Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-24
MORNING SESSION.
Delegates Showed Up Early-Unconven-
 tionalities of the Convention.

Delegates Showed Up Early-Unconven-
 tionalities of the Convention.
 St. Louis, Mo-, July 23.-The populists began to assemble in time for the morn- ing session. They are men accustomed to early hours and they like to get to- gether to discuss the political and finan- cal question of the hour. The immediate and uppermost question in their minds Is: Shall the convention keep to the mid- dle of the road, making its own platform and choosing it's own candidates for pres ident and vice president; shall it indorse or nominate the democratic nominees, or shall 1t take the middle course-in- dorse Bryan nominate a southern popu- list for vice president, or patch up some sort of terms by which that arrangement can be made practical and successful? ! Each faction is determined to carry out its own plan, and to oppose any other plan, even to the extreme point of bolt ng,'' if the other plan be adopted
 Called to Order.
 At 10:10 o'clock Senator Butter or North Carolina, the temporary chair man. called the convention to order. At that time the body of the hall was about two-thirds full, and there were probably not 200 persons in the galleries. The dep uty sergeants-at-armS set the example of laying aside coats and vests and mov- ing around in shirt sleeves. There were several women seated among the dele gates.
 The Rev. Mr. Smith was selected to lead in prayer, and he offered a short petition for "the blessing of the Almighty God on this convention, on its members and it's proceedings. May har- mony, unity, fraternity and patriotism characterize all it's proceedings today
 The chairman called for the report Of the committee on credentials, but that committee was still unprepared to report and was given further time.
 The roll of states was then called for the names of committeeman on organiza- tion, resolutions and notification of nom- inees That operation was slow and oc- cupied much time.
 Coats at Discount.
 While it was going on more of the dele gates took advantage of the opportunity to lay aside their coats and vests, for the heat was very oppressive and most Of them famed themselves with palm leaf fans, hats and partially folded newspa- pers. The Kansas delegates were con- spicuous by the use of fans emblazened with the golden sunfiower
 Among the conspicuous persons on the platform was MT. Jesse Harper of Kan sas. who is said to have nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in Chicago in 1860. Senator Stewart of Ne vada was also on the platform, seated between Senators Allen of Nebraska and Kyle of South Dakota, all of them strong advocates of the Endorsement of Bryan and Sewali The names of the proposed committeeman having been sent in, those on permanent organization were request ed to retire for consultation.
 Texas Delegates Cheered.
 While the call of committeeman was going on there was sudden outburst of cheering all over the hall. It was caused by the irruption of small party of Texas delegates, headed by two bearers of a banner inscribed with the words Middle of the road, straight popuBlst ticket"
 A majority of the delegates rose and cheered and shouted and the spectators in the gallery joined in the shouts and cheering. From the gallery behind the stand flight of blue cards descended, on which were printed financial plank proposed for the middle of the road'' people by three Arkansas delegates George M. Jackson, J. w. Rollison and Isaac McCracken. This plank is in these words:
 The Arkansas Platform.
 'sWe demand national treasury note issued by the general government re- ceivable for all public duties and full legal tender payment of all debts, public and private. and loaned direct to the people through postal and other govern mental bauks, at cost, for the benefit of the people and the purchase and coinage of such amount of gold and silver bullion at the ratl1 of 16 to as may be necessary