Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-23

Tor years kept the greatest issue in Am
er.c9n politics in the background. They
would shun issues and fought sham
battles. No matter where the victory
lay, Wall Street and Lombard street
won. Meantime be said the Popul-se
party. organized to bring real relief TO
the people, had grown steadily. The ag-
4tatlOn had b1en kept up; victories
against greed had been won. The
South and the West had Joined hands.
be described the various campaigns
through which the party had passed in
various States; the hardships endured,
the filings and ridicule to which they
had bsen subjected. But they had trl-
umphed.
They had at last torn the mask from
the old parties. A few weeks ago the
Republican party had been forced TO
align itself with the mOneyed kings Of
Wall Street and Europe.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
at Chicago was driven to the alterna-
tive of siding with gold OF the people.
They were so frightened that, in their
desperation they finally committed
grand and petty larceny. They stole
our platform and tried to steal into
our party"
This statement set the convention
wild
why didn't they steal our transpor>
tatiOn plank?" shouted California del
egate.
All" replied Senator Butler, "the
old Democratic habit got the better Of
them there. They s5raddled that ques-
ton"
"Whoop," "whoOpee," cried thous-
and voices.
He went on to plead for the main
tsnance Of the organization of the Peo-
pies party. If the Peoples party should
abandon its organization" said he. the
Democratic party at its next national
convention would repudiate the plat
form adopted at Chicago and Bryan
would not have any more chance of be
ing nominated than Thomas jefferson
would if he were alive to-day"
The financial question, he continued
had been as much an issue since 1873
as it was to-day, but it remained for
the Peoples party TO force this issue to
the front.
Right here he said, comes our re-
spcnsibility-th greatest responsible
.ty that ever fell to any parry Shall
We save the party, or allow it 10 go
down in defeat?"
He appealed for the cessation
OF PETTY PREJUDICES.
He had heard it intimated by one that
Mark Hanna was running the party and
by another that the Democratic party
was doing il. As for himself, he had
enough faith n the integrity of the
party 10 feel convinced that the party
would not make itself an annex to the
Democratic party. This statement
gave the Middle of the Readers"
chance to cheer, but the Bryan follow
ers were afforded an opportunity to
shout when he added that there was
grave danger that II might be made
Republican annex. "One danger" said
he, is as great as the other. Let us
find the truth n the middle way"
This was the keynote OF the Sena-
tEr's speech, but IL was noticeable that
there was not especial applause at this
evident suggestion of compromise.
The party, he continued, should be
true to itself. IF this convention, he
shOued pass, Onately, does not follow
its own teachings. it IS unworthy TO rep
resent It's own people"
"Hurrah for Bryant cried an Ala
bama delegate.
Put him outw yelled several Texas
delegates In chorus.
Concluding. Senator Butler said:
eve shall stand together for the ARRAY
united. strip our coats off for the fray
and be prepared for any emergency,
/ however great.
Remember you are Popular mon;
remember thar you have accomplished
more in four years than the Other par
ties. and remember that if you do your
duty now. YOU will very soon be the
party of the majority
MI Butlr closed amid vigorous ap-
plause. among those who shouted mos,
Justify for him being Congressman
Howard. of Alabama, who had been
shouting for Bryan during the progress
Of the Senator's speech.
Chairman Butler then assumed the
gavel and the States were called for
members of The Committee on Creden-
tails. AT the conclusion of the call the
convention at 2:10 took a recess until s
O'Clock tom sht.
Senator Butler said just before the
recess: II don't want to be m.sunder-
a.ood. l am a Middle Of the Road Po-
puiis-, but I DO not want to place the
Middle of the Road people above prin-
ciple Principle first and party after
wards"