The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-24
Things.

Things.
St Louis, July 23.-The Populis is be
gan to assemble in good time for the
floIning session. The immediate and
uppermost question in all their minds is,
shall the convention keep to the middle
of the road, making its own platform
and chosing its own candidates for Presi-
dent and Vioe President. Shall it en-
dorse or nominate the Democratic nomi-
noes or shall it take the middle course,
endorse Bryan, nominate a Southern
Populist for Vice President and patch up
some sort of terms by which that ar
rangement can be made practicable and
successfug.
Each plan has its own faction deter
mined to carry out its own plan and to
oppose any other plan, even 20 the ex-
treme point of boiling if the other plan
be adopted.
At 10 minutes past ten Senator Butler
of 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. There
were several women seated among the
delegates.
The Rev. Mr.. Smith offered u short
prayer.
The chairman then called for the re-
port of the committee on credentials. but
that com mittse was still unpr eDared to
report and was given further tmie.
The roll of state was then called for the
names of the com mittee on organization,
resolutions and notification of nominees.
Among the conspicuous persons on the
platform was MIR. Jesse Harper, of
Kansas, who is said to have nominated
Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency at
Chicago in 1860
The membership of committee on per-
manent organization includes: Connec-
ticut, MRS. W. W. Wheeler; Della ware,
Herman V. Hetzell; Maine, Henry Belts;
New Hampshire, George D. Epps; Massa-
chusetts, b. NJ. Ladd; Rhode island, q.
A. Buakingame; Vermont, s. W. Ward.
The Bryan men, 1t IL said, ara dissatis-
fed with Senator Butler and an effort
will be made at the first opportunity to
substitute another man for permanent
chairman to which dignity, it is under
jerry Simpson Of Kansas and Lafe Pence
Of Colorado, are she moving Spirits In
the opposition. Pence stated to reporter
that if Allen would not accept the per-
manent chairmanshlp he would push
Simpson for ths place. Simpson says that
as soon as the committee on organization
is appointed and reports he does not
think their report will be delayed more
than two hours in view of the Importance
of getting the work of the convention
underway. The fun will begin, he says,
with hot fight on Butler and the latter
will be thrown over.
The committee ON permanent organiza-
tion will consider the names Of Senator
Allen, Ignatius Donnelly and MIR. Gam
straight out Bryan element. while Messrs.
Donnelly and Campion will be the can
didates of the middle Of the road faction.
The names Of the proposed committee
men having all been sent in, those on
permanent organization were requested
by the chairman at 10. 90 to retire for con-
sultation.
was going on there was q sudden OUT
burst of cheering all over the hall. 1t was
caused by the entrance of small party
of Texas delegates headed by the two
bearers of a banner inscribed with the
words middle of the road; straight
Populist ticket"
A majority of delegates rose and
oheersd and shouted and waved hats and
fans, and the spectators in the galleries
joined in the shouts and cheering. From
the gallery behind the stand fight of
blue cards descended on which were
printed financial plank, proposed for
the middle of the road people.
A motion was made by Delegate Craw-
ford, of Kansas, that the delegates to the
silver convention be admitted to this con-
vention Oh the presentation of their
badges.
The motion was greeted with hisses and
shouts of no.
1t was modified by making 1t apply
only to the galleries. The chairman
ruled the motion out of order on the
grounds that 1t would violate the con-
tract made with the business men of ST.
Louis. The ruling was loudly applauded.