New-York tribune., 1896-07-24
THE SITUATION AT ST. LOUIS.

Democratic National Committee, and his allies
In the Populist ranks who are now struggling
TO force an Endorsement Of the Bryan Sew all
ticket through the Populist National Conven-
ton. won genuinely important victory this
evening, when they succeeded In capturing the
n aohinery OF the Convention and seating az its
permanent chairman Senator William v. Allen.
Of Nebraska, Of the most outspoken and
radical leaders Of the Bryan wing Of the party
The Midde-of the Road, anti-Bryan forces
fought desperately to defeat Mr. Aliens election.
continuing their losing contest In the Convention
after 1t had been made plain in the Committee
on Organization that he had undoubtedly
majority behind him. The extreme straight
ticket managers pitted against the champion de-
batter against time Of the United States Sem
ate obscure. Middle the-Road delegate
from Maine, named Campon. who failed even
TO hold the New-England vote. and was
promptly deserted when the trial Of strength
came by the compromise or middle-course eie-
ment. headed by Senator Butler. of North Caro-
lima.
THE VOTE IN THE CONVENTION.
Allen was chosen permanent chairman by 75S
votes to 564 for Campion; and the Bryan and
compromise wings Of the party combined were
shown to control the Convention by majority
of nearly 200 Early in the afternoon a test
vote had occurred on the seating OF dozen
contesting delegates from Cook County. Illinois.
the anti-B Bryan and Butler factions combining
in favor Of the contestants. and the Bryan dele
gates generally voting against their admission.
The totals shown py the call OF states were o6o
for the contestants 10 642 against them. and
these figures were taken 10 prove that the
Bryan forces. pure and simple. though still in
chnrf ~
their absolute control Of the Convention.
Though Senator Aliens election as permanent
chairman was in gone sense personal triumph
and his majority of 194 was undoubtedly swoi-
len by accessons from the compromising ele-
ment headed by Senator Butler the result OF
the two skrmishes In the Convention was az
inspiriting to the Bryan leaders as It was de-
pressing and denoralizing TO the Mddle-of-the-
Road cause. To-night's vote on the permanent
craftsmanship does not. Of course, necessarily
foreshadow the nomination Of Mr.. Bryan as the
Presidential candidate of the Populist party.
yet the easy and emphatic triumph scored this
evening by his especial representatives among
the Populist leaders leaves his candidacy In
such hopeful state that only the most skilfui
and panstakng political generalship on the
part OF his disorganZed opponents can now put
his nomination peril AS a fact, the Middle
of-the- Road contingent in the Convention.
though declaiming vehemently and bitterly
against an acceptance or Endorsement Of the
Chicago nominees has failed utterly to carry
its opposition into practical effect.
sTRAIGHTOUTS LACKED LEADERSHIP.
1t has had from the beginning no recognized
leadership and no capacity for organization.
1t still lacks a candidate whom to concen-
trate the strength Of all the elements which
resent the effort Of the Democratic managers
and their allies here to force an allen ticket on
the Populist party. With no programme ous
opposition its strength has gradually been frit-
tered away and II Is doubtful whether II can
be rallied again in sufficient force to defeat the
boy Orators" nomination. or even to burden
II with conditions which will leave to the party
a semblance of political virility or autonomy
The vote for and against Senator Aliens cleo
tion TO the permanent presidency Of the Con.
yention followed, In the main. the lines OF
cleavage between the two factions already indi-
Gated in these dispatches. The Bryan leader
had behind him the Northwestern ard noun
tain States. and the bulk Of the vote in the
Eastern and Central States. and fair portion
of the delegations from Tennessee Alabama
Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky in tho
South The Middle-of-t -the-Road strength came
chiefly from Texas Arkansas Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi. Georgia. Missouri. Ohio and Michigan.
North Carolina, still seeking to hold q balance
of power In the Convention. craftiy divided its
strength 41ia votes going to Allen and 47l1 to
Campion. California and Washington cut away
from the Pacific Slope States. and gave more
than half of their votes to the candidates of the
straight-ticket faction. South Carolina and Ne
vada had no representation in the Convention,
Tillmanism having swamped the Peoples party
in the one State and the silver organization hav.
ing absorbed 1t in the other.
MAY SWALLOW BRYAN BUT NOT sEwALIA
Though Mr.. Aliens victory this evening 70
hailed by the Bryan faction as assuring the
boy Orators nomination beyond question for
the Presidency. the confidence OF the Bryan lead
ers in their ability to force Endorsement OF
sewall is far from genuine. They see that they
can now hope to control the Convention for
Bryan only by a margin Of PERHAPS 100 votes
and they fear that the increasing demand for .
compromise and the necessity OF forestallfng .
bolt will entail sacrifice Of at least portion o.
their present programme. The outlook. tnere-
fore. is rather for the nomination OF Bryan ror
President with PopulIst running mate Tor VICE
President than for the unconditional acceptance
NJ the Chicago ticket in its entirety. Doll os
some Of the Southern delegates II prooaoie
BRYAN Is nominated. IL Sewall Is also adopteo -
|. Populist candidate nothing can be stay an I'm
mediate accession Of at least 800 or 400 delegates
from the Convention.
There was q distinct drift Bryan's way In the
proceedings that followed the election Of Allen.
II was generally conceded to be Bryan vic.
tory Cyclone" Davis's speech. In which he
OUTING APPAREL
A romDiete aSsort ment at moderate pricea. 9p0s