Evening star., 1896-07-21


must be the whole ticket or nothing. The
democrats do not want to be embarrassed
by anything but a straight Endorsement or
nomination. and they are rendered some
what Independent through being satfse cd
that Bryan will get the bulk of the west n
popuist vote, no matter what this conven-
tion does.
The anti-Bryan people being without ex-
perienced leaders are wasting their energy
In talk. They are blowing of steam in the
corridors. Mr.. PETER said to one of the
"mddle-of-the-road' agitators, who had
worn his voice down to whisper: That's
right. talk yourself out now and you won't
give US so much trouble in the conven-
tion."
The plan of the leaders is to have the
fight out in the hotel corridors. and they
are giving full swing to the anti-Bryan peo-
pie there.
The Bryan people are confining themselves
chiefly to quiet conference. They are gain
ing converts all the while and are making
steady progress along the lines they have
laid down. They believe that they are go
ing to capture the convention. but they are
not yet confident. The opposition Of the
reform press. of the California delegates of
the sand-lot class and of the southern dele
This argument with the south Is rather
forceful. 1t is that If they insist upon
rushing blindly ahead they will have to
shoulder the responsibility for a divorce of
the southern from the western populists,
and that they can then hope to be nothing
more than a local organization. The Texas
delegation is the most difficult to deal with
for the reason that they confident of
local victory. They believe that they are
going to carry the state according to plans
already laid down, and they have parceled
out the state offices among themselves.
They are not so unsefish as to be willing
to sacrifice their personal ambitions.
Tnubeneck and Butler.
The two men the Bryan people have been
most anxious to win over are TauDeneck
and Senator Butler They think they can
now rely on both. Butler is the only really
shrewd leader of the middle of the road
men, He Is ambitious and looks a long
way ahead. His great anxiety Is to pre-
serve the populist organization. and what
he has been contenoinG for is the nomina-
tion of a populf5t for Vice President He
wants Judge Clark of North Carolina. who
was voted for at Chicago by the North
Carolina delegation, nominated for Vice
President. Butler calculates that the pop
ulist party will in a few years become the
dominant party in this country If nothing
happens to interrupt its growth. He Is
now too young to be a presidential candi
date. but will be old enough in 1900. His
eye is on 1900. when he expects to be the
populist candidate. Having this in view
he is anxious to preserve the party organ
tzation. Moreover. he IS embarrassed by
the fact that the populists of North Caro-
lima have already made combination with
the republicans In that state, and he does
not see his way clear to make another
combination with the democrats.
The assistance of the western populists
ia necessary. however to the fulfillment of
his plans in future and ne Is compelled to
make some concessions to them. 1t Is un-
derstood that he has given UP the hope
of nominating a popuiist on the ticket with
Bryan.
Chairman Jones OF the democratic nation
al committee declines 10 make promises of
patronage in any specific way. or to accept
an Endorsement of half the ticket or to
divide electors. He does however, offer
the same general recognition in the party
organization to all classes of Bryan sup
porters. If the populists indorse the dem
ecratic ticket they are to be represented
on the democratic national executive COM
mittee. as we'll as the silver party, and the
silver republicans. 1t is regarded probable
that Butler and Taubeneck can go on this
committee If Bryan is indorsed Senator
Dubois IS to represent the silver r.pUbli-
cans on the executive committee.
National Committee Meeting.
Matters are not shaping up very rapidly
as the day advances The arrival of new
patches OF delegates increases the sentiment
among the rank and file in favor Of an in
dependent populist ticket. The various
scrub orators are exciting the enthusiasm
of the delegates in the belief that the popu-
list party is the great party of the future.
and that it should be preserved on an in
depen lent basis. The action of the commit
tee of the Reform Press Association in de-
claring that the preservation of the party
organization should be the first considera-
ton has some influence, but has led to
great bitterness and feeling against that
organization.
The populist national committee met this
morning. but had TO take a recess until
they could secure new quarters on account
of the noise on the first floor of the hotel
Tney got quieter place on the floor above
and still ir session. Their progress is
impeded by the disposition of every one to
talk.
The work Of the silver convention to-
morrow is so well arranged in advance
that 1t is no longer attracting any atten-
ton. and the whole force of that conven-
ton is engaged in working up the Bryan
boom with the populists. The silver con-
yention is not expected to last more than
one day. The program Is to indorse the
Bryan ticket and adopt the silver plank of
the Chicago platform and then adjourn
The work of the populists that has any
Significance is being done with a few rep
resentative men of the anti-Bryan delega-
tions. 1t is said this afternoon that prog
ress has been made toward an agreement
which would give Bryan the nomination
The leaders expect to have some orsaniza-
tion established before midnight. Other
propositions are being made and discussed
with great earnestness. but very few of
them are In the least practical. One propo-
sition advanced is that the convention is
sue an address and make no nominations.
Another Is that the democratic support
shall be pledged to populist candidates for
Congress and for local offices in districts
claimed by the populists. in return for the
Endorsement of the democratic presidential
ticket.