The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-15
THE POPULIST CONVENTION.
Politicians and Some the Silver Leaders
Already in ST. Louis.


Already in ST. Louis
St Louis, July 14.-The rush of pol
iticians to attend the Populist and sill
yer National conventions has not yet
set in, although a few of the leaders
have arrived. Chairman Taubeneclz
says many of the best men in the par
ty will be here.
Among the prominent ones will be
Senator Marion Butler and Congress
man Harry Skinner, of North Caro-
lima; Judge j. X. Huides and Tom Z.
Watson, of Georgia; Gen. Field, Maj.
Mann Page, and Capt Edmund r.
Coche, of Virginia; Ex-Governor Buch-
anan, A. i. MINUS and j. H. Mellow
ell, John j. Blair, Thomas S. Petit
and l.. X. Taylor, of Tennessee. From
Alabama will come George f. Gather,
Congressman Goodwin and Congress
man w. II. Howard.
There will be 1850 delegates, rep
esenting over two million votes.
1--WE have every reason to believe that
in point of numbers attending it will
far outrank the Republican conven-
tion," said a delegate.
As the, Populists begin to gather it
is evident that there will be two
propositions made which will form
the chief contention of the conven-
ton.
One is that the Populists shall
abandon any idea of a separate and
distinct National ticket and indorse
outright the candidates and the plat2
form of the Chicago convention. This
proposition will be supported by the
friends of Senator Henry NJ. Teller
nearly all the Populist members of
the United States Senate and the Peo-
pies party leaders in many of the
Western States. The West, the South
west and the Northwest are nearly sol
id for propositions to endorse Mr..
Bryan and put out no other ticket
From the South come delegates and
Peoples party leaders who are not
delegates to the convention urging
another proposition-to put up a pres
idential ticket, adopt platform, run
presidential electors in all the States
where the Peoples party has an or
ganization and then when the time
comes to cast the vote in the electoral
college, let the Populists and Demo-
Gratis combine on the strongest man,
whether that be Bryan or the Populist
nominee.
Vigorous objection is urged against
this on the ground that it would be
dangerous to the common cause of
free silver. Tt would divide the
strength of it's adherents and in some
of the close States where one or the
other holds the balance of power a
division of their strength might give
the State to Mckinley.
The convention of the National Sill
yer party, which convenes in this city
July 22nd, at the exposition building
will vie in numbers with that of the
Populists which meets the same day.
The National Silver convention will
have 1,200 delegates and many alter
mates coming from every State in the
Union, the representation being based
on the estimated strength of the adj
yocates of silver, irrespective of
former party affiliations.
Among some of the men of national
prominence who will attend the con-
vention are Senators Stewart and
Jones of Nevada, Teller of Colorado,
VIM. Fl. st. John of New York, who a
few days ago was forced to retire from
the presidency of the Mercantile Bank
of New Yok on account of his advo-
cacy of silver; Senator Dubois of Ida
no, Senator Mantle of Montana, SEN
ator Pettigrew of South Dakota, Con-
gressman Hartman of Montana. Con-
gresham Newlands of Nevada, editor
B. O. Flower, of the Arena, Boston
and others.
1t is understood that st. John will
be chairman of the convention and
Senator Stewart or Mr.. Newlands will
be chairman on committee on resolu-
tions.
DIR. Mott said he thought the
convention would be in session at
least two days. He said to-day that
while there was a quasi understand
ing between his party and the Popu-
lists in behalf of the interests of sill |
yer, there was as yet no agreement or
definite movement in the direction of |
unity of action as regards the presi- |
Dental ticket TO be voted for next No |
vember. He declined to discuss this |
question further.