The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-22
THE MIDDLE-oF-THE-RoAD MEN.
They Attempt to organizs. but DO Not
succeed.

So. Louis. July 2f.-The middle -of-the-
read Populisis, recognizing that the or
sanlZatfon OF the Bryan men was tell
Ing. today called a meeting and attempted
70 organize, but the non-arrival of dele
gates led TO deferring action. The at
tempt resulted in very spirited meet
ing.
A. H. Livingston. OF Missouri. was elect
ed temporary chairman. A delegate from
Oklahoma. named Albright, pointed out
man seated in front of the chairman and
declared he had been around various ho-
tells distributing Mark Hanna's money for
the purpose OF preventing the Endorsement
OF Bryan and OF defeating the Silver
party. The man was Silas Ross, of Buff
falo. Ross denied emphatically that he
had been engaged in any such business
or had ever seen the Oklahoma man be-
fore. Albright claimed that Ross repre-
sented himself 10 be from Baltimore and
other portions of the country. but upon
close questioning Albright admitted that
he might be mistaken. saying the man
looked very much like Ross. Later. Hack
staff. OF Colorado. entered and made
speech. The Oklahoma man said Hack
staff was the man with the money. Hack
staf immediately denied that he had ever
seen thv Oklahoma man before or was
engaged Ia anything but an effort to
select straixhtout Popuiist candidate for
president. The Oklahoma man seemed
dissatisfied. and went away after a mo-
tioa had been adopted requesting the
Bran men to leave the hall.
Before the last part Of this interesting
incident occurred a motion was carried
with a whoop that none but a straight
out-and-out Popuiist should be nominated
for president. Then occurred a row he
cause men with Bryan badges were In The
room. IL was claimed by the middle-of-
the-road Populists that these Bryan men
should either get out or declare them
selves for a middle of-the-road ticket.
There were several quarrels.
The secretary finally got senlblance OF
order by moving a call OF the roll oe
states 20 secure responses and see wha.
strength the middIe-of -the-road men would
have In the convention. Arizona did not
respond nor did Alabama. although a Flor
ida man stated that he understood Ala
hama was divided Arkansas was for the
Omaha platform. Colorado answered Two
delegations. one for Bryan. the other
straightous." The secretary moved that
the middle-of-the-roaf men use efforts to
exclude the Democratic delegation head
ed by Patterson. This was carried with
shout There we're no responses for Della
ware or the District OF Columbia. Flor
ila announced two votes for the middle
of-the-road cause. Georgia did not re-
Sp0GI. w 0en lflEAna was C2iit1 Il WIS
announced tnat the greater portion OF the
delegation was nliddle-of-t he-road. Idatos
seven votes would be cast for Bryan. said
James Gum. No matter what this CON
yention did, the Idaho populists would
vote solidiy for Bryan and carry the state
for him. The secretary made the point OF
order that this was q fniddle-of-the-road
meeting. and Bryan man had no right
10 try TO mike Il a Democratic ratiffca-
sE.-
Gum was granted a few minutes TO make
n statement. He detailed the hardships
the Populists had encountered. and said
that no matter what was done. he always
intended 10 remain a Popullst. When
Iowa was called Secretary Reed entered
into a discussion OF the preferences Of the
different delegates. After figuring out
five or six uiddie-of-the-road men, he
entered an emphatic denial of the state
ment that Iowa would cast thirty solid
votes for Bryan. delegate from Texas
named Wood chipped IN az peariy every
announcement. saving: Texas greets you
and promises = votes 20 help ont" He
and Webster. of Missouri. got into a dis
eussion OF a side matter, ard each warned
fhe uni9die-of-fhe-road men 70 keep out
OF a caucus OF the state delegations. which
would turn their VOTES over 10 Bryan. Both
said the unit rule should be avoided, and
u
When Illinois was called the announce
rrlent was made that there was an AltFeld
delegation for Bryan and Taylor delega-
ton for the middle of the road. II was
promptly asserted that Alleged was not
delegate The reply was made that Alt
geld controlled the Bryan delegation
When Maine was called a man mounted
chair and stated with great vehemence
that there was only one delegate from
Maine present but the delegation waz
solid FOR The middle % the road. A man
from Mississippi announced that his state
was opposed 20 any fusion. but he could
no. speak definitely. At this point J. g.
Hzskstafg Of Colorado. made speech IN
which ne declared thar The Patterson dele
ra.sS from Colorado we're '-very bad nea."
Thrpe cheers were given for Hackssag
Then snSuea the incident already related.
iu wnfeh the Oklahoma man was con-
cvrned.
Afte- thA adoption of motion 10 rut
cut fhe Bryan men. thas cutting OF sha
Gyx3aha-aa mans explznafion. 4 German
IpeouIsxr from 81 IsogEfx said it xas rot a
Po2sglisf na; Republican meeting Tnera
wara loud cries % Pat him out" and
.sTaewu w5.h the traitor" ''Sls d0wn-"
said thN chairman. Il won't sit down"
said me N Essourtan. you cant make usa
81 sszru." The chairman told some one
70 put hsrya out. The German showed fght
4 Minnesota man jumped IN with fists
da1ase8. Others fntsEferezt 20 prevent hos
.gfttse@. saa the NsSoBrsan vas hustled
tswara ~ door. declaring thai hts money.
whsrn paIA for the hSA Ant badges. haa
been diverted from the straight PogulasE
party 10 faction.
r9rsf rseesrreur nano concert L<xchi