Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-07-25
NO. 21.

man Butler called the convention to or der and Rev. MT. Smith offered the in-
 vocation.
 i A report of the committee on creden- tials was called for, but no one respond ed, and the states called for the mem- bers of committees on permanent organ ization and resolutions.
 There were at times long delays and delegates grew impatient. The "mid- dle-of- the-road' men wero extremely suspicious and intimated that it was part of a plot to defeat them. After the announcement of the committee on per- manent organization the members re. tired
 While other announcements were be- ing made middle of the-road', man attempted . demonstration. It was dramatically arranged, but it only served to demonstrate the hopeless mi nority of the straightouts A squad of smiddleo of the-roaders, headed by Delegate Branch of Georgia, suddenly plunged into the hall and came whoop- ing down the center aisle, Mir Branch with big white banner with this in- scription; "Middle-of-the.road straight ticket" At the sight of it Texas, Geor- gia, Maine, Missouri and Mississippi delegations mounted their chairs and yelled to the top of their voices. At the same time "middle-of -the-road' delegate, stationed in the gallery, hurled out through the air about peck of small green tickets which fell like snow over the pit. The four delegations gave cheer after cheer, but others sat stolid- ly Ill their seats. About one-sixth of the delegates joined in the demonstra- ton. The green tickets, when examined, contained the following:
 Middle of the road, our financial plank. We demand national treasury notes, issued by the general govern ment, receivable for all public dues and full legal tender ill payment of all debts, public and private, and loaned direct to tho people through postal and other governmental banks at cost, for the benefit of the people, and the purchase and coinage of such amount of gold and silver bullion, at the ratio of 16 to 1, as may be necessary to pay the debts of the government, which are made payable in coin. We demand that the volume of money shall speedily increase to an amount necessary to transact the busi- ness of the country on cash basis. Respectfully submitted for the eonsid- eration of the Pepulist convention. ?
 On the card were the names of George M. Jaxon, J M Dollison and Isaac Me- Cracker, all of Arkansas.
 MT. Washburn of Massachusetts arose and announced that he had an impor- tant resolution to offer It proved to be one deprieating the talk of split in the convention, and was as follows:
 Whereas, we are all Populists, and deprieate the talk which has appeared in some newspapers that there is dis position on the part of any portion of this convention to refuse to abide by the action of this convention, therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, that we repndiate all auch utterances as a reflection upon the f. delity of the members of this conven- tion and of the Peoples party"
 MT Washburn said the question of preserving the organization of this grand party was vital and the resolution called forth discussion. A storm of protests came from the 'middle.of- -the-roaders'' and one of them made point of order that before the convention was perma- nently organized no such resolution could be acted on.
 A Connecticut delegate, named Henry c. Baldwin, jumped on chair and in- dignantly shouted: If papers say we are asses shall we pass resolution say ing we are not ?'
 Chairman Butler ruled that during temporary organization a resolution could be passed expressing it's sense. Thereupon Congressman Howard of AL abama moved to refer the resolution to the committee on resolutions. Delegate Branch of Georgia followed with mo- ton to table the whole subject. There was great deal of confusion as the vote was taken viva voce, Chairman Butler deciding the motion was carried.
 When this disturbing question was out of the way Delegate Willis of North Dakota moved to take recess, but tho motion was voted down.
 An Arkansas member of the commit tee on credentials announced the com mittee would not be able to report be- fore o'clock and moved a recess until that time, but it was defeated. Later it was announced the committee could not report before o'clock, and after some wrangling motion to take recess un- til that time was adopted
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