<Li> <P> Senator Henry M. Teller from Colorado (declined) </P> </Li> <P> Senator Henry M. Teller from Colorado (declined) </P> <P> With the Republican Party platform calling for strong support for the gold standard, many western Republicans walked out of the Republican Convention and formed the National Silver Party . Many began to push for the nomination of Colorado Senator Henry Moore Teller, the leader of the party, but with the nomination of William Jennings Bryan in Chicago and the adoption of his pro-silver platform, it was decided that they should unite behind the Democratic ticket . The Bryan campaign swept to victory across the Mountain states because the dominant issue in those thinly - populated mining areas was silver . </P> <P> The Socialist Labor Convention was held in New York City on July 9, 1896 . The convention nominated Charles Matchett of New York and Matthew Maguire of New Jersey . Its platform favored reduction in hours of labor; possession by the federal government of mines, railroads, canals, telegraphs, and telephones; possession by municipalities of water - works, gas - works, and electric plants; the issue of money by the federal government alone; the employment of the unemployed by the public authorities; abolition of the veto power; abolition of the United States Senate; women's suffrage; and uniform criminal law throughout the Union . </P>

The general election campaign is likely to differ from the campaign for the parties