470 Election of 1896

470. Election of 1896

In 1896 the Republicans held their convention at St . Louis and nominated William McKinley of Ohio for President . They declared in favor of the gold standard , unlesS some arrange - ment with other nations for a standard of gold and silver could be made . They also declared for protection to home indus - tries . The Democrats held their convention at Chicago . The men who had stood by Cleveland found themselves in a helpless minority . William Jennings Bryan of Ne - braska was nominated for President on a platform advocating the free coinage of sil - ver and many changes in the laws in the direction of socialism . The Populists and the Silver Republicans also adopted Bryan as their candidate . Now , at last , the question of the gold standard or the silver standard was fairly before the voters . They responded by electing McKinley and a Republican House of Representatives .