, 1896-07-20
THREE SIDED BATTLE.
POPUIISTS LINING UP IN ST.
LOUIS READY FOR
TROUBLE.
A Bolt is Considered Inevitable, But
Just What the Various Factions
Will Decide Upon Is Beyond Con-
jecture-Taubeneck Makes a State
ment.


have arrived. but among the leaders
who have reached the city a very bitter
war has already developed. They seem
TO be aligning themselves for a three
%cornered fight; first, those who favor a
straight Endorsement of Bryan and
Sewall, which will bring to the Chicago
ticket the support of the populists; sec
ond, those who desire a fusion electoral
ticket. which will maintain the popu-
list party organization intact, and place
the leaders in a position to demand
recognition in the event the ticket is
successful; and third. what are known
as the middle OF the road" populists,
who favor an Independent platform
and who oppose fusion in any form.
The latter, If present indications count
for anything, will eventually be over
ruled. The middle OF the road" men,
however, will prove stronger and valu-
able allies Of the leaders Of the second
class. who are determined to preserve
their party organization at all hazards.
but who profess an earnest desire to
combine all the silver strength If a way
can be found to give them recognition.
The real fight, 1t is believed, will come
between this faction and those who are
in favor Of putting behind them, for
the present, all pride OF party, for the
sake of the cause of silver. to which
they are pledged.
TAUBENECK'S STATEMENT.
Chairman Taubeneck. the leader OF
this middle wing, gave out a statement
last night, outlining the plan for a fus-
ion Of electors as the only condition IN
which he is willing to join hands with
the free silver democracy. But even
with fusion electors he wants a set Of
populist nominees, the purpose being,
II his plan is carried out, to elect Bryan
president and a populist vice president.
Taubeneck's interview met with a
storm of protests from the faction
which advocates the straight indorse-
ment of L., -. and Sewail as The only
chance Of solidifying the silver forces
and gaining victory.
Among those populists who have ar
position to %indorsing Bryan and Sew
| all, without conditions. Senator But
Ter OF North Carolina. who heartily IA
vors harmonizing all the silver ele-
ments as the only way to win, points
| olrt the strong enmity between the pop
utists and democrats in the south and
| expresses the opinion that unless the
| populist organization Is recognized In
| che fight it will be impossible to secure
the support of the rank and file Of the
populists OF the south for the Chicago
| ticket.
CALLED ON BRYAN.
George F. Washburn of Boston,
chairman Of the eastern wing Of the
populists, returned today from a visit
to MI. Bryan at Lincoln. where he went
presumably to confer with the candi-
date concerning his Endorsement Of the
populists. He was %outspoken in his ex-
preston that the Chicago ticket should
be Endorsed and the people given an
opportunity to express a clear verdict
on the issue.
All the indications are that the on
vention will be a very lively AFFAIR, with
the certainty Of much bitter wrangling
and the probability OF some sensational
incidents and Of a bolt OF larger or
smaller dimensions, no matter what
the ultimate decision OF the conven-
ton is. The leaders of the American
silver party who are here, appear to be