The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-22

carried with a whoop that none but
straight populists should be nominated
for president. Then occurred row
because men with Bryan badges were
In the room. II was claimed by the
middle of the road populists that
these Bryan men should either get out
or declare themselves for the middle
OF the road" ticket There were sew
eral quarrels.
The secretary finally got a semblance
OF order by moving call Of the roll Of
states to secure responses and see
what strength the middle OF the road
men would have in the convention.
Arizona did not respond nor did Ala
bama, although a Florida man stated
that he understood Alabama was di-
vided. Arkansas was for the Omaha
platform. California was divided, but
II was said the middle of the road"
men in the delegation would accept
Bryan on straight populist platform.
There was no response from Connecti-
cut.
Colorado answered, Two delegations.
one for Bryan, the other straight out"
The secretary moved that the middle
OF the road" men use every effort to
tAtludt lllt utltkdllOfi,
headed by Patterson. This was car
ried with a shout. There were no re-
sponses for Delaware or District of
Columbia. Florida announced two
votes for the middle Of the road"
cause. Georgia did not respond. When
Indiana was called II was announced
that the greater portion of the dele
cation was middle of the road"
IAahn's xyAtt1H n
for Bryan, said James Gum. No mat
ter what this convention did the Idaho
populists would vote solidly for Bryan
and carry the state for him. The Sec
retary made a point of order that this
was a middle of the road meeting
and the Bryan men had no right to try
and make II a democratic ratification
meeting" After some wrangling Mr..
Gum was granted few minutes to
make q statement He detailed the
hardships the populists had encoun-
eountered and said no matter what
was done he always intended to re-
main a populist
When Iowa was called Secretary
Reed entered into a discussion of the
preferences of the different delegates.
After figuring out five or six middle
Of the road" men, he entered an em-
phatic denial of Weavers statement
that Iowa would cast 80 solid votes for
Bryan.
A delegate from Texas named Wood
chipped in at nearly every announce
ment, saying Texas greets you and
promises 95 votes to help out" He and
Webster OF Missouri got into a discus
sion of side matter and each warned
the middle OF the road" men to keep
out of caucuses of state delegations
which would turn their votes over to
Bryan. Both said the unit rule should
be avoided and each vote as he wished.
Illinois was called. The announce
ment was made that there was an Alt
geld delegation for Bryan and Tay-
lor delegation for middle OF the road"
1t was promptly asserted that Altgeld
was not a delegate. The reply. WAS
made that Altgeld controlled the Bryan
delegation. When Maine was called a
man mounted a chair and stated with
great vehemence that there was only
one delegate from Maine present, but
the delegation was solid for middle Of
the road" A man from Mississippi an
nounced that the state was opposed to
any fusion, but he could not speak
definitely.
At this point ]. C. hackstaff of Col
orado made a speech In which he de-
clared the Patterson delegates from
Colorado were Every bad men," Three
cheers were given for Hackstaff. Then
ensued the incident already related In
which the Oklahoma man was con-
cerned.
After the adoption of the motion to
put out the Bryan men. thus cutting on
the Oklahoma mans explanation, a
German populist from St. Louis said 1t
was not a populist but republican
meeting. There were loud cries OF Put
him out" and Down with the traitor"
"Sit down." said the chairman.
II won't sit down." said the Missou-
rian. you can't make me sit down."
The chairman told some one to put
him out. The German showed fight.
A Minnesota man jumped In with his
fists doubled. Others lnterfered to pre-
vent hostilities and the Missourian was
hustled toward the door. declaring that
his money. which paid for the hall and
badges, had been diverted from the
straight populist party to a faction.
Hal Aver of New York said that
while they had been doing little or
nothing and were without organization,
the democrats weres swallowing the
populist party. He had assurances that
II the South would stand firm against
Bryan there were enough western votes
to prevent his endorsement. A meet
ing of middle OF the road men, con-
sisting Of three delegates from each
state, was announced to take place at
the Lindell at once. The roll call Of
states was not resumed.
The Middle Of the Road Meeting.
st. Louis, July H.-Middle-of-the-
road men were In session caucussing
upon the subject of temporary orgam-
zation when they received the news
that the national committee, by an al
most unanimous vote. had selected
Senator Butler for temporary chair
man. When Il became known also that
Cyclone" Davis had laid all the laurels
of Texas and her delegation at Buffers
feet, Davis chances were ended so far
as receiving the support OF the middle
of the -roaders went.
After several speeches had been made
Jerome Kirby. populist 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 was made
that he would be satisfactory 10 the
middle of f-the-road populists. This an
nouncement was received with cheers
The meeting had been going on for
some time before this stage was reach
ed hut little progress had been made