The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-16
PLANS OF THE GEORGIA POPS.
COL. PEEK WILLING To RUN FOR
GOVERNOR.

lie Is Opposed TO Endorsement of
the Democratic Ticket by the
PopuIist National Convention at
-. Louis-IIe FavOrs the Nomina-
lion of Teller for the Presidency.
The Colonel Thinks His Party in
This state Indorses HIS Views.
Atlanta. Ca. July l5.-Col W. L. Peek.
the populist candidate for governor four
years ago. and a lamb more than willing
TO be led 70 the same sacrifice again this
year. was IN Atlanta to-day. en- route
home from Paulding county, where he has
been working among the faithful
yes" said Col. Peek. Il VIII go TO the
national convention at ST. Louis, and I
Will oppose the endorsement OF the Chi
cago platform or ticket by our party. 1
want our own platform and our own
candidates. and 1 think you will find when
we get together that the sentiment will
crystalize. despite all the talk about the
populists endorsing the democratic ticket.
We have our own organization. and have
been lighting as a political party for four
or five years. and there Is no reason 1
can see why We should now throw up our
hands Because the democrats agree with
US on the currency question Is no reason
why we should Dissolve, in my judgment.
So far as 1 have been able to see. and 1
have been out among our people a good
deal since the Chicago convention, the
sentiment Is almost unanimous IN favor
OF having our own ticket"
who will you nomlnate2'
Teller" was his quick reply, He Is
the great man for the place, ana with
him we can put up great fight
II spoke TO 5000 people at Dallas yes-
terday" said Col. Peek, and / put 10
them this question, "Inasmlch as tho
democrats have adopted our platform and
have put out Bryan for President, and
have asked us to support their ticket, /
want every populist here who VIII vote
for Bryan to raise his hand. mot hand
went up.
Il then put the following question to
them; All populists here who are In fa-
vor of indorsing our platform adopted at
Omaha in 1892 and putting out our own
candidates on that platform, please rise.
They tumbled over each other getting up,
said the populist leader, enthusiastically.
81 have spoken to $4,000 populists within
the last thirty days" added Col. Peek,
"and in my addresses / have anticipated
the action Of the Chicago convention, and
not populist have ] been able TO find
who was willing to go back to democracy
as II now Is.
II have found our people enthusiastic
and determined wherever / have been. /
am satisfied that our party Is stronger
in Georgia than It has ever been, and that
It win carry the state by a large major
ity."
Col Peek Is an acknowledged aspirant
for the popuiist gubernatorlal nomination.
He says, however, that he is not making
a campaign TO obtain IT, but has said sim
ply that he would accept II the place Is
offered him.
The populist convention is called to
meet here on Aug. for the purpose Of
nominating a state ticket and electing a
new executive committee. Col. Tom Wat
son is at present chairman OF the populist
state committee, and will In all likelihood
be reappolnted to that position and have
charge OF thescomlng campaign.
Tom Watsons paper, the official organ
of the Dopulist party In Georgia. came
out this afternoon in opposition to popu-
list Endorsement of Bryan and 5ewall, ana
in favor Of separate ticket, both ma
tional and state, with Teller or the most
available man to lead in the national
fight