The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-03

OMAHA, July g. Special The ma
tional convention of the Peoples party
convened in this city at 10 O'clock this
morning. Long before tho hour of
gathering the vast convention hall was
crowded with visitors. The scenes pre-
scented characteristics of a greatnational
convention. There was ono significant
difference between the gathering of
the Democratic and Republican parties
held few days ago. In the convention
to-day the politician was conspicuously
absent. Tactics and subterfuge gave
place to open declarations and all there
was of politics in this convention was
on tho surface and plainly manifested
in every demonstration. Everybody
seemed to be in congratulatory mood
over the large attendance and there was
general determination that harmony
should be preserved on all questions and
that the most available man should be
selected TO lead the fight in the coming
campaign.
The Gresham boom will not down.
twas supposed that the terse telegram
received from him last night, announc.
ing that his name would not be pre-
sented to the convention, would be &C.
cepted as evincing desire on the part
OF the Judge that his name should not
be presented to the convention; but
there is large numbor'of Gresham en-
thusiasts who, this morning, MAINTAIN
that the distinguished jurist had not
openly asserted that he will not accept
the nomination, and that in this fact is
ample evidence that he will accept it il
it be rendered him.
The friends of Gen. Weaver, of Iowa,
have made the discouraging telegram
of Gresham the occasion to push their
favorite into prominence, and there is
no doubt that Weaver is to-day, with
Gresham out of the race, the popular
choice of the convention. Tho general
himself has very little to say, avowing
that his first choice is Gresham and
that he does not desire to be considered
in connection with the nomination un-
less it is positively Known that the
great lndianian will not accept. In
tho South, as we'll as in the West,
Weaver is particularly strong, as he
has conducted much of his cam paignipp
in behalf OF the Peoples party in tho
States south Of the Mason and Dixon
line and his popularity in that section,
added to his great popularity as q green
back leader in the West, makes him
the most prominent candidate mem
toned for the Presidency.
The delegates were slow in arriving.
The representatives of Massachusetts
were the first to enter and were received
with cheers. Delegation after delega-
ton arrived, and the hall became full
OF industrial leaders in straw hats and
breezy attire, in keeping with the day.
The most conspicuous banner displayed
was one by the Connecticut delegation.
On it were the inscriptions: "Connecti-
cut Delegation, Congress, Not the Poo.
pie, be Damned" "Shylock Twins,
Grover and Ben." A little cheer greeted
the appearance OF this banner, and
like reception was accorded that o.
Massachusetts, bearing tho Inscription,
"The Spirit OF '76 ~
There was a slight lull as Chairman
Taubeneck. of the national committee.
announced that the firss national con-
vention of the PEOPLES party was now
convened in regular session. Then
there was burst of applause. PRAYER
was offered by Rev. Benz Diirenbauer,
who is wellkuown Alliance man.
Mayor Bemis welcomed the convention
to Omaha, to which Terrill, of Texas,
responded. Chairman Tauboneclx then
announced the list of temporary officers
selected by the national committee, and
the officers were elected by reclamation.
e: II. Ellington, of Georgia, was in
troduced as temporary chairman In
his speech on taking the chair, after OK
pressing his great. sense of honor con-
ferred upon him, he said: 1--WE are hero
to-day with the shadow of n great
trouble resting upon us. lie who our
hearts delighted to honor, our leader,
the true. the honest Polk, is dead; has
been taken from US when we need him
most. Our hearts mourn his loss. No
nobler soul ever breathed, none worked
harder, suffered more, spent more than
ne did. lie gave his life to our beloved
cause, and we do not believe it was given
in vain. Oh, shade of loving, kind
hearted, great Polk, may the mantle of
thy spirit fall upon us to-day in our de-
liberations to the end that we NAV be
like minded.
II call on you to-day in his name
that il there be single vestige, an
iota, OF sectional feeling left in the
hearts OF any of us, to wipe it out. /
charge 1T sacredly that while we stand
In the shadow OF Folks great love we
consecrate ourselves to the great work
OF reforming this government, and that
man who honestly desires it's reforms-
ton is our brother, and want to say
that we can reform it. ! believe that
we will reform it."
The chairman's reference to the de-
ceased president of the Farmers organi-
zation was received with cheers, and
when the picture of President Polk was
handed to him by Chairman Wilson; of
the North Carolina delegation, and
hoisted into view, the vast convention.
with one accord, arose and the scene
was one OF befitting reverence to the
memory of the Qraat Ieadnr Al tho