The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-24

ST. LOUIS, July 23.-The Bryan sup
rorters are jubilant tonight They dem
cnstrated, after stormy day in the
PopuliSt convention, that they had a
majority of 104 They perfected their
permanent organization, installed their
candidate, Senator Allen, of Nebraska,
as permanent chairman and took
charge Of the machinery of the conven-
ton and the committees The silver
men at Music Hall, simply dawdled
along, listening to speeches and tran
sacting trivial business, in pursuance
OF their prearranged programme, re-
naming in session in hope of influence
ing the action of the other convention
in the direction Of indorsing silver and
the Chicago Democratic ticket.
There were two sessions of the Popu-
list conventional morning session of
two hours, and an afternoon session
of six. The latter carried the conven-
ton into the night. Both were turbulent
and noisy, but the tumult was con-
fined to the delegates on the floor, the
galleries, as on yesterday being practi-
cally empty.
A hitter feeling manifested itself
among the middle-of- -the-road faction
which found vent in several wild dem
onstrations and counter demonstrat-
lens. The morning session was a virtual
blank, so far as business was concern
ed. The report of the committee on Gre
dentials was not ready and the conven-
ton listened to baritone from Okla
homa and sweet singer from Arkan-
sas render some campaign parodies on
popular ballads There was also a dra-
matically arranged middle-of- -the-road
demonstration which failed to arouse
much enthusiasm despite it's theatrical
accessories. Delegate Washburn. of
Massachusetts, attempted to spring a
resolution on the convention to bind the
delegates to abide by the result what
ever it might be, but he was howled
down and his resolution was laid
peacefully away on the back shelf.
1t was at the afternoon session Mat
the tug of war came which ended in
the disastrous defeat of the straight
outs. BY narrow majority they beat
the Bryan forces early in the session
on the determination of the Cook coun-
ty contest. Some of the Bryan men
were alarmed and could, with difficulty.
be convinced that the battle was not
lost. This preliminary defeat of the
Bryan forces was due, perhaps, to over
confidence in their strength. They un-
dertook to defeat the majority report
of their own committee in the Chicago
contest. Only seven actual votes hung
in the balance. The fourteen Taylor
delegates who held the seats were for
Bryan. The report of the committee
decided to allay bitter feeling If pos
sible, by seating both sets of delegates
and dividing the votes The contest
ing delegates were understood to be for
Debs. At the last moment, the BRYAN
managers concluded to risk the
DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT
of trying to force the rejection of the
majority report. Some of their follow
ers refused to stand by them, and the
result was defeat by vote of 665 to
642
It was then o'clock, and the middle
of-the-road leaders attempted to Sc
cure an adjournment, hoping that the
effect of the victory could be turned to
account before the delegates reassem
bled. But the Bryan leaders prevented
this strategic move. They determined
to push on, realizing fully the dis
heartening effect of drawing off after
having had their outposts driven in.
Some Of the middle-o men
who believed their victory was genuine
was also eager to continue the FRAY.
But the promise to the ear was broken
to the hope. The report of the commit
tee on permanent organization wa.
brought forward. the majority recon-
mending the selection of Senator Al
len. the ponderous statesman from Mr.
Bryan's state, who during the battle