The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-21

! Their headquarters at the Laclede are
! constantly filled with a pushing, noisy
mass of people The walls are placard-
! ed with mottoes and editorials from
! PopuIist papers, demanding the repu-
! diaion Of the Chicago ticket, and sew
eral orators are usually talking to the
/ crowd at the same time. An lrredeem-
able currency and direct legislation are
/ declared to be the foundations of their
| faith The initiative and referendum
scheme, which is to originate all legis
lation with the people, and refer it
| back TO them for endorsement, is the
| keynote of their arch.
1--WE want to do away with the Su
| preme Court that sits above the peo-
Pile" shouted one of their orators this
| afternoon. Then we will remonetiZe
silver, have government ownership Of
railroads and telegraphs, enact immi-
grafton and income laws and crush the
monopolies and trusts that have us by
the throats."
These men will probably bolt in any
event. Although there are evidences
of a split in some of the Southern del
egations, Ike that of Texas, if they
can be held in line and those who de-
| sire a compromise do not receive con-
| cessions, which will ultimately bring
them to the support of Bryan, they
may control majority of the conven-
| ltion.
The basis of representation is one del
egate for each Senator and Representa-
tive and one for each 1000 Populist
votes east Under this apportionment,
Texas and North Carolina have the lar
gest delegations, % each, out of a total
of about 800. In North Carolina the
fusion Populist and Republican votes
are counted and these two delegations.
it will be seen, comprise almost one
sixth of the convention. Georgia, which
is also claimed by the t'middle-of-the
road faction, has 81. The largest OF
the Bryan delegations is Kansas, with
o. Alabama, which is for Bryan has
81. and Nebraska a. The Bryan peo-
pie claim. on a preliminary canvass,
though it takes no noaccountofsomed dele
cations, which have not yet put in an
appearance, to have 423 votes. Their
claims. however, are disputed in sever
al quarters.
The real fight appears TO be between
The BRYAN supporters and bhose who
insist upon a compromise that will
give official endorsement Of the Popu-
list ticket. A great many plans for
this compromise have been suggested,
the basis of all which is the adoption
of a. separate platform, and divis-
ion os the electors.
As TO the rest, the plans differ. Some
desire a separate ticket, others are
willing to accept the Chicago noml-
nees. To-day there was movement
in favor of a division of the ticket,
| BRYAN to head it and some Populist,
preferably from the South, to be his
| running mate. All these plans are more
| or less impracticable, as they would
| create complications which would be
| hard to stl.aighten out before the cam
| paign could begin. Chairman Jones
has Indignantly rejected the PROPOSE
| tion to throw Sewall overheard, and
| the Bryan supporters in the Populist
| party take positive position in oppo-
| sition to it; but it is thought division
| of electors in some of the States, like
| North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota,
| and Texas, could be arranged by the
| State Committees, which alone have
| the power to enter into any agreement.
Chairman Jones has conferred with
| such of the Populist leaders as have
| called on him, and has pointed out
| very clearly that the battle Us between
| Mckinley and the gold standard, and
| IDTNd1 anu Lllc SIjNCl liz
| that the Democrats do not want to alb
| sorb the Populist organization, but it
| rests with the latter to endorse Bryan
| in the interest of the silver cause in
| which all are enlisted, and thus make
| victory certain, or endanger success by
| declining to do so. The responsibility
| he says, rests with them, and he does
| not hesitate to say that he believes the
| rank and file of the Populists will de
| sert their leaders on the issue if they
| refuse to accept the opportunity. lie
| takes them to the top of the mountain
| and elbows them the promised land or
| silver. He and his friends deny that
| any pledges are being made, but Sen
| ator Allen. of Nebraska, whose posi-
| tion gives him great weight in Popu-
| Iistic circles. is proclaiming to Ais
| friends that if Mr.. Bryan is selected,
| all who rally to his support whether
Democrats, Populists or Republicans,
| viii be ON an equal footing.
Tt is intimated that a selfish interest
perhaps actuates some of the middle
| of-the-road leaders from the South
| They have been fusing with the Re
publicans there for local offices and for
| members of Congress and if Bryan and
| Sewan should be endorsed they would
necessarily cut Oh tilEII ilolitlSSi1 dliiC9
The middle-of- -the-road people suggest
Vandervoort, of Nebraska, and Bur
l<ett, of Mississippi, as a good ticket.
The Bryan people are closely organ
lied for effective work. Gen. Weaver
is at the head Of their steering com
mittee and they are laboring with all
the incoming delegates. The main
thing they have to contend with is the
all-pevading dread among the rank
and file that they will be swallowed
up by the Democracy and they declare
they were first in the field with the
cry for tn restoration of silver.
'sThe Democrats stole our thunder, .
says Ignatius Donnelly, ''and now
! they want to bury us."
The convention is a peculiar politi-
cal gathering. There is a total alb
sence of brass bands and a scarcity
! Hor.~ ord h,,nfiuor b1If 1aal< of music