The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-19
ON THE EVE OF The BATTLE
MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE
CONVENTION.
The Business Men of St. Louis Will Paw
All the Expenses of the Populist Con-
vention in That City-Congressman
Newlands Will be Temporary and Mr..
st. John Permanent Chairman.

st. Louis, July S.-Sergeant-at-arms
Doud, of the national silver convention.
mas made arrangements to accommodates
4OO members of the press at Music Hall
wires have already been run into the hall
Tor the use of the Associated Press and
Western Union and the latter will have
ample facilities to handle n greater mart
Oh the special correspondence from there.
rms evening committee of PROMINENT
business men of this city, irrespective of
party limitations, called on Chairman
Mott, OF the national silver committees
ana assured him that sufficient money
would be raised by them to defray the ey-
penses of the convention.
CHAIRMAN Mott said this evening that
ne expected the convention to be in ses-
sion until Friday night at least
1t mas been definitely settled that Con-
gresham Newlands, of Nevada. will he
temporary chairman and it is conceded
that William p. St John. of New York
VIII be permanent presiding officer.
George II. Keeney of California. will he
secretary Expressions from delegates
VINO have arrived thus far for the silver
convention seem to Indicate that BRYAN
will be endorsed by it,
Secretary Geo. y. Keeney has n plan
whlch Is that when the two conventions
meet there shall be n joint conference
committee charged with the duty of max
ing report upon the committee on de-
mands of both conventions.
''If this can be done, | believe, said he
that within two days an agreement can
be reached which will favor the endorse
ment of BRYAN.
III TINS Is not done, then it NAV be
agreed that the silver men shall go ahead
and nominate Bryan as if he had never
been nominated. 1t looks from present
indications that this will be the action of
the silver men anyhow
DO YOU think the Populists intend
nominating straight ticket?''
Ihat Is not the idea of MANY of them.
There is feeling of no surrender espe-
cially with the Southern delegates i'm
States like Georgia, Mississippi, Tennes-
see and Texas, where war has been bit
terly waged between them and the Demo-
Gratis 1t is not so with the Western.
Eastern and most of the Northwestern
delegates. They favor the Endorsement
of Bryan and Sewall, and have no fears
OF dlsbanding their forces in State or
county elections. They are patriotic
enough to subordinate their views of ma
tlonal candidates i'll order to allow their
views on the greatest of all national is
sues to forge to the front. y movement
of this kind, or something similar To II
may prolong the convention.
My idea and hope said Mr.. Mott
us to harmonize all the elements of
party strength and march them in solid
phalanx to the polls in November against
the imperial hosts of gold | believe this
Is going to be done, and if it is not done.
the men responsible for the work here
will hear from their constituents when
they go home. | know that men who
have borne the brulnt of battle for wears
to build up new party are loathe to
yield one jot or little lest they impair
autonomy of their party. Now there is
not the least fear, for as | understand
it, nobody is demanding any submission
or subsection from anybody in this cam
paign.
1t is sought however, to make it a
cooperative fight, every man preserving
his party respect, but rising patriotic
plan of accomplishing great end that
is certainly the private desire of all, and
which will rebound to the common wei
fare and prosperity of the whole country.
Ii this can be done, then success is as
sured. am Republican on principle,
but believe that bimetallism is neces-
sary TO the commercial growth and sta
bility of this country, and 1 am willing
to subordinate everything else in order
TO see that cause successful.
Left to itself the national silver party
would perhaps have nominated far
different man from Mr. Bryan, but he
has views on the main issue in accord
with mine and that of my party, and he
Is the nominee of great and successful
party. AT least, it was successful four
years ago. There are upwards of 3. 600.
900 silver men who do not belong to the
Democratic organizations but they are
not enough TO elect Il candidate. Com
bined with a. host of Democratic voters
also for free silver. they form a coalition
that is simply invincible. Separated and
lighting each other on issues of minor
Importance, this vast silver majority
comes to naught. The people are willing
enough to get together, bue they have con
fidence in their leaders, and if the leaders
advise to the contrary, upon them must
rest the responsibility of disaster
- Senator Stewart, of Nevada, arrived to-
night
I'VE must endorse or nominate Bryan"
he said "The attitude of the Southern
delegates will have no effect at all They
are putting themselves in a very foolish
position. If an independent ticket were
nominated the rank and file would not
support it. We must unite all our forces
for free silver. That is what the people
demand and what they must have We
need the Populist vote in the North and
West where it is solid for Bryan"
Senator Pfeffer also came in
The convention should by all means