The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-22

ST. LOUIS, July 2l.--The Popnllst and
silver conventions convene Tomorrow,
the former In the hail In which the Re-
publican national convention was held
five weeks ago, and the latter In Music
hall. where Grover Cleveland was re-
nominated In 'SS. Interest In the silver
convention has been completely eClpsed
by the bitter struggle among the Popu-
lists of nominating or endorsing Bryan.
The programme OF the silver conven-
tlon Is cut aud dried. There IL M dlvis-
Ion OF sentiment, Congressman Francis
Newlands, OF Nevada. will he temporary
chairman and William p. st. John, the
New York banker. permanent chairman.
They will deliver their speeches, plat
form OF n single plank, in favor OF the
free coinage Of silver. at 16 To I, viii be
adopted; Bryan and Scwall will be en-
dorscd nnd the convention will ad-
j0uru.
The Popullsts on the other hand are rent
mud torn by Internal dissenSiOnS and the
contendtng factions will plunge lmme-
diately into fierce and determined fight
which may be prolonged for four or five
days and which, from rre5ent inhica-
tionS, will probably result In a bolt no
matter which faction prevails The
heterogeneous composltlon Of the conven-
tlon. comprising as II does many whose
opinions on NIL questions Seem 10 be dIa-
metrIcnlly opposed. and who hold and
advocate those opinions with bulldog
tenacity that neither argument nor per-
sunslon seems able TO shake. The con-
illcting Interests and the conditions that
hedge the situation about would stagger
the oldest political prophet were he to
attempt to forecast the result with any,
thing like detail.
The Bryan men still appear 10 be in
control and the leaders are very con-
ident that they nre In the majority.
Practically all the trained md expert
enced generals are aligned with them;
they have the advice and counsel OF
Senator Jones and the shrewd Demo-
cratic managers who rnre diligently
waiting every point In the battle and
able allies In the silver boilers and the
delegates TO the silver convention. They
have very thorough organization for
systematic and effective work
To-day they were reinforced by the
arrival Of 800 Bryan Popullst shouters
from Nebraska, headed by Governor
iolc0mb, $50 energetic PopulIst work.
crs from Kansas and many from other
parts OF the west. They are pressing
upon the Middle OF the Road dele
gates the View that the situation pre-
sents the silver issue. Mckinley or
Bryan: that the western Popullsts insist
on grasping the opportunity to vote on
the silver Issue where their votes will
| count, and that failure 10 nominate
Bryan will split the party wide open
and cause dissensions that will never
heal. They confront the southern del
egates and scattering squads from 9TH
or sections who want TO keep the
Middle OF the Road" md have mo
truck" as some of them express. with
either OF the parties. especially the
Democratic party with which they
have been at war. While strong OF
conviction and rociferous In their de-
examinations that they will never sur
render the Middle Of the Rond" dclc-
gates are practically Il disOrEaniZed
| crowd. They keep up great deaf Of
enthusiasm ut their meetings and
loudly claim as high ms 800 majority In
the convention. The hotel corridors
ring with their OratOry and the up-
plause or their followers. but their
claims Of victory cannot be figured out
on paper unless In the final contest
those who Insist upon compromise
should eide with them. s
In certain quarters, however, they
appear TO have unducstlonably gained
strength. In Washington state, for In
stance, out of seventeen Bryan men,
who came In the delegation, they claim
to have captured all but two. They mr.
guc that they have disrupted both the
old political parties and with four more
years OF old party rule they will be able
to sweep the country. s
Altogether, sizing the situation up to-
night. 1t seems reasonably certain that
Bryan will be endorsed. Beyond that,
nothing can be safely predicted. a res
olution will he introduced In the con-
vcntIon to make the field daisy the cm-
blcm Of the Popullat party. II Is n lovely
flower. and grows In almost NIL the coun-
try where tho silver sentiment exists.
| AZ convCntionnllaed for use as an en-
| blcm. It would have sixteen silver petals
with n gold center. Indicating the slo-
gan OF the campaign. 1G OF silver to OF
| gold. buffalo" Jones. Of Oklahoma,
has submitted a novel proposition to. tho
| campaign managers. He wants to yoke
| ZIP couple of buffalnS md follow
Bryan about the country and hcnd all
| the big processions, f1c snys Jerry
Simpson. Of Kansas, has agreed TO drive
the team. st,