The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24

Mr.. Fortunes Effort to Get the
Nominating Convention for Indian
apOlis-Some Lively Outside Meet
iDgs Held After the Conference.
ST. LOUIS, Feb 22.-For brilliant uncer-
tainty no political gathering probably ever
surpassed the extraordinary conglomera-
ton consisting of nearly dozen national
organizations, farmers, laborites, prohibi-
tionists and what not, which began its ses-
sion in the great music hail where four
years ago Grover Cleveland was put in
nomination for the presidency OF the
United States. The talk among the
hundreds OF hard-dsted, hard-headed but
enthusiastic, gesticulatilg delegates that
crowded into the music hall was not that
they, if united, could poll greater vote
than either the democrats or republicans.
but that the two old parties by a supreme
effort of the dissatisfied element could be
deprived OF a majority in the electoral
college. Then the third party will hold
the balance OF the power and dictate who
should for four long years take possession
at the white house.
Probably the liveliest topic was whether
the Leland Stanford men could succead in
what was said to be the secret purpose
the forcing OF the nomination Of the third
presidential candidate before the demo-
cratic and republican national conventions
were held j. Sharp and T. II. Snow, two
prominent Kansas men, were understood
to be quietly circulating among the dele
gates, pulling every possible string in this
direction for Stanford The idea was that,
should the big ColifoyRiaa be made the
third party standard-bearer, he would
stand a chance of Endorsement in other
national bodies later on.
Before Benjamin Terrell of Texas let
fall the gavel, calling the convention to
order, the big hall was lively with the dis
| cussions of the national committee OF the
peoples party. Sixty-nine of the biggest
| guns of that political party were gathered
on the stage of the music hall. The main
! body of the hall and tine galleries were
| filed with groups of delegates and specta-
tors who admiringly watched and listened
TO such lights as Taubeneck OF Illinois.
Washburn of Massachusetts. Schilling of
y.
| A delegate from Oregon had the floor for
a time, declaring that the opening gun of
| the national campaign would be fred by
| his state, and calling for help to carry
Oregon for the peoples party.
The Kansas delegation was the only one
that entered the house in body. There
were 300 of the sunfiower delegates. head
| ed by j. +. Willetts president OF the state
alliance, and they were greeted with wild
shouts by the other delegates.
The report of Secretary Schilling showed
that less than $50 remained in the party
exchequer, and that OF the 81 200 sub
scribed at the Cincinnati convention only
one subscriber had turned in cent
Chairman Taubeneck was authorized to
appoint committee OF ten to canvass for
| funds.
Mr. Fortune on Deck.
Suddenly in the uproar and confusion
an important move was made. Before the
committeeman seemingly realized what
they were doing, they had recorded them
selves viva voce, as though it were a
routine matter, as ordering the peoples
party executive committee to make such
arrangements as might be necessary for
| the national nominating convention. Then
Mr.. Fortune of indianapolis stood upon
a chair and set forth how, like a paradise.
! the Hoosier metropolis would be in which
| to nominate presidential candidate.
A halt was yociferously demanded by
| Marion Cannon, state president of the Cal
! ifornia farmers alliance, who was the first
| to apparently appreciate the significance
| of what was being done. After a red-hot
wrange, participated in by Davis of Texas,
| Nj. c.. Rankin of Indiana and Washburn
of Massachusetts,, 1t was decided before
! doing anything further to await the action
of the convention. If that body failed to
| take action looking TO the nomination of a
| presidential candidate, the peoples party
| would GO ahead on its own hook instanter
1t was 2 :25 p. N. when Mr.. Terrell called
the convention to order without the for
mality of an address, and caused smile
| by announcing that the congregation
| would rise while the proceedings were
opened with prayer. After the prayer
| General Master Workman Powderly, who
up to this time had been sitting among
the Pennsylvania delegates, was called to
the stage by Mr. Terrell. Mr.. Powderly
received an ovation as he mounted the
platform and was given seat of honor.
/ Considerable surprise was elected that
| Terrell went right on, as matter of course.
acting as chairman OF the convention as
| LDefo Wtfc euCu tIliliH US u lShi-
porary or permanent organization. Ter
rell, it was generally understood, does not
favor an immediate third party presiden-
tial nomination, and it began TO look as if
he had concluded to shape things bit
that way, while he held the reins. This
impression was deepeped when he pro-
ceeded to read a typewritten document
urging that the convention confine its de-
mand to lands, transportation, taxation
and money, leaving moral reforms" till
they had more time. This would leave
the prohibition issue out in the cold ;.and
toward the rear of the stage. among the
distinguished guests could be seen Miss
Frances Willard's fine features quickly
shaded by frown of portentous proper
tions, while hird-party-or-bust delegate"
throughout the hall gave equal signs of
dissatisfaction.
President Polk OF the national farmers
alliance was at this point introduced by