The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-17
MIDDLE ROAD POPS
SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST OF
THE SITUATION AT ST.
LOUIS.
STRONGLY AGAINST BRYAN.
INSIST ON A PURELY POPULIsTIC
MAN ON A POPULIsTTC PLAT
FORM.
And tho silver Men VIII Act
I'm Unison.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July 16.-According
to interviews tonight with a number
of prominent Populists and silver men,
the concensus Of opinion seemed to be
that the conventions which will meet
here on July % will not work in
unison as expected. They will be un-
able to agree as to the selection OF
presidential candidate. Silver men
seem to be unanimous for the nominee
of the Chicago convention, while the
Populists now here want distinctive
ly Populistic candidate. However, it
is too early to predict what the con-
ventions will do, for only few of the
large number Of delegates expected
are here.
1.-THE Middle Of the Road" Populists
are making a strong fight against
either an Endorsement of Bryan and
the Chicago platform or the nomination
of the Nebraskan on a Popul1st plat
form. They are much encouraged
over the action of the Arkansas Pop
ulist convention which yesterday re-
fused to endorse Bryan and they pro-
pose to crystaliZe the anti-Bryan SEN
timent by public meeting Of the mid
die Of the road" followers Saturday af-
ternoon when the campaign
All delegates and Populists who
want a separate ticket and
an Independent Populist organization
are expected to be present. Chairman
Taubeneck of the Peoples Party ma
tional committee heads the Middle Of
the Road section and with him are as
ISOLATED those who signed the man
ifesto issued after the Republican con-
vention declaring for Teller for pres
ident.
Sergeant-atArms Mcdowell who
went to Little Rock to present an argu-
ment against the Endorsement Of Bryan
returned today and reported success
The proposition presented by Mr.. Nc
Dowell to the convention was in the
form of an address reviewing the two
sides Of the question of Endorsement Of
the Democrats on one set of electors
order to restore silver to its lawful
place and make combination with
the Democrats, the Populists must do
one Of two things:
First-Indorse the Democratic ticket
nominated at Chicago and merge into
the Democratic party; or,
Second-To nominate ticket Of their
own and enter into an agreement with
the Democratic ticket. 1t is stated in
The address then says:
''If the first policy is pursued the People
party Will lose us Identity ana become an
annex to the Democratic party. Whenever
one party indorses the national ticket of an
| other it has no further excuse to exist. All
the state legislative and county candidates
in the Peoples party, with the exception of a
few Western states, will have to resign, be-
cause it would be impossible for the Populist
candidates to make a fight for their local
tickets when the party nationally indorses the
Chicago nominees.
"On the other hand, suppose the Populist
and silver parties consolidate and pursue the
policy of nominating a ticket! Of their own
and unite with the Democrats on electors
what will then be their status before the
country? In the place of annex, to the Dem
ocratic party they will become an ally. 1t
will preserve the Peoples party organiza-
ton for future use, and by making an alli-
ance with the boiling Republicans the Popu-
lists will outnumber the Democrats and
make them a third party at the polls next
November. If the combination ticket is
successful the Popuilsts will have either the
president or vice president and will also be
| in position to demand an equal share of
! the federal patronage, including the cab
| met and foreign appointments.
! Mr.. Mcdowell, Mr.. Taubeneck and others
associated with them take the ground that
! party organization must be preserved. Tau
beneok will make hard fight on this line,
| but 1t is the opinion of some of the best in
| formed Populists now here that he has wait
| ed too long to show his hand and that he
| will be inthe minority. The Teller manifesto
| seems to have proven boomerang to Taube-
| neck