The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-22
WHIRE THEY ARD AT.
POpuliStS Delegates Do Not Seen to
Know.
WHETHER 10 INDORSE BRY0N
THE QUESTION.

Many Plans for Combinations and Com
promises-Bryan Men Not So Sure of
Their Ground as They Were.
ST. Louis, July 21.-The straight out
or "tmiddle of the road'' Populists have
not been to any peropetible degree molli-
fed by the intimation thrown out By
the chairman of the national Democratic
committee that if they endorse the Chi
cago sicket he is prepared to give them
representation in the executive commit
tee of the Democratic party.
The utmost concession the extremists
suggest Is the nomination or endorse
ment of Bryan on a distinct Popuiist
platform of their own and the substitu-
tion of a Populist of their selection in
place OF Sewall.
MIR. George +. Washburne of Massaohu-
setts, chairman of the eastern division of
the national committee Of the Peoples
party, said in the interest of harmony
1t is proposed to satisfy the Western men
with the nomination of Bryan and recon-
cile the southern men by the nomination
OF Leading Populist. in the South for
second place. Bryan will be nominated
and will have good running mate from
the south.
The headquarters of the middle Of the
road" Populists are in the Laolede hotel.
There is disposition ON the part of
some of the leaders who are urging the
nomination of Bryan, TO belittle 'the
middle of the road" element, but 1t is
obvious that even though their stongth
be exaggerated, they will prove an i'm
portenu factor when the struggle in the
convention for supremacy begins.
The Kansas delegation last night went
on record informally regarding the choice
of President. Only 80 of the 50 delegates
from the states were present, and 20 OF
them were for Bryan and Sewall, three
for Bryan, but opposed Sewall, and one
with division of electors. Hen Skinner
Populist representative in Congress
from North Carolina, said the east would
go solidly for Mckinley and gold. He
| thinks mistake was made at Chicago
| so put in the second place on the ticket
r. A man from Maine, state which holds
Il fall election, which is sure to go ag ainst
us, al thus cannot fail TO hurt u.s."
a meeting of the Illinois delegation
Only 81 of the "a delegates answered to
5he roll call.
A partial poll of the delegates present
showed them to be about equally divided
for and against Bryan. At II p. m, after
stormy session, the meeting adjourned
to meet again today.
i The Texas delegation, classed as anti
Bryan, discussed for over an hour today
the proposition to telegraph Mr.. Bryan
asking him categorically IL he would
stand on the principles laid down in the
Omaha platform, bu6 eventually decided
not to do SO.
The national committee of the Populist
party met this morning to perfect tenn
porsry organization of the convention.
Chairman Taubeneok presided. About
30 members were present. This COMMIT
tee is organized upon a radically different
basis from that of the old parties. Each
state and territory is entitled to three
members. and out Of the entire member
ship of 158 central executive committee
Of nine is chosen to manage the cam
paign.
TheZ committee comprises two female
members, Mrs. Anna L. Diggs Of the
District of Columbia, who was present
today, and Mrs. A. o. Haskins,s from
Arizona. There are no person in official
life on the committee except Senator
Marion Bullet of North Carolina, who
carries proxy.