The evening times., 1896-09-15

responsible for his attitude OF ill-will to
District Assembly, 4 No. sc.
The attack made at the meeting here
last year it Was supposed was upon Mr..
Sovereign and that gentleman injudciously
took it partly to himself, because an official
whom he favored was the object OF it.
1t was really a plan to remove MIR.
Hayes He would not regularly go out of
office till this year. But 50 much mischief
had been done by his autocratic methods
that many felt he ought not to be left
where he could work any II ore harm.
1t was moved that his office be declared
vacant, a modified sort Of impeachment
The II after was fiercely debated. Hayes
was sustained by the narrow margin of
one vote, that OF Mr.. Sovereign, his own
vote counting in his favor also.
The result stood 81 in favor OF vacating
the office and 23 against 1t. without the
votes of himself and Mr. SoTereign he would
have been tcaten. And that wasIhe fact,
too, in the face OF promises by his friends
that IL he Were not then humiia;ed
he would not stand for reelection agsin.
At this time the delegates from District
Assembly &C Were against him, and lie
has never forgotten it, Still lie might not
have been engaged in the fight with them
II 1t had not been for tile recent defeat
referred to. This was his loss OF the secre-
taryship OF the Populist party at st. Louis
He had this place in mind as a rCcd thing
to drop into when he left the Knights of
fetal register. He was teateD for il by
Mr. Edgerton, and lie correctly attributed
his loss TO the Districtmen att the convention.
- HIS LOSS AT ST LOUIS.
When the District delegation left for
the st. Louis convention Mr. Hayes was
not in anybpdy'> mind n > candidate for sec
retary OF the Populist campaign committee.
But when they came to look over the field
ut tie convention they found him hard at
work. He had assumed place assistant
secretary.
Few knew what lie was about. but one
or TWO had warning that he would busy
himself for his Own interests and let the
cause take care Of itself One OF these
asked what his presence as secretary meant;
if he proposed TO stand for secretary Of
the committee? Hayes friends answered
no. Ncvcrttelesstlis Districtleader watched
his maneuvers with apprehension
Carl Browne got himself put on the COM
mittee on resolutions, contrary to tile
Judgment of several, but he promised to do
nothing without the sanction of the rest
OF the District people. He agreed to hold
off his erralc views and he kept his
promise.
The work Of the convention was about
finished and the question of a secretary
came up. The meeting was on the point
OF making choice when an influential
District man came in. He had been warn
ed in spite OF Hayes promises.
Mr.. Harry Skinner, whose word had gone
far in the decisions made during the CON
vention, said to the District man, I'VE
may as well choose Hayes as secretary
by acclamauon."
This was a thunderbolt from clear skies
Not at an was the reply, wait a little
Till we can talk about Hayes"
There was delay. The District man
took Skinner aside and sat down and told
him some facts. Among other things he
said, Il have personally not a thing rainst
Hayes. ] know nothing of the charges
against him. Bot do know that lie has
not the support of his own people / have
seen published about him, coming from his |
own household, statements that true or |
false, show that it is extremely inadvisa-
BILE to make him secretary of the Popnlist |
party. He would lose US votes; we want |
a man who could win votes. He is heart |
lily disliked by strong party right where |
lie ought to be popular"
With this account OF the general sccre
tary before him, Mr., Skinner went back to |
the meeting hall the secretaryship came up |
a gain, Senator Allen put in nomination Mr. |
all other candidates withdrew |
and the election was made by acclamatiou,
as Mr. Hayes had planned for himself.
The turning over to the Democrats of |
the general offices of the Knights has so |
every advocate of sound money against Mr..
Hayes. This adds very largely to the weight
which is dra gging him down to obscurity.