Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-06
POPUL|ST NATIONAL CONVENTION.
BRYAN AND WATSON.
Populists Name the Nebraskan for First
Place.

The Populist National Convention met at
st. Louis on the 23d. Senator Marion But
Ter, of North Carolina, the choice of the
compromise Bryan element, was made tenn
porary chairman without opposition. The
convention appointed Its committee on cre-
dentials and adjourned until p. IN. AT
that hour tho delegates found themselves
cropping about In the dark, the electric lights
having been turned off. The middle-of-the-
road men said it was Bryan trick. Find
ing that the committee Oh credentials would
not be ready to report until morning any
way, the convention adjourned until 10
O'Clock Thursday morning.
CoXoy, with his son-in-law Carl Browne,
and his young son, Legal Tender, were
conspicuous figures Mt the convention.
j. W. Hayes, of tho knights OF Labor, and
W. D. Vincent were chosen temporary secre-
taiies of the convention.
The committee, at Its afternoon meeting
took up the various contests, illinois, being
the first in order. This contest involved
the seats of the 20 delegates from the con-
gressiOnal district comprised in Chicago.
One of the delegation was headed by ii. S.
Taylor, and the other by William Burns, who
was imprisoned with Eugene Debs after the
Chicago strike. Speeches were made by
both Burns and Taylor, and bitter charges
were made against each other. The contest
was decided by the adoption, by 40 to IL, of
II motion offered by Ignatius Donnelly. xiv
ing each member Of both delegations half u
vote. The hearing in the Ohio case follow
cd. This controversy applied to the Nine
tcenth district, involving three district seats,
and indirectly the seat OF enc delegate at
large. The National Committee took middle
ground and gave each member of the two
delegations half vote.
There were two sessions Of the Populist
convention Thursday morning session of
tive hours and an afternoon session of six
hours. The latter carried the convention
into the night. Senator Allen, of Nebraska,
was elected permanent chairman.
The convention was called 10 order Friday
morning by Senator Allen, permanent chair
man, ut i0;05 o'clock. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Mr.. Williams, OF the Union Method
ist church OF St Louis.
\ gavel. constructed In the State of Ohio,
out OF 48 kinds of timber, representing
every state, was presented ia the chairman
10y Delegate Noe, Of Ohio, rs Il "middlc-of-
the-road" gavel and it was accepted by the
chairman.
After considerable debate the Womans
Suffrage plank was defeated In the Populist
resolutions committee. 1t was antagonized
by tho southern and western delegates, the
members from Utah declaring that II 1t pre-
vailed the vote In that State would be turn
I'd over entirely to the mormon church. An
othes plank declares the election Of Presi-
rect vote ofthe people. After some discus
sion and opposition from southern delegates
who deplored anything that would raise an
issue, plank was adopted declaring for a
free ballot and a fair count.
The Populist committee on resolutions re-
jected Coxcys non-interest bearing bond
scheme by a vote OF II ayes to 25 nays. At
II o'clock the committee had agreed upon
the preamble to the platform, and several
sections of the financial plank.
demand Is made for such legislation as
will enable every industrious and prudent
citizen to secure home, and declares that
public lands should not be monopolized for
speculative purposes. The policy that has
prevailed In the interior department enabling
bona ilde settlers to be despoled Of their
homes, is condemned, and remedial legisla-
tion demanded.
The sympathy OF the party with Cuba in
her struggle for political freedom and inde-
pendence, Is expressed, and tho declaration
made that the time has come when the Unit
cd States, the greatest republic OF the world,
should recognize that island rs a FREQ and in
dependent state.
The last session Of the convention which
lasted until almost ! o'clock Saturday after
noon, was marked by scenes of turbulence
and noisy excitement, which several times
bordered ON actual riot and what almost
precipitated personal collisions. Ono fst
fight did occur. A Rhode Island delegate
was elected and n West Virginia delegate,
inaamed by the action of the convention,
walked suddenly out Of the hall The storm
center, as on the three previous days was in
the Texas delegation.
William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska who
was Nominated by the Democratic conven-
ton at Chicago a fortnight ago was made
the standard-bearer of the Populist party by
vote of ,047 to 331
Tho democratic candidates was nominated
in the face Of his own protest In the shape oi
telegram directing the withdrawal OF his
namo sent to Senator Jones, after sewall. his
running mate, had been ditched for the vice.
presidential nomination, and Thomas E
Watson, Of Georgia, had been named fol
second place on the ticket. 1t was alsc
made in the teeth of an opposition 80 bitter
that after the convention adjourned some oi
the radicals held trump" convention.
]. A. Edgerton, of Nebraska, was choser
secretary and c. Rankin, of Indiana, treas.
urer of the Populist National committee. J
A. Sovereign, Of Arkansas; G. T.. Taylor, o
Pennsylvania; II. W. Reed, of Georgia; j. s
Dore. of California; G. i. Washburn, o
Massachusetts, and J. D. Brcidenthal, o
Kansas, were elected the executive com