. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- 1 2 Hinshaw, Seth (2000). Ohio Elects the President: Our State's Role in Presidential Elections 1804-1996. Mansfield: Book Masters, Inc. p. 74.