The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-22

got u Rcmblance OF order by moving Il
call OF the roll Of states to secure CO.
sponseS and Geo whnt strength the
Middle Of the ROad" men would have
IN the convention. Arlzonn did not re-
spond nor did Alabama.
Idaho was called. James Gum snid
that her seven votes would be ehst for
bryan; that no matter what this con-
vcntlon did the Idaho PopulIsts woilld
vote solIdly for Bryan und carry tho
state for him.
Tho secretary made the point of order
thnt this was the "Midle of the R0ad"
meeting and the Bryan men had no
right to try and make at q Democratic
ratification meeting"
1Iackstaif, OF Colorado, In speaking
for that state, said TINT there were two
delegations. tho straight Middle OF the
RoaI" Intending 10 70 out OF the con.
vcntlOn and form another II Bryan was
nominated. The meeting gave three
cheers for him. llncksinff went on with
hiS speech, saying the Democrats were
trying TO crowd them out OF their posi-
ton. "Wnll streets emlssnrieS" were
here, he said, to disrupt the Popullst
party, aud turn 1t over to the rotten
Democrats" lie detailed at length "the
facts" about the two Colorado conven-
tlonS and said the Bryan delegation
"wcrc very bad men,"
vyiii l,eJrct Hntirr.
The Middle OF the Road" men were
In session caucusslnG upon the subject
or temporary organization when they
received the news that the national COM
milter. by nm almost unanimous vote,
had selected Senator Marion Butler for
temporary chairman.
After several speeches had been made
Jerome Kirby. PopuIst nominee for
governor OF Texas, and who was pre-
siding at the meeting, was most favor
ably mentioned for Temporary chair
man and the declaration made that he
would be satisfactory to the middle OF
the Road" Populsts. The announcement
was received with cheers. The meeting
had been going on for some time before
this stage was reached, but little pro-
gress had been made In business wny.
The real Interest centerad around the
position OF Butler for the Middle Of
tho Road" candidate. The Texas dele
gate with q great deal OF eloQucncc,
stated that he had Just come from n
conference with Butler and knew his pO-
sItlon absolutely. .s
lie said that Butler was for Bryan,
and Populist for vice president. He
had nskedI Butler what position he
would take in hla speech before the
convention. Butler informed him that
lie should say that the Popullst purity
had reached u crisis which 1t must meet
In n manner which would save the party
and yet elect president favorable TO
silver.
The Texas man declared himself as
uhalterably opposed to Bryan and to
Ilit1nr MI ~ HhanrnJ h,.o on thr
Middle Of the Road" men present.
The roll OF states was called and dele
gates from each state mnde speeches
against the endorsement OF Bryan and
In favor OF n straight ticket.
a great deal OF bitterness was ex-
pressed by the different delegates, some
OF whom declared that the leaders had
sold them out TO secure offices for
themselves, and had tried to deliver
their votes without consulting them.
1t was also stated that those offices
ranged from governor and congress-
men to fourth class postmasters.
The temporary organization was then
completed and the roll call OF states was
ordered. Three delegates from each
state. representing the Middle OF the
Road" element, were allowed to remain
in the caucus. ...,.4zs
Not very encouraging.
The representation from various parts
OF the United States was not Mt all fiat
terinS TO the Middle OF the Road" men.
There we're no responses from Arizona,
Colorado. Connecticut, Delaware, In
dian Territory. Kansas. Kentucky,
Maine. Maryland, Massachusetts, Mich
igan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey. New Mexico.
North Dakota. Rhode Islnnd. South
Carolina, South Dakota, Utnh, Yer
mont, Virginia and Oklahoma. But
those who did remain represented some
very large delegations, and Il was freely
claimed by the speGch-makers that they
would be able 10 control the conven-
ton, prevent the nomination OF Bryan
and select n Middle OF the Road" Pop
ulst.
Mr.. Jones. chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee, has been
very hard at work during the last week
trying TO procure endorsement OF Bry-
an by the POpulist convention. He has
been aided in this by Senator Cockrell,
OF Missouri. and Governor Stone, of
the same state. Both OF these have been
trying to break the Missouri delcSa-
tiOn, which Is almost solid Middle of the
Road. 1t Is stated that, In Il number Of
delegations TINT have claimed to be al
most solid against Bryan. many con-
vcrts have been made and that
these solid delegations have been loan
ed for the sake OF appearance to the
Middle OF the Road men: that they mny
not be discouraged over the apparent
weakness OF their forces. 1t is safe to
say, however. that the Democrats have
no idea OF the actual strength OF the
Middle OF the Road men.