The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-06
POPUL|SIS At GALVESTON
SENTIMENT AMONG THE LEAD
Frs Is OPPOSED TO EN-
DORSING BRYAN.
FUSION PLAN IS LIKELY 70 GARRY
Quincy. Grant. George Clark and Others
Are on Hand-Buck Walton and the
Attorney Generalship-G Cranberry
for Land Commissioner.

Galveston. Tex, Aug. 4.-(Specal.)-
If today's proceedings in the populiSt
congressional convention for the Tenth
district which was held here are to he
considered the straw that shows the
winds direction. Bryan will have hard
time being endorsed by tomOrrow's pop
uist convention and no boquets will be
hurled at the national populst convcn-
ton in their nomination of him.
When the platform committee in this
convention reported today there was Il
single sentence endorsing the St. Louis
convention. The middle-Of-the-road men
were in arms Mt once and demanded to
know if the endorsement of the convcn-
ton meant the endorsement of Bryan.
If so, they could be counted out. \
lively debate followed, during which an
attempt was made to railroad the plat
form through This signally failed.
however, and after long argument the
platform was voted down for fear, as
some expressed it, that its passage might
Bryan.
A large number of delegations, nclud-
ing those of Travis and Williamson coun-
ty, arrived today and tonight and indica
tons point to Il large attendance tomOr-
row, as number of heavily loaded pas
senger trains are still arriving tonight.
Gleanings from those on the ground
are to the effect that the Texas populists
and Bryan will engage in parting of
the ways tomorrow, though some will
swallow Bryan with Watson as his run
ming mate. Your correspondent asked
some of the leaders tonight if they would
endorse or vote for Bryan in case he did
not accept their nomination open and
above board, Their reply was that they
would ''see him in hell first
All day long the leaders have been
caucusing and arranging for tomomow's
meeting, though nothing of marked i'm
portance has been done. While many
of those present are hand in glove with
the fusion proposition, whereby the gold
bug democrats, republicans and populists
will all consolidate on one ticket, there
are some mddle-oftherOad men who,
will insist on straight, single-handed
die-in-the -last-ditch fight. 1t is believed.
however, that they can be brought over
and that the fusion proposition will be
a go with little dissension.
While there will be no trouble i'll the
matter of nominating Kearby for first
place, there will he in the matter of
making selections for state treasurer and
railroad commissioners. All the pOpu-
lists seem to think these jobs the fattest
and free-for-all wrangle for pie is likely
to be resultant. There will be some tif-
teen applicants.
$. c. CRANBERRY of Austin goes up
for land commissioner and the friends
of Buck Walton are trying to push Aus
tins learned lawyer to the front for the
attorney gencralship.
Most pOpuliStS here say that the free
silver democratic craze is ut the zenith
of its glory and will wanc from now ON
and they propose to homoogate with fac
tons that can give them substantial sup
port for state victories. as they cOncede
McKinlcy's election. The more con-
sentative realize that Il gold bug demo-
cratic and republican fusion means a
slumping of some 10000 silver pOpulists
to the democratic free silver ticket, but,
as an Offset thereto. they count on Sc
curing 10000 republicans and 10000
gold democrats, which will give them Il
wide margin on which to do the state
ring up for offices.
1t is intimated tonight the presidential
and vice presidential matters will he kept
out of tomorrow's convention by the
leaders, who realize that their introduce
ton means bitter war; A proposition
will he submitted, however, to have a
special committee appointed with plenary
powers to act in the premises as they
think hest for the cause of populism.
n. w. Quincy, the great republican
leader, FASTENED home this morning from
San Antonio and is talking fusion, as is
also Geo Clark. Jno. NJ. Simpson of the
gold mems organization and Jno. Grant
of the republican party, all of whom ar
rived today. Grant and Quincy made
no bones of the fact that they will con-
ccde all state officers to factions that will
assure them the republican presidential
electors.
While Cranberry and Walton of Aus
tin have no opposition for their respective
Jobs. as both are from the same county
there is some talk tonight that one of
them will have to come down, but moth
ing definite has been settled about the
matter.