The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-01
DISCUSSING THE CANDIDATES.
The Peoples Party Convention
Will be Held at Omaha.
Ihe Advance Guard Looking Over the
Field for Leader-Plenty of Presi-
Dental Timber-There May be an
Effort to Force the Sub Treasury
Scheme I'm the background in Favor
of Free Silver.

inc ar Is becoming charged with rumorS
as to what the National convention.
which meets hero Saturday, will do.
Most of the speculation is as to tho men
who will be chosen to make up the
Presidential ticket.
The woods arc full OF Presidential
timber, and from the talk OF the dole
gates and leading men of the party who
are already here it appears that there
will be some difficulty in making the
proper choice from among the many as.
pirants.
The contest seems, up to this time, to
be in a most friendly spirit and entirely
without bitterness. Up to tho death of
Col. L. l.. Polk, of North Carolina,
national President of the Farmers AL
lance, there was little question as TO
the nomination for the Presidency The
South and East were practically solid
for him while he had much more strength
in the West than all the other possibil
tiles combined.
His death, however, has left the field
open and it appears 10 be any mans
race. Gen. James Il. Weaver, of Iowa,
who headed the Greenback ticket in
1880, is apparently in tho lead. lie has
behind him very largely the old Green
back labor element which is strong in
the Peoples party. and were it not for
the sentiment, which seems to have
much strength, that new man would
add to the chances of the success of the
ticket, he would probably be nominated
without question. AS it is he may be,
though he will not have walk over.
lgnatius Donnelly is spoken OF quite
freely, but the fact that he is unpopular
with largo body Of reformers in his own
State and has little strength except in
one or two Northwestern States, practi
cally puts him out Of the race.
Leland Stanford, of California, has
son friends here who are quietly at
work on little boom for him on &C.
count of his land loan bill, but their
efforts are not regarded seriously.
A movement which has more to 1t and
may develop considerable strength
comes from the silver men. 1t is con-
| fidently expected that both the Republic
cans and Democrats from the silver
States will have representatives here
during the convention and will strive to
guide the work of the party toward
making the fight on silver alone.
| In that case it il whispered IL bou that
determine d effort will be made to
have the nomination rendered to either
Senators Stewart, Wolcott or Teller,
! any one of whom, it is said would &C.
cept under those conditions.
If such an attempt is made there will
DO lively time in the convention, for
1T will be fought with bitterness by the
Sub Treasury mon, who do not wish their
pet idea showed aside to make room for
silver, which they regard as minor is
sue. There is strong feeling among
the delega es thatit would be good poll
tiCS m in m
Presidency, on the ground that it would
emphasize the stand taken by the Peo-
pies party, that war issues are dead,
and further that it would tend TO pre-
vent assertions from the party in tho
South on account of the Force bill cry
which has been raised by the Demo
Gratis.
In this connection | have heard tho
names OF Ben Terrill ana DR.. c. W.
Macune, OF Texas, and Tom Watson, of
Georgia. mentioned.
Watson could unquestionably poll
big vote il it were not felt that re is
sure of reelection to Congress, while
only the most enthusiastic believe there
is any chance to elect the nominee of
the present convention. lie could,
therefore, be of more service in the
House of Reprcsen ;atives than as q
defeated candidate, and this makes him
unavailable in tho eyes OF many, oven
If he were willing to accept
Dr. Macune would not accept tho
nomination, so that the element which
believes in Il Southern candidate may
concentrate on Terrell.
Among the other possibilities arc
Marion Cannon, of California; Alva
Adams, OF Colorado Edward Bellamy,
af Massachusetts; Alonzo Wardall of
South Dakota; j. III. Nc Dowell, OF Ten
nessec, and Robert Beverly. OF Viz
GINA.
There has been little or no talk OF
the vice presidency. II the nomination
for President goes South, tho vice presi.
dent will probably be taken from the
west, and vice versa.
There is liable to be fight over tho
platform, though it is possible tn at
things will be fixed before the meeting
of the convention.
The silver men, who are willing to
come into the new party, are anxious to
have the sub-treasury plank modified,
il not taken out altogether, and to mako
silver the leading issue.
Then some OF the Southern men would
like to change the railroad plank from
positive declaration in favor Of tho !
government ownership and operation OF
railroads, telegraphs and telephones
back TO tho transportation plank Of the |
Ocala platform OF the Farmers Alliance,
which only wants strict state super
vision of the means OF transportation |
and communication.
1t is hardly regarded as possible that |
either Of these changes will DO made. |
AS near as can find out now the action |
OF the convention so far as tho plat. |
form is concerned, will be to reiterate |