Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-22
BRYAN MEN AHEAD
Seem to Have the Upper Hand
at the Bridge City.
LIKELY TO DOMINATE THE MEET.

The Nebraska Man Sure Winner ut the |
Silver Convention-That's What 1t Is !
There For-Populi,ts More Cut Up, But |
the Men Who Arc Managing the Chicag"
Nominees Campaign Are the Generals Of
Politics Present - National Committee
Meets aud Chooses Butler for Temporary
Chairman -" Middle -the-Road" Men
Dissatisfied.
ST. LOUIS, July s-The Populists and
Silver conventions convene today, the
former in the hall in which the Republi-
can national convention was held five
weeks ago, and the latter in the Music
Hall, where Grover Cleveland was re-hou-
mated in 1883. Interest in the Silver con-
vention has been completely eclipsed by
the bitter struggle among the Populists
! over the question of nominating or indoors
ing Bryan. The programme of the Silver
| convention is cut and dried. There is no
| division of sentiment. Congressman
Francis Newlands, of Nevada. will I've
temporary chairman, and William p. St
| John, the New York cx- banker, permanent
chairman. They will deliver their speech
| es, platform of single plank in favor
| of the free coinage of silver at i6to1 will
be adopted. Bryan and Sewall will be in
| dorsed, and the convention will adjourn.
Different with the PopuIists.
The Populists, on the other hand, are
rent and torn by internal discussions, and
! the contending factions VIII plunge I'M
| lnediately into fierce and determined
| fight which may be prolonged for four or
| five days. and which from present indica-
tions will probably result in a bolt. no
matter which faction prevails. The hetro-
| gencous composition of the convention,
comprising as it does many, whose opin-
ions on all questions are Numerically OPP
posed and who hold and advocate those
opinions with bulldog tenacity that
| nothing can shake: the conflicting inter-
csts and the conditions that hedge the
situation about, would stagger the Oldest
political prophet were he to attempt to
forecast the result with anything lile de-
tail.
Bryan Men Have Majority.
| The Bryan men still appear to be in con-
troll ana the leaders are very confident that
they are in the majority. Practically all
the trained and experienced generals are
aligned with them. They have the advice
and counsel of Senator Jones and the
| shrrwd Democratic managers who arc
vigiantly watching every point in the
battle, and able allies in the Republican
| silver boilers and the delegates To the sill
Yer convention. They have Il very thor
ou-h organization for systematic and eff
fcctive work. Yesterday they were REIN
forced by the arrival of 800 Bryan Populist
shoutcrs from Nebraska, headed by Gov
crnor Holcomb: $50 energetic Populis5
workers from Kansas, and many from
other parts of the west
Must Either BE Mckinley or BRYAN.
They are pressing upon the .'rniddle-nf-
road" delegates the view that the sit
uaticn presents the single isSuc-Mckin-
leg or Bryan; that the western Popuists
insist upon graspinr the opportunity to
vote on the silver issue where their votes
will count, and that failure to nominate
Bryan will split the party wide open and
cause discussions that will never heal
They confront the southern delegates and
scattering squads from other sections who
want to keep in the middle of the road and
have mo truck, rs some of them express
it, with either of the old parties especially
the Democratic party, with which they
have been at war.
Claim IA Majority of 400.
While strong of conviction and vocifer-
Gus in their declarations that they will
never surrender, the ''middle-of-the road
! delegates are practically a disorganized
crowd. They keep up Il great deal OF en-
ttusiasm at their meetings, and loudly
. claim us high as 100 majority in the con-
J vention. The hotel corridors ring with
their oratory and the applause of their fol-
lowers: but their claims of victory cannot
B I've figured out on paper. In certain quar-
! tiers. however they appear to have I'M
! questionably gained strength. In Wash
e ington state. for instance, out of seventeen
Bryan men who came in the delegation
they claim to have captured all but two.
PRESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.