The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-29
WHISKERED POPULISTS.
ton at MOntpelier-Crude Oratory Runs
Wild - Platform Adopted and Officers
Eleoted-Story of the Convention.

Nearly Forty Strong Meet In Mass Conven-
ton at er-Crude Oratory Runs
wild Platform Adopted and Officers
Elected-Story of the Convention.
The peoples party of Vermont was in
convention assembled in Capital Hall on
Tuesday forenoon and afternoon, and any
one who saw and heard the gathering can
form some idea OF the pandemonium which
must have reigned in the St. Louis conven-
ton, with thousand delegates similar to
those gathered in Capital Hail. Every man
was earnest in his belief and faithful in ex-
preston, but no one knew what to do next
and the proper thing was usually avoided,
viewing it from parliamentary standpoint.
Ludicrous errors of procedure came at all
points and kept the hall in an uproar.
The number Of delegates taking part was
thirty-seven, almost three times as many as
were present at the populist convention two
years ago-a thing which much encouraged
the leaders. "a careful poll of the dele
gates showed that nineteen of them wore
whiskers, 30 that the standing OF the popu-
list party in Vermont is seen to be all
right.) An audience of Montpelier citizens
was assembled in the rear OF 1.-THE hall
and occasionally applauded some particu-
larly brilliant point, as when one Of the
speakers remarked that the delegates TO St.
Louis seen what was right and done it,"
and :" we done the best we did," which was
evident. Once in while, too, really brill
liant sentence came forth fresh from the
brain of some impassioned orator, as when
Mr.. Beebe denounced swerving the sway
of the arm of power by the use Of gold"
The convention was called to order by
Andrew l.. Bowen OF South Dorset who
was elected temporary chairman. and A.
G. Parrizo Of Burlington, temporary secre-
tary. On motion Of George e. Holden the
temporary organization was afterward
made permanent.
Three of the delegates from this state to
a mar ART q
last week spoke at considerable length.
They were Niles e. Baker Of Burlington,
George E. Holden Of Montpelier, and A. j.
Beebe of Swanton. Holden, who declared
himself a "mddle'of-the-road" populist,
defended the action OF that section of the
convention and pitched into Senator Allen
of Nebraska, chairman Of the national con-
vention, in way to remind one OF Tillman
and his pitchfork. He accused Allen of
unfairness in his rulings and denounced the
Bryan leaders in the convention as vile in
their meanness and dishonorable in their
actions. Mr.. Holden said he should stay in
the party, as the only way to preserve
order is to abide by the will OF the majority,
but wished it distinctly understood that he
wished no leading part and would take no
office of any kind. Later he waxed elo-
quent, declaring that "the church OF the
millennium has been formed and is pro-
crossing onward, and for this year at least,
/, for one, shall use more effort for the up
building OF the Church OF Christ than for
the success Of the Populist party"
Chairman A. l.. Bowen and l.. Sallies of
Stowe also spoke briefly, after which the
morning session dissolved to give the dele
gates a chance to dine.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The afternoon session of the convention
opened at half-past one and the spectators
in the rear thought proceedings were
working backward as the chairman called
for the reading of the call, which commits
sion the secretary executed. On motion of
H. p. Cheney a platform committee of five
was appointed by the chair. 1t consisted OF
Russell Churchill OF South Hero, Al Beebe
OF Swanton, John McMillen OF Burlington,
+. p. Cheney Of Glover and L. Sallies OF
Stowe.
While the committee was out speeches
were called for. H. NJ Sherman OF North
CONTINUED ON EIaHTH rAaE.l