Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-23
BOREALlSTIC.
That is, There Were Many
Streaks of Light,
BUT THE WHOLE WAS LOVELY.
Monster Meeting of the Men Who Toll, at ST.
Louis.
PowderIy, Weaver, Livingston, Polk,
DonnsIy and Other Leaders of the
People Present-The Convention
VIII Get to Work To-Day.
Many in One.

Many in One
ST. LOUIS, Mo. Feb. 22.-The aurora
borealis was outdone in ST. LOUIS to-day
For brilliant uncertainty no political gath
ering probably ever surpassed the
extraordinary conglomeration representing
nearly 4 dozen national organizations
of farmers, laborers, prohibitionists and
what not, which began their sessions in the
great music hall where four years
ago Grover Cleveland was put in
nomination for the presidency. To-day's
pvrotechnics all whirled around the burn
ING question TO be decided in the historic
building where the Democratic cohorts held
sway, whether brand new third
nominee would be put up to
run this fall against Cleveland
and Harrison, or whoever else the
Democrats and Republicans may choose as
leaders in the coming national campaign.
The talk among the hard-fsted hard
headed, but enthusiastic. gesticulating
delegates that crowded into Music hall
was not that they if united could
poll greater vote than either Democrats
or Republicans, but that the two old par
ties. by the supreme effort of the dissatis-
fed element, could each be deprived of a
majority in the electoral college, and
then the third party would hold the
balance of power and dictate the name
OF the man who should, for four long years,
take possession at the White House. Could
Prohibitionists be paciied and dragged into
the fold with declaration in
favor of Matchmaking the liquor
traffic was one of the subjects
most eagerly discussed. Probably the
liveliest topic was whether the Leland
Stanford men would succeed in what was
said TO be their secret purpose, the forcing
of a nomination of a third presi-
Dental candidate before the Demo
cratic or Republican national
conventions were held. J. C. Sharp and E.
H. Snow, two prominent Kansas men were
understood to be quietly circulating among
the delegates, pulling every possible
string in this direction for Stanford The
idea was that should the big Californian
be made the third party standard bearer
he would stand a chance of Endorsement by
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 discus
siOus of the national committee of the
Peoples party. Sixty-nine of the biggest
guns of that political army gathered on the
stage of Music hall under dazzling chande-
liers, electric lights, and immense
American flags. The main body of
the hall and galleries were filed
with groups of delegates and spectators,
who admiringiy watched and listened TO
such lights as Taubeneck of Illinois, Wash
burn of Massachusetts,, Schilling of Wis
coGsin and Ignatius Donnelly.
A delegate from Oregon had the floor for
q time claiming the opening gun of the
national campaign would be fired by his
state and calling for help to carry Oregon
for the Peoples party.
The report of Secretary Schilling showed
less than $50 remained in the party exche-
quer, and of $1,000 subscribed at the Gin
cinuati convention only one subscribed at
Cincinnati turned in cent.
Chairman Taubeneck was authorized to
appoint committee of ten to canvass for
FUNDS.
Suddenly in uproar and confusion an i'm
portant move was made. Before the
committeeman seemingly realized what
they were doing they recorded
viva voce as though it were a
routine matter, ordering the Peoples party
executive committee to make such ar
as might be necessary for q
national nominating convention.
Then Fortune of Indiana stood up on a
chair and set forth how like paradise the
HOosier metropolis would be in which to
a presidential candidate.
\ halt was vociferously demanded by
Marion Cannon, state president of the Cali
fornia Farmers Alliance, who was the first
to apparently appreciate the significance of
what was being done.
After 4 red-hot wrangle participated in
by Davis of Texas, Rankin of Indiana, and
Washturn of Massachusetts, it was decided |
before doing anything further to await the |
action of the convention. If that body |
failed to take action looking to the nomina- |
ton of 4 presidential candidate, the peo-
pies party would go ahead upon its own |
hook inStanter
While Terrell was getting the convention |
under way the talk among the delegates
was that President Leonard of the Missouri |
state Alliance would be temporary chair
man and that the permanent Craftsmanship
would lie between Polk and Powderly. The
Kansas delegation was the only one that
entered the hall in body. There were 800
sUNFLowER DELEGATES,
headed by j. f. Willetts, president of the
state Alliance, and they were greeted with
Wild shouts by the other delegations.
While Snider of Kansas, chairman of the
of arrangements, was placing the
'arouS delegations in their proper places
L the hall, Wllletts made from the stage
attling Fourth of July address, in which
lie said the convention had assembled for
lew declaration of independence. The pre-
Lotion brought down the house.
The first and only round of applause ac-
orded TO q single person was that given
President Polk of the Farmers Alliance.
lie was escorted to the stage by Taubeneck
I Illinois, 9nC Inc outbreak OF cheering, |
ided and allotted by the brass band which
vas with the delegates, made din simply
1t was 2:25 p. m. when Terrell
allied the convention TO order
Without the formality of an ad-
ress, and caused 4 smile by an
ouncine the congregation would rise while
were opened with prayer.
'welve hundred or more delegates COM
lied, while S. II. Basher of Milledgeville,
L., invoked the aid Of the Almighty on the
lovement.
Miss Alice Mitchell of the National
Vomen's Alliance sang "Star Spangled
ianner'' in a way that reused the echoes,
nd the audience and hundreds of delegates
nd spectators is the galleries shouting the
lorus with vim.
"Suwanee RiveI'' was also sung and then
p. Walbridge, president of the city
)uncil Of St Louis, welcomed the conyen-
on to St Louis in an eloquent address.
General Master Workman Powderly,
no to this time had been quietly sitting
nong the Pennsylvania delegates was
He'd to the stage by Terrell. Pow
erly was given an ovation as
2 mounted the platform, and given {
lie seat of honor. Considerable surprise
as ELECTED that Terrell went right on, as a
after of course, acting as chairman of the {
invention as though there were no such '
ing as temporary or permanent organiza-
on. Terrell, it is generally understood 5
)es not favor an immediate third party