The Yale expositor., 1896-07-31
THE PEOPLES PARTY
NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD
AT ST. LOUIS.
The Name of Sewan Prevented the In
dorsement of the Democratic Ticket
AnAccount of the Convention Proceed
inCs Told "a Concise Manner.

where q few weeks ago VIM. Mckinley
was nominated as the Republican candi-
date Eor president, was the scene OF an
other national convention, the outcome
of which was quite the opposite to the
former one.
The delegates to the national Peoples
party convention were slow In assembling.
1t was half past II when Chairman TAU
beneck of the national committee called
the 1900 delegates and spectators TO order.
Rev. w. l.. Smith, of st. Louis, offered
prayer. and then Gov. Stone, of MISSOURI
made an address of welcome. lgnatius
Donnelly, of Minnesota, responded SEN
ator Butler, OF North Carolina, was pre-
scented as temporary chairman and that
gentleman delivered a catching speech
which was heartily chcered and then
recess was taken until o'clock.
The evening session didn't materialize
owing to the electric lights being disabled.
The delegates spent almost an hour IN
the darkness, talking, singing and shout
ing, but finally Chairman Butler ordered
| a recess until 10 a. m. the following day.
The chairman was few minutes late
| in calling order, but he might as well
have been hours late as no business was
| transacted beyond naming the committees
on permanent organization, and on reso-
lutions Speeches and songs filled in the
| remainder of the time until 2:4o when
| the convention adjourned until o'clock.
| There were several skirmishes over the
| report of the committee on credentials,
| the fight being between the faction de-
! string TO indorse Bryan, the Democratic
| presidential nominee. and the faction
| working for straight-out Populist tick
| ct After the contests had been hnally
settled the report OF the committee on
| permanent organization was taken up, ana
| then the first real test or me streHStn
| of the factions was made. the major
| ity report was for Senator Allen, OF Ne
| braska, as chairman. His name was
! greeted by an enthusiastic demonstra-
| lion by the Bryan men. But the rnluuie-
| of-the-road men had their turn when the
| minority report presented the name Oh
| Campion, OF Maine. They went nearly
| wild III their enoeavors to out-do the otn-
| ers in their noise and they succeeded in
| doing that mucn, but when the vote was
! taken Senator Allen was elected perm2-
! nent chairman-Ailen, 76S; Campion, S6l.
| A still more frantic demonstration fo4-
| lowed the announcement; banners ana
| state standards were borne aloIt and car
| ried about the delegates Enclosure tol-
| lowed by the shouting, singing, dancing
| mob, until the affair much resembled that
| which occurred at the Democratic con-
| Vention when Bryan was nominated Al
| ter twenty minutes quiet was restored
| and the selection of Allen was made I'M
animous, and that gentleman was escort
ed to the platform by Cyclone Davis,
| of Texas, lgnatius Donnel.y, OF Mime
sofa. and Mr.. Pence. Mr.. Aliens ad-
dress was quite lengthy, but ht'd the m
| terest of the delegates and he brought
| forth frequent and loud applause ana
cheers, especially by his denunciations
Of gold, Mckinley and Cleveland. a Mnea
to appoint committee to confer with a
committee of the silver convention, al
| so in session in ST. Louis. The conVen-
| ton adjourned for the day.
After prayer at the opening session the
next day Chairman Allen introduced Mrs.
Marion Todd, of Michigan, noted Pop
ulists worker, who spoke briefly and paid
tribute to the memory of Mrs. f. M.
| Emery. A. A. Noe. an Ohio delegate,
presented to Chairman Allen a gavel con-
tanning sixteen ounces of silver and one
ounce of gold. The wood Of the handle
was hickory. After this presentation
a novel incident occurred. Cap. G.. a.
Lloyd, of Rochelle, N. y, and Mrs Pen
nington, 1.-THE sweet singer of Arkansas"
marched into the hall dressed in the cos
tune of Uncle Sam and Columbia. They
made their way to the platform amid
| cheers and faced the delegates, while
Mrs. Pennington sang Popuiist cam
paign song. After several minor incl
|
taken up, which was the reading of the
minority report of the committee on
rules. 1t recommended change in the
order of making nominations, so as TO
make the nomination of Vce-president
before that of president. This was Il
move of the middle of the road men to
defeat Sewall, and thus develop strength
to down the Bryan men. Delegate Nc
Grath, of Illinois, promptly moved to lay
the minority report on the table; Con-
gressman Howard and Barney Gibbs, of
| Ia ap demanded heard
motion. The plain purpose of the
straightouts was to test Sewalr S
strength. The proposition would show
the extreme high-water strength of the
anti-Bryan men. There were number
of redhot speeches and deal of par
liamentary squabbing, and the delegates
We're wrought up to the highest pitch OF
enthusiasm by the speakers before the
roll call of the states was taken, and II
was followed with intense interest, and
when it was announced that the minority
report had carried 7S5 to 6l5 bedlam
broke loose. and the anti-Bryan crowd
held big tollitlHic litigation then and there.
committee on resolutions, was then recog-
nzed to read the platform. as agreed
with applause. The enunciation of the
| different planks was received with slight
applause, which would evidently have
Weaver declared that he would not pro-
coed unless there was absolute silence
The applause was especially marked
|
upon the pronouncement for free coinage
| of silver against Understanding bonds
and denunciation of the position of the
| present administration on the bond ques-
lion. When the Cuban plank was reached
someone in faraway gallery shouted
"Amen!' and many handkcrchiefs waved
| in manifestation of the conventions in
terest in the cause of the struggling ISL
anders. Mr.. J. Coxey, of Ohio was recog-
nized to read his minority report recon-
mcnding the issuance OF non-interest bear
ing bonds for the Improvement of the
roads of the country. Mr. Kearby, OF
Texas, presented another minority re-
port, saying he thought the majority -
port too closely resembled the Democrat
platform. VIM. Valitte, of Rhode Island
: also offered a minority report which was
Utilities of the delegates and we. made
| came angry and threatened to hurt some.
J one. but he was promptly suppressed and
escorted from the hall. on motion OF
ton was ordered. All the amendments
was adopted. but with many dissenting
voices, as follows:
THE PLATFORM
The Peoples party assembled in national con
yenton reair ms its allegiance to the principles
| declared by the founders of the republic ant
also to the fundamental principles of just gov
eminent enunciated in the platform of thu
| party in 1892. We recognize that through tn
| connivance of the preseyt and preceding admin