The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-23
A Storm Had Disarranged the Eiec-
trio Wires, and They Were Not
Repaired Until Late.
FEW PEOPLE In THE GALLERIES
But ABOUT 1000 DELEGATES AND
ATTENDANTS ON THE FLOOR.
Unique Assemble Iage-Scenes and Incl
dents-Piilars in the POpuIist
Party-Mrs. Lease Present.

ST. LOUIS. July 22.-The first session of
the national Populist convention to-day
was a disappointment to those who antici-
pated relentless, bitter war from the drop
of the gaveL. And it was a disappointment
TO those who imagined that the galleries
would swarm with people, drawn hither by
curiosity or sympathy with the delibera-
tions of the convention. There was no wild
cat lighting. and the galleries. which will
hold 1900 people, were practically an emp
ty waste. Not over six hundred spectators
were in the balconies. The floor where the
delegates were gathered was in some re-
spects crowded with unique an assem-
blage as was ever massed under one roof
A single glance showeds that they repre-
sented the common people-a term in which
they glory-that they came from the farm,
the mine, workshop and factory They dis
carded conventionalities Fully half of
them sat in their shirt sleeves, with their
coats slung over the backs OF their chairs
Among them were many picturesque per-
sonalities; men who have been known as
agitators and reformers for many years
were there. but there were also many
whose ability and form of character have
given them rank in high stations. AS a
body they were men of strong and earnest
convictions. Governor I.eweling. Senator
PETER and Jerry Simpson. of Kansas; Gov.
Holconnb, of Nebraska; Ignatius Donnelly
of Minnesota; Cyclone Davis, of Texas:
Colonel Peak. of Georgia: General Coxey
and Carl Browne, of Ohio. late of the COM
monweal army; "TQ/h' Patterson, of Col
orado: Ex-Governor Buchanan, of Texas;
General Weaver. of Iowa. and General
Field of Virginia, who were the Populist
candidates in 1892; Colonel Burkett of Mis-
sissippi; Buffalo Jones, of Oklahoma: :
Capt. Reuben Kolb, Congressman Howard
and Colonel Bowman. of Alabama, and
many others were prominent and conspicu-
Gus figures the floor. On the platform
were Chairman Taubeneck. Senator But
Ter, Senator Allen. Mrs. Lease, of Kansas
and other well-known people. The appear
ance of several women delegates on the
floor was a novel feature in national po-
litical gathering. The press boxes, usually
occupied by the representatives of the big
dailies. were given over to the editors of
the weekly reform papers. The decorations
of the Republican convention. which was
held in the same hall five weeks ago, still
graced the balconies and hid the wooden
rafters and pillars which upheld the high
roof. All the Republican portraits had,
however, been removed. Only the bust of
Grant remained. Just before the conven-
ton was called to order portraits of Abra-
ham Lincoln and Peter Cooper were hung
out over the platform gallery
DID NOT PROTEST.
The day session, which lasted about an
hour and half, developed nothing ex-
cept possibly that the noisy middle of the
road contingent afraid to put to the
touch its claims. Last night, after
prrf1a haH hao oh
chairman by the national committee, and
the middle-of- -the-loaders had ascertained
that he favored Bryan's nomination, they
at once decided to depose him as Senator
Hill was deposed at the Chicago conven-
| ton. AT the conclusion of an enthusiastic
meeting they determined to put forward as
| their candidate o. ID. Jones. of Missouri. an
old Greenbacker, who has written several
works on finance. After nights medita-
| ton, however, their leaders decided that
! IL would not be the part of wisdom to
make fight against Butler. and their re-
| fusal 10 submit TO a test of strength was
hailed by the Bryan men as conclusive evil
dence that they realized they were in the
pensated for the loss of the temporary
| craftsmanship i'm the speech of Ignatius
Donnely. who replied to Governor Stone $
address of welcome. He made middle-of-
the-road speech that stirred the radicals to
their depths. He appealed to them TO stand
| firm. so that all the dynamite on Gods
laboratory could not tear the party asun-
der. and predicted that IL the Peoples par
| " failed the cause of humanity would go
| down with il.
| The speech of the dark-brown Senator
Butler. OF North Carolina, temporary
| chairman, was listened to with eager in
| terest. He is a striking-looking man, with
| a wealth of wavy dark-browr hair. which
| tumbles over his straight forehead, and
| which, together with beard that marks
| the lower part OF his face. brings into bold
relief the straight. aquiliHe nose and gives
! his dark olive complexion an appearance
/ almost of palor. Senator Butler hopes to
| be the pivot on which the convention will
| turn. He believes eventually all the fac
| tions can be harmonize1 on his plan to
/ adopt a Porulist platform and nominate
upon IL Bryan. with Southern Populist
for Vice President. His speech strongly
| upheld the demand for the perpetuation OF
! the Populist organization. which he de-
scribed as having driven the Republicans
| TO gold and the Democrats to silver. To
be swallowed up by the Democrats. he
said. was danger only equaled by the
danger of being made the indirect allies
| of the Republicans in the present campaign
! He gave both factions a chance to rend
the air with shouts. but when In conven.
ton. he suggested middle course. the pur-
BORT Of which all understood. both sides