Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-07-30
THE PEOPLES PARTY
NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD
AT ST. LOUIS.
The Name OF sewaII Prevented the In
dorsement of the Democratic Ticket
An Account OF the Convention Proceed
ings Told a Concise Manner.

Convention hall at St. Louis, The place
where few weeks ago VIM. Mckinley
was nominated as the Republican candi-
date Tor 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 u when Chairman Tau
beneck of the national committee called
the 5000 delegates and spectators TO order.
Rev. w. IL. Smith, of st. Louis, offered
prayer, and then Gov. Stone, of Missouri,
made an address OF welcome. Ignatius
Donnelly, OF Minnesota, responded. Sem
ator Butler, of North Carolina, was pre-
scented as temporary chairman, and that
gentleman delivered a catching speech,
which was heartily cheered and then a
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 a few minutes late
in calling order, but he might as well
have been hours late as no business was
transacted beyoG1 naming the committees
on permanent organization, and on reso-
lutions. Speeches and songs filled in the
remainder of the time until l2:io 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 a straight-out Populist tick
ct. After the contests had been finally
settled the report of the committee on
permanent organization was taken up, ana
then the nrst real test or the strength
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-
ton by the Bryan men. But the middle
of-the-road men had their turn when the
minority report presented the name or
Campion, OF Maine. They went nearly
ers in their noise and they succeeded in
doing that much, but when the vote was
taken Senator Allen was elected perma-
nent chairman-Allen, 76S; Campion, 56i.
still more frantic demonstration fol-
lowed the announcement; banners ana
state standards were borne alott and car
ried about the delegates inclosure fol-
lowed by the shouting, singing, dancing
mob until the affair much resembled that
which occurred at the Democratic con-
Vention when Bryan was nominated. Az
ter twenty minutes quiet was restored
and the selection of Allen was made UNI
animous, and that gentleman was escort
ed TO the platform by Cyclone Davis,
OF Texas, Ignatius Donnelly, of Mime
sota and Mr. Pence. Mr.. Aliens adj
dress was quite lengthy, but held the in
terest of the delegates and he brought
forth frequent and loud applause and
cheers especially by his denunciations
of gold, Mckinley and Cleveland. When
he had concluded a motion was adopted
to appoint committee to confer with
committee of the silver convention, al
so in session in st. Louis The conven-
ton adjourned for the day.