People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-27
STATE CONVENTION.
500 DELEGATES AND 1900
POPULIST IN TOWN.
HINES MADE CHAIRMAN.
Thomas. E. Watson Was There
and Spoke Meeting was
One of Enthusiasm.

The annual pilgrimage of the Pop
ulis.s to the capitol occurred the 18th
inst. Ths voice of Populism rang
in those marble halls. The tread of
the Populite army responded on the
tiled floor. Neither the voice nor
the tread has lost in vigor.
Five hundred Populists came to
receive a fresh injection Of party
energy. The leaders were all there
and the enthusiasm of the convention
ran high.
Tom Watson, small and wiry, but
vital and electric as ever, sat there
quietly, saying nothing, but hearing
everything and exerting the influence
which moved the convention. Judge
Hines, still high in the hearts Of the
people, was called to the chairman
ship of the Convention. Colonel
Peek sat with the fifth district dele
cation and said little.
1t was crowded convention. Al
though they had met for no more
important purpose than the seIec-
ton of delegates to the National
Populist Convention, it was appar-
ent that the meeting had been we'll
worked up. There were not less
than five hundred delegates present
Estimates ran all the way from five
hundred to seven hundred. The
galleries were full of sympathizers
with the movement, mostly from a
distance.
~ The colored brother, dressed in
mis- meeting clothes and wearing a
flaming badge of crimson, mingled
with the delegates, prou lily but wen
deringly. There were perhaps TWEEN
ty.fve colored delegates. Two col
ored delegates from the State at
large to the National Convention
were elected.
General Coxey was there, but not
to the extent that he might have per-
baps desired to be. The general
wasn't warmly received by the con-
vention. Early in the session a
bright young man with lots of ener.
gy commenced circulating through
the hall distributing papers. 1t was
Coxey's paper. He said he repre-
sented Coxey. A little later Coxey
appeared. A delegate wanted to
hear from him right away. The
motion was ruled out of order at the
time. There was open expression
Of disapproval. Later, Osborne, of
Atlanta. got in resolution inviting
Coxey to speak to the convention at
7:30 o'clock last night. This passed,
but not with enthusiasm. There
were several noes. Later it was
withdrawn under the pretense that
Coxey had made arrangements to
speak at the court house. AS mat
ter of fact, it seems that opposition
from many in the Convention caused
this change in the programme.
The convention did its work in
harmony. There was the best of
spirit. a spirit of logged determi-
nation seemed to pervade the gath
ering.
The convention finished its work
and adjourned before 6 o'clock.
Iany Of the delegates returned home
Wednesday night.
CALLED TO ORDER BY WATSON.
Mr.. T. E. Watson, chairman Of the
state executive committee, called the
convention to order at II O'clock.
When he walked upon The speak
er's stand he was greeted With a
deafening roar from the throng Of
his followers gathered in the hall.
He spoke only few words in call
ing the meeting to order.
JUDGE HINES NOMINATED.
A dozen or more delegates tried
to get recognized by the chair.
Major McGregor was finally reoog
nized by Mr.. Watson, Major Nc
Gregor nominated Judge J. K. Hines.
The nomination. OF Judge Hines
was seconded by at least twenty del
egates. Several delegates seconded
the nomination OF Governor Hines.
The judge was loudly applauded as
u