New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-21
ANTE-CONVENTION GOSSIP.
WHAT THE PoPULIsTs IN ST. LOUIS ARE
DOING AND SAYING.
THE .M1pDI,E-or THE ROAD MEN AND THEIR
FIGHT FOR A SEPARATE TICKET-BLOoD-
To-rHE-BRIDLEs' WAITE OUT FOR
BRYAN-"CALAMITY" wELLER's
vIEws-sENAToR STEW
ART ON HAND.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.]

ART ON HAND.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.]
ST Louis July 20-At the ''Mddle-of-the- ROAD
headquarters In the Laclede Hotel the first forma'
meeting among the numerous special interests
that are or will be here to ask platform recognition
was held this afternoon. There were about one
hundred and twenty-five persons present. including
two women reformers-onc Mrs. Smith-who are
here specially to ask for a woman suffrage plank
They seem to be n rather owly lot a. whole. put
when the speaking began they were wide awake
and responsive Eltweed Pomeroy. OF Newark.
n. j., made speech to demonstrate the soou
points OF direct legislation. which he dchned u
mean the Same as the Swiss Initiative ana reie'
endum. This is In fact OF the numerous
Populistic ideas which must be taken care OF III
the platform in order that there may be room TOT
this particular class Of refOrmers The speaker
said, with great emphasis that II would be ponu-
cal suicide for the Populists TO inoorse brya"
and the Chicago platform ms thereoy ."cs
would be swallowed up and lose their 'neh-
tity be sold and not paid. whereupo'
n bearded delegate Of much frowslness OF ap-
pearance startled both speaker and audience ny
cxclaiming: THAT amt no lie. either" The same
commendatory remark came from the delegate
when the young speaker declared "our system OF
legislation to be the most corrupt on the race Vi
the earth and again when he said tho remedy w"s
to abolish the politicians by adopting the retereh-
dunn Mr. Pomeroy amused his auditors by re-
cital Of some Of the queer things done by legsla-
tors and instanced the recent Texas legislative ACT
declaring the sky Of Texas TO be buer tham 1har
Of Italy; the amendment Of the Tnmmany mG hIL
be branded on It's business end with the name and
postoice address Of It's owner; the arkansas Mw
prove by evidence of respectable woman that
within twelve months they have offered them m,
selves In matrimony; the present Michigan law
making it a misdemeanor to treat or to offer 10
treat another person and the proposition OF e .ne
more than $3.50 for kissing a woman such follie es
and eccenric,es as these the speaker saa a~des
to a late Democratic law in New Jersey, 10 print
which the state 5000 for the benefit b OF A the
voters OF the place. The Legislature OF New
York he said costs $4,000 session s dor whe s6r
little OF that amount and without the corruption
Of the lobby and of political bosses" r :,
made 70 the Committees Of the Convention. A
conference of delegates specially representing the
referendum Is to be held at the Germania Theatre
tomorrow morning to outline plan OF operation:
The call for this conference Is signed by many any
people Of prominence. and Is headed by lgnatus
Donnelly
While the "Mddle-of-the Road" meeting was IN
progress an amusing character Of st. Louis
known as Umbrella" Bohannon made a diversion
on the outside which came near breaking II up rms
Individual Is mildly crazy telegraph operator VINO
advocates the single tax theory and the wiplng OUT
OF piutocracy from the face Of the land He carries
fully removed. This he holds aloft while cxpon ,na
ing his sentiments The covsrless umpreiia typieS
the sham and mockery Of nm
il the Popust Convention indorscd Bryan ana me
himself as n Populist candidate for President with
the Lord, Prayer as his patform nonan .nd 10 Il
is Impossible 10 subduc him ne is likely 20 cut fg-
ure in the coming weeks proceedings
The "Middle-of the Road" Populists s;ill hold out
%bcir rNp
nothing undone TO separate ticket from
the party Convention They are working among the
delegates which arrive, and are in constant CORE
spondence with in sympathy with them IN all
parts of the country. Yesterday they received a
letter from South Bend Ind which so pleased them
that they have tackled It Of the walls OF their
beadouarters so that all visitors may read II. The
letter reads follows:
South Bend. Ind. July H.
The Middle-of- the Road Populiets, St. Louis Mo
Gentlemen: This vii. inform you that have been
a Mddle-of- the Road rcformer for twenty years. /
to the Omaha National Convention; was chairman
Of the Blue and Gray etc Now, appeal coo 10 s soS
suffering humanity not to allow the Democratic
to swallow me up am an NOT 0 be Vaea
/ am unable TO attend the Convention but hope you
w nee TO a aS is 0r be- d
graced by allowing a Democratic monument to DC
road, JOHN ". MANunEHMA.>
Colonel Sledge is the advance agent OF the Texas
delegation He owns q large ranch near Kyle. and
is man of con siderable influence In the Lone Star
State. There will be $50 delegates from Texas up
here Tomorrow Colonel S.cdge said: I'VE are well
organized in State and believe we WI be abe 10
have grabbed PRINCIPLES and nov want to swai,
low P8y oan arrived 1s a any
yet When We do, It will be for the best OF ne
people. Come around later IN the week and well
tell you more.
Ex-Governor "Blood-to-the- Brides " lite, Of
Colorado. is for Bryan. and has abandoned the
contest he was making for seat one OF the
observation-disclosures from that State In order not 10
stand In the way OF Bryans success II ain heartily
In favor Of Bryan" he said. for have the utmost
Angeld' who really controlled the Chicago Conven-
| ton. l surprised when read the Chicago pat
form to see how many reforms they had incor-
porated in IT.
Kansas through her leading delegates. began
early this morning to give force to the movement
for either an out -and-out Endorsement OF Bryan. or
else to nominate him as the candidate Of the Popu-
list party Kansans here In large numbers. They
not fully agreed yet az to the plan that Will
finally be adopted. Ex-Governor Lewelling says:
II think will come together. BY that mean
we will unite all the silver forces Of the country
and practically poll all votes for Bryan. II Is
the only sensible thing 10 do to defeat the oppos-
| ton to the silver movement in this country.
! Senator PETER remarks: Conferences are taking
place by which think we will all get together here.
! There is. Of course. division OF sentiment to
| how the result can be accomplished. but my belief
is we will succeed The Middle I he Road broth
ers are somewhat. disturbed. Here Is OF
| Texas brothers. He il a little troubled. and we
are talking with him as 10 the best way TO harmon
ize things. Many Of his associates from that State
are naturally opposed TO being swallowed up by
! the southern Democrats My own idea Is that we
will be able to solve the problem easily. Perhaps
we will nominate Bryan and put some prominent
Southern Populist on the ticket for Vice president
/ Then, | think. ought 10 readopt the Omaha
platform"
Ex-Congressman Jerry Simpson says: Il have
J laa,, in tha cit few a