Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-22
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Tie String to the Illinois Contest-Select
 Officers.

Ire String to the Illinois Contest-Select
 Officers.
 St. Louis, July 21.-The national com mittee of the populist party at 10:30 o'clock this morning met to perfect the temporary organization of the conven- tion. Chairman Taubeneck presided, and about fifty members were present. This committee is organized upon rad 1cally different basis from that of the old parties. Each state and territory Is en- titled to three members, and out of the entire membership of 153 a central execu- tive committee of nine is chosen to man. age the campaign. The committee com prises two female members Mrs. Anna l.. Diggs of the District of Columbia, who was present today, and Mrs. A. o. Has kins from Arizona. There are no persons in official life on the committee except Senator Marion Butler of North Carolina, who carries proxy.
 There were but two contests of import- ance-those from Colorado and Illinois. The former involved the entire state dele gation, the latter the twenty-seven del- egates from Cook county (Chicago). The Colorado contestants were headed by Ex- Governor Waite, but he having declared in favor of Bryan's nomination his col- leagues deposed him for another leader,
 On the matter of temporary chairman, two candidates are mentioned, Gen. James B. Weaver of Iowa, who repre- SSnIeQ Ine 6TydH anu DeWdl tltHltfly and Senator Marion Butler of North Car olina, who was opposed to the indorse- ment of the democratic ticket.
 After the matter of membership of the committee had been determined the com mittee proceeded to consider applica tions by a number of the states for increased representation in the convention. The basis upon which this Is made by the na- tional committee in it's call is one dele gate for each 2000 votes cast at the pre-
 ~VA T.x the table of delegates for this convention the national committee was compelled to act upon data contained in the various political almanacs, and in the case of number of states this information prov ed to be inaccurate.
 The committeeman from each southern state demonstrated by certified copies of the tabulation of votes in his state that the populists were entitled to an increase in the number of delegates of from one to five, the latter being allowed the state of Texas. The several territories were allowed six delegates instead of four. making their representation equal to that in the democratic and republican conven- tions. Oklahoma was given the same right of representation as the states, that is one delegate for its delegate in con- eress, and one for each 2000 votes, which made its total representation nine. re- cess was then taken.
 Immediately upon reassembling short ly after 9 o'clock the committee took up the Cook county, Illinois, contest. Two speakers were heard for each delegation Seymour Stedman and William Burns for the Burns-Hogan faction, contesting. and H. s. Taylor and G. M. Miller for the Taylor contestees. There are twenty two seats involved.
 Upon the determination of the question there was much confusion in the com mittee and several motions were made and put by the chairman. First was motion to refer the case to sub-com- mittee-defeated, 56 to '.
 MT. Donnelly of Minnesota moved, in the interest of harmony, that the two delegations be seated, each member to have half a vote. For this substitute was proposed that the contest had not been sustained. This was declared to