The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-20
THE ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE.

ST.. LOUIS. Feb 19.-The announced
meetings preliminary to the national in
dustrial conference which is to convene
here on next Monday were opened this
morning by meeting of some fifty or
sixty members of the National Reform
Press association at Music hall in the ex
position building President McLallin of
Kansas called the meeting to order 1t is
IN reality in the nature Of conference to
determine what line of action will be most
eXpedient to take in the convention next
Monday. After some desultory discussion
of general matters, a committee on order
of business was appointed, and the con-
ference adjourned to meet in secret session
this afternoon.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-The interest of
all the great reform associations in the
country is centered in the national confer
ence to be held at st. Louis on Monday
next; and upon the outcome of this con-
ference rests the fate of the national third
party movement. 1t is conceded by the
representatives of all the great industrial
organiza tions that the predominant issue
at the coming conference will be the third
party movement. The Peoples party rep
reSentatives in congress generally believe
that this question will be answered in the
affirmative by the st. Louis conference.
Representative Simpson of Kansas goes to
st. Louis AS the champion of the third
that his eight colleagues in the house
share his views as to the necessity of
national party.
The first great dispute, however, is like
ly TO arise over the question of the power
of the st. Louis conference to decree
national political party. The opponents OF
the independent party movements
base their opposition on the claim
that the conference was not grant
ed specific authority by the Ocala
convention to organize national political
party. Representative Watson of Georgia,
generally recognized as the leader of his
party in congress, said today:
Il shall not myself go to ST. Louis. /
am, however, heartily in favor of indie
pendent political action. At St. Louis the
people of my state will be unanimous for
the organization of national party I
would not call it third party: first, be-
cause | believe it to represent the interests
of the great mass of The common people
who are, and ought to be, in reality the
government"
1t is generally understood that Repre-
sentative Simpson OF Kansas will be
among the leaders of the third party move
ment at the St. Louis conference. He
maintains, however, that he will not be so
radical in his demands as his opponents
have supposed, but viii, do all in his power
to preserve unity. Il am going to ST.
Louis" said he, because | am a delegate,
delegated by the Kansas people in my dis
trict. / am not going for the purpose of
forcing my ideas and views on any one
L am satisfied that the only course to
pursue that will bring success is in
che orga nization of new party,
and if the convention decides TO call a
convention for the purpose OF organizinga a
new party, will be glad of it, though /
shall not insist upon this in the conven-
ton. l am satifed that the organization
oil a new party in America is necessary,
IN order that the demands OF the people
may be crystallized into life. Neither one
of the great parties has shown any dispo-
sition TO right the great wrongs from
which the people are suffering"