The 1896 Republican National Convention nominated William McKinley , who defended the gold standard . Meeting later in the year , the Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan for president after Bryan 's Cross of Gold speech galvanized the party behind free silver . For vice president , the party nominated conservative shipping magnate Arthur Sewall . When the Populist convention met , fusionists proposed that the Populists nominate the Democratic ticket , while mid-roaders organized to defeat fusionist efforts . As Sewall was objectionable to many within the party , the mid-roaders successfully moved a motion to nominate the vice president first . Despite a telegram from Bryan indicating that he would not accept the Populist nomination if the party did not also nominate Sewall , the convention chose Tom Watson as the party 's vice presidential nominee . The convention also reaffirmed the major planks of the 1892 platform and added support for initiatives and referendums
1896 Republican National Convention
1896 Republican National Convention
People's Party (United States)