Evening journal., 1896-07-21

fin "' A-ongth Their 1Position-They |
"sciare Strongly For Bryan-Rosult OF !
The 1ong Conference Mt Manitou.
ST. LOUIS, July -ThePopulist situa- !
lion does not crystalize rapidly The load
esS are at war over the question of indors-
Ans or nominating Bryan. Some, like
S"vunor LowollinR, Senator Allen of
Nebraska, John b. Weaver of Iowa, who
vas the Populist candidate for president
IN ls1a; Captain Reuben Kob Of Aln-
eame, who claims he was twice defrauded
0t the governorship of his state; Thomas
PATTERSON and Governor Waite Of Colorado,
are earnestly striving for an indorsement
~ the Chicago ticket; Chairman Taubo-
heck, lgnatius Donnelly Of Minnesota
senator Butler of North Carolina ex Gov
ornor Buchanan of Tennessee, General
Coxuy Of Ohio want to indorse Bryan un-
der terms laid down by them, while Cy-
clone Davis OF Texas, Paul Vanderyort of
Nebraska, Colonel Frank Burkett of Mis-
sissippi and others want to keep in the
middle OF the road and nominate an indo-
pendent ticket on an Independent plat
Form. Each faction asserts that it desires
TO preserve the autonomy of the party or
ganization and that its way is the best
Shipwrccked hopes and bolt seem inew-
table, no matter what the ultimate out
U0mo is.
The Bryan supporters claim TO be the
majority. They are well organized. Their
Ieaders are shrewd and sagaoious. Many
of them are experienced politicians. In ad-
uitiOn 20 this thoy hav0 the open and
active support of the silver party leaders,
whose convention is likely TO be simply
Bryan ratification meeting, and of Senntor
Jones chairman of the Democratic ma
tional committee, who is here with his
lioutenants, striving to this end. Their
Strength spreads over the entire country
west OF the Missouri, where the cause Of
silver is paramount. Many of the dele
gRtes from this section, like Lewelling of
Kansas and Patterson of Colorado declare
that II Bryan is not nominated or indorsed
hero nine-tenths of the Populists will
support him, and the identity of the Popu-
list party in the west will be destroyed.
The "middlo OF the road" Populists arc
mostly from the south, whore for several
years, they say, it has boen war TO tho
knife and knife to the hilt in their battle
with the Democracy, and they have nailed
thoir banner to the mast. They will have
neither surrender nor fusion They have
captured scattering votes in the west and
quito a number from the Pacific coast.
In California they claim a majority Of the
Goleeation They are extremely radical.
These men will probably bolt in any
event. Although there are evidences Of a
split in some OF tho southern delegations,
like that OF Texas, if they can be held in
line and those who desire a acompromise do
not resolve concessions which will ulti-
mately bring them to the support OF
Bryan, they may control a majority Of thg
convention.
Composition of the Convention.
The basis Of representation is one dele
gate for each senator and representative
and one for each 1000 Popnlist votes cast
Under this apportionment Texas ant
North Carolina have the largest delega
tions, 90 each out of a total OF about 300
In North Carolina the fusion Populis
and Republican voters are counted, anC
these two delegations, it will be seen
comprise almost one sixth of the cen
vention Georgia. which is also elaine,
& by the "miudle of the road faction, ha
81. The largest Of the Bryan delegation
4 is Kansas, with 81. Alabama, which &
for BRYAN. has 54 and Nebraska 81. Th
Bryan people claim, on a preliminary can
vass that takes no account Of some delega
tions which have not yet put in an appear
ance, 423 vOtos
Their claims, however arc disputed II
several quarters.
The real fight appears to be between tn
Bryan supporters and those who insis
upon compromise that will give oilicia
Endorsement of the Populist organization
A great many plans for this conpromis
have been suggested, the basis of all q
which is the adoption of a aseparate plat
form and division of the electors AS {
the rest, tho plans differ some desire
80. nfI ttrfl ~ M
cept the Chicago nominees There was
movement in favor of a division of Oh
ticket Bryan TO head it and some POpt
list, preferably from The south, to be hi
running mate. All these plans are moi
or less impraoticable. as they wOuld Great
complications which would be hard I
straighten out before the campaign coul
begin Chairman Jones has indignant
rejected the propositions to throw. Sowa
overheard, and the Bryan supporters
the Populist party take positive positio
in opposition TO it, but it is thought th,
q division Of electors in some of the state
like North Carolina, Nebraska Minnesoi
and Texas, could be arranged by the sta
committees, which alone would have ii
power to enter into any agreement. Chai
man Jones has conferred with such Of q
Populist LEADERS as have called on hi
and has pointed out very clearly that Il
battle Is between Mckinley and the go
standard and Bryan and the silver stan
ard. He says that the Democrats do M
want to absorb the Populist organization
but It rosts with the latter to indor
Bryan in the interest OF the silver caus
in which all are enlisted, and thus nal
victory certain, or endanger success by d
olining to do so. The responsibility
says, rests with the leaders, and he does T.
hesitate TO say that he believes the rar
and file of the Populists will desert tho
on the issue if they refuse to accept Il
opportunity.
Their Motive Questioned.
1t is intimated that selfish intera
perhaps actuates some Of the "middle
the road leaders from the south Th
have been fusing with the Republicans (
local offices and for members of congre,
and if Bryan and Sewall should be /
dorsed they would necessarily cut of tn,
political allies The "middlo of the roa,
.H people suggest Nandervort of Nebras
and Burkett of NississiDpi as n Good tic