The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-30
POPULIST CONVENTION.
Detailed Proceedings of the National
Convention at ST. Louis.

VI 'hc uelcSaleS 10 tne pOpullSt convention
were in their seats ut 10 O'clock this morn
ing when Senator Allen appeared on the
platform. Four minutes later he called
the convention to order. A drizzling rain
was falling and not over 300 people were
III the galleries. The delegates arose and
stood with bowed heads while Rev. Will
Der Il. Williams of the Union Methodist
church of this city invoked divine bless
ing.
Mrs. Todd of Michigan then addressed
the convention.
The Ohio delegation presented the
chairman Il gavel composed of siXty-siy
pieces and forty-eight different kinds of
wood, representing each state and ter
ritory
The Texas delegation refused to appoint
Il member on the committee to confer with
the silverites.
The minority report of the committee
on rules, recommending that the nominal
ton for vice president be made prior to
that of president, was read.
Cyclone Davis addressed the convention
and hoped it would substitute Il vice pres
idential candidate for Sewall. Tremen-
dous cheering greeted the close of his
speech, the delegates rising to their feet.
- by unanimous consent Barney Gibbs of
Texas took the platform. He moved the
adoption of the majority report on rules
and order of business, so far as it did not
conflict with the minority report. and that
1t be taken up section by section. His
motion was adopted.
Cyclone Davis favored the nomination
of president before vice president, but
wanted southern man for vice pres-
dent.
The vote was finally taken on the mi
nOl1tV rpnnIt IN hnllnt for 1rtnn Jnn
before balloting for president. There was
much confusion and changing of votes.
and the final announcement was that
the minority report should prevail, yeas
$50, nays G15.
After the populist convention adopted
the minority report recommending the
nomination of Il vice president first,
Gen. Weaver. chairman of the commit
tee on resolutions. was recognized to read
the platform. He was received with
applause.
lie prefaced the reading by saying the
committee held protracted meeting. and
while its proceedings had been harmoni-
Gus there was not entire Inanimity. as
Messrs. Kearby of Texas and CoXey of
Ohio would both offer minority reports.
The applause was marked upon the an
nouncement for free silver coinage
against Understanding bonds and the
condemnation of the present administra-
ton on the bond issue question. The
income taX plank was also applauded.
AT the conclusion of the reading of the
report, Mr.. J. $. Coxey of Ohio was
recognized to read his minority report,
recommending the issuance of nom
interest bearing bonds for the improve
ment of the roads of the country. This
report read:
I'VE demand the passage of non
interest bearing bonds and good road
measures"
This was signed by Coxey Of Ohio,
Burkett of Mississippi johnson of Colo
RADIO, Burkhart of Indiana, Brown of
Wyoming, Louck of South Dakota,
Greenleaf of New Hampshire, Vallette
of Rhode Island, Schilling of Wisconsin,
Mr.. Kearby of Texas was then intro
duced to read his minority report.
Mr.. Kearby did not prove equal to the
occasion and Senator Allen was called
upon to read the report for him. 1t was
as follows
'The peoples party, in national conven-
ton assembled, denounce the methods
and policies of the democratic and re-
publican parties that have brought dis
tress and poverty to every state in this
union by reason of tn II mutual CO.
operation with the money power. the
influence and the corporate
greed that has characterized the accu-
of wealth by class legislation,
for the benefit of the few
and to the oppression and wrong of the
many.
I'VE denounce the republican and
policies of tariff, the one
that pretends to afford protection to the
industrial classes and the other that pre-
tends free trade by placing the raw
produced by the industrial man
on the free list and protecting the manu-
facturcrs.
1--WE denounce as un-American the
republican and democratic policies that
tolerate the invasion of sovereign states
by autocratic military power, thereby
independent government and
state rights.
I'VE denounce the democratic and re-
publican policies that seek to enslave our
people by the issuance of interest bear
ing United States bonds in times of
peace TO raise revenue with which to
lefray current expenses, and SteadfaStly
adhere to an American policy that will
produce revenue sufficient to maintain a
legitimate and economic government.
Therefore, be it
Resolved-First-W demand that
the national currency be safe and should
be issued by the government only, Il full
legal tender for all debts, public and
private, without the intervention of
banking corporations. and just and
equitable means of distribution direct TO
he people mt a tax not exceeding per
cent per annum.
Second We demand the free and I'M
United coinage of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio of 16 to l. We de-
nand that the circulation medium con-
list of gold, silver and paper money, to
,e issued Independent of the concurrence
If foreign nations and in volume suf-
icient to answer the needs and demands
If commerce and our people. We are
materially opposed to token money but
leclare for Il legal tender dollar inter
and redeemable only in
lebts and taxes.
'Third-We demand a graduated in
,Ome tax.
"FOurth-We believe that the money
If the country should be kept as much
Is possible in the hands of the people,
renee we demand that all state and ma
ional revenues shall be limited to The
necessary expense of the government,
and honestly administered.
"Fifth-We demand that postal saw
ngs banks be established by the govern
nent for the safe deposit of the earnings
# the people and to facilitate all eX-
hanges.
"Sixth-Transportat being a. means
# exchange and public necessity, the
shoul1 own and ODprate |