The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-22
A. Caucus Of Delegates Wasn't
Going to Accept Butler.
DAVIS HOWLED DOWN.
They Yell, "Take Him Down, -
CHE Sold Us Out
Everyone Wanted to Talk,
Nearly Everyone Did.


eaucusing upon the subject Of temper
AIRY organization when they received
the news that the national committee
by an almost unanimous vote had Sc
1ected Marion Butler for temporary
chairman.
When it became known also that
''C,yclOne'' Davis had laid all the laur-
els Of Texas and her delegation at But
1er's feet, Davis chances were ended,
so far as receiving the support OF the
middle of the readers went.
After several speeches had been made
Jerome Kirby. Populist nominee for
governor of Texas, and who was pre-
siding at the meeting, was most favor
ably mentioned for temporary chair
man and the declaration was made that
he would be satisfactory to the middle
of the road POpulists- This announce
ment was received with cheers. The
meeting had been going on for some
time before this stage had been reach
ed. But little progress had been made
in business. The real interest centered
around the position of Butler as mid
die of the road candidate. A Texas
delegate, with a great deal Of eloquence
stated he had just come from confer
ence with Butler and knew his posi-
ton absolutely. He said Butler was
for Bryan and Populist nominee for
vice president. He had asked Butler
what position he would take in his
speech before the convention.
Butler informed him that he should
say that the POpulist party had reached
a crisis which it must meet and that it
should meet it in a manner which
would save the party and yet elect a
president favorable to silver. Butler
declared it was his intention to make
the first speech in the convention. The
Texas man declared himself as unal
terably opposed to Bryan and to But
Ter, and he was cheered by all the mid
die of the road men present.
A Georgia man made a very signih-
cant speech in which he stated there
was every appearance that their lead
ers had not treated them fairly. He
warned all every day Populists to
stand up straight for a temporary
chairman of their own and candidate
OF their own. The Georgia men could
not go back to their state if they gave
up their party organization for which
they had fought so long. He pledged
all but two votes Of Georgia against
Bryan and any compromise with the
Democrats.
The roll of states was called and dele
gates from several states made speeches
against the endorsement Of Bryan in
favor of a straight ticket. A crest deal
of bitterness was expressed by differ
that the leaders had sold them out to
secure offices for themselves and had
tried to deliver their votes without con-
suIting them. It was also reported that
these offices ranged from governors
and congressman to fourth class post
mastership. Several stirring remarks
were made against Taubeneck-
A North Carolina delegate undertook
to state the position of Butler, but when
confronted with Buffers own words as
given by the Texas man, said Butler
could not carry his delegation with him
and that he could not depend upon the
southern delegates to carry out the will
OF the national committee.
Mr.. Kirby, the chairman of the meet
ing, in an imprisoned speeeh de-
nounced the Democracy of Texas, say
ing that senators Of that state and
members of congress had represented
the Populists as the spawn of Kansas
grasshoppers." They made a fight
against these people and had finally
built themselves up to a position of i'm
portance; they were not willing to go
back; they would not go with the Dem
ocratfc party. And that is the senti-
ment of the Populist party Of Texas
so help me God" said Mr.. Kirby, "and
I want to warn all PopuHsts to keep
out of cess pools and pits which are
laid for US by the Republicans and
Democrats who are our common enc
miles,
When Mr.. Kirby concluded the tenn
porary organization was completed
and the roll call of states was ordered.
Three delegates from each state rep
reSentfng the middle of the road Senti-
ment, were allowed to remain in the
caucus. The representation from var
fous parts of the United States was not
road men. There were no responses
from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, Indian Territory, Kansas,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massa-
chusetts, Michigan. Montana, Nebras-
ka, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jer-
Sey, New Mexico. North Dakota, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Oklaho-
ma But those who did remain repre-
scented some very large delegations and
1T was freely claimed by the speech
makers that they would be able to
check the convention, prevent the nom
inatiOn Of Bryan and select a straight
out middle Of the road POpulist.
The middle of the road men contin-
ned making sDeecbeS until unite a late
hour They had about determined to
make Jerome Kirby of Texas, their
candidate for temporary chairman. but
some OF them thought It would be
good thing to have Marion Butler de-
clare himself. Accordingly, a commit
tee was appointed to wait upon and
invite him to come before the middle
of the road men, or if he could not
come, to announce his position. While
the committee was absent Cyclone
Davis entered the room and immedi-
ately there We're loud cries for a speech
He was lifted bodily on a table and
was visibly embarrassed. Davis had
been a middle of the road POpulist and
one OF the most pronounced mem DerS
from Texas in favor of a straightout
platform at the outset. But in the ma
tiOnal committee he supported Butler
His Texas friends wanted an explana-
ton. Davis finally explained that he
voted for Butler when he became con-
WINGED that it was question Of Butler