The San Francisco call., 1896-07-22
UNITED AGAINST BRYAN.
The Middle e-of-the-Road Populists
Claim That They VIII Control
the Convention.

Ast0 SCNiN
ST. LOUIS. Mo-. July 21.-The middle
of-the-road Populists are claiming tonight
that they will control the convention and
defeat the programme of the Bryan men
to indorse the Chicago ticket.
Mr.. ]. w. Cassidy of this city, who is
delegate to the convention and who is
the moving spirit of the middle-of-the-
road headquarters, says that the difficulty
OF securing cheap transportation rates will
so reduce the mum Der of delegates from out
lying parts of the country that the attend
ance will not exceed 1000 OF these he
says fully 700 favor the middle Of the-road
idea, which is in opposition to fusion or to
the nomination of any person for Presi-
dent or icePresident who is not directly
identified with the Populist party.
Coxey of Ohio, the leader of the Com
monweal movement of two years ago, is
another conspicuous PopuIist who shares
Mr.. Cassidy's confidence that Byran can
ioaity of The people who claim to be
Populists and have been shouting for
Bryan during the past ten days are not
Populists, but Democrats who are posing
as Populists in order to create favorable
sentiment for the Democratic candidate
He says the South, excepting Alabama, is
substantial unit for a nominee who di-
rectly represents Popullstic principles.
His own State, he says, is also a unit for
the middle-of-the-road idea. California
and Pennsylvania entertain similar views,
which leaves to the Eastern delegates the
balance of power between the South and
the Middle West on one hand and the ex-
treme West on the Other. In Coxey's opin-
ion the platform which will be presented to
the convention on Thursday will be a
practical reafirmation OF the Omaha
platform in 1892. The only material
change will be the elimination OF the sub
treasury and a substitution therefor of
Coxey's non-interest bearing bond scheme
which he is hopeful will be incorporated
as one of the leading pIanks.
Texas delegates, who are making a
strong fight against indorsing William ].
Bryan, called q meeting of representa-
tives from all States in accordance with
the plan Of nominating straight Popu-
list ticket. These States were represented:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mis-
soouri, Mississippi, Minnesota, New York,
North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania.
Texas, West Virginia, Washington, Wis
consin. In nearly ali the Southern States
reports were made that the delegates were
solid against Bryan. Louisiana, Texas.
Arkansas, Mississippi. Missouri and North
Carolina were reported solid. In Ala
bama all but two were against the in
dorsement of Bryan. illinois and Indiana
were reported to be half Bryan and half
against.
On the reports that were heard it is esti-
mated that the middle -of-the-road people
had 100 majority in the convention. A
committee was appointed to wait on Sem
ator Butler and ask him to define his posi-
ton as to Bryan. The committee reported
this evening that Senator Butler expressed
himself as being in favor of the adoption
of platform and of rendering the Presi-
dental nomination on that platform to
Mr.. Bryan. If Mr.. Bryan accepted he
favored the nomination of Populist
Vice-President 10 be run with Bryan.
This report was received with loud ex-
pressions OF disapproval, and the state
ment was made that some good middle-of
the-road man should be run for tempo-
rary chairman against Butler. This propo-
sition was heartily indorsed by most of
those present, and Jerome G. Kirby, the
Populist nominee for Governor of Texas.
was suggested as good man upon whom
contest for temporary chairman should
be made.
A Texas delegate. however, suggested
that Texas did not desire to assume the
position Of leading the fight against the
choice of the National Committee with
their man, and advising taking a man