The herald., 1896-07-21
A STEERING COMMITTEE
SYSTEMATIC Effort to Secure the Endorscmen mt
of Bryan

ystematic Effort to Secure the Endorsement
of Bryan
ST. LOUIS. July 2O.-The delegates to
! the Popuist convention favorable to an
! Endorsement of Bryan met again today
at the Lindell hotel and made permanent
their temporary organization of last
night. electing J. b. Weaver chairman
and Bailey, Young and Merratt secre-
| taries.
They also appointed a steering COM
mttee, with Weaver as chairman, TO
take hand in the movement for the in
dorsement of Bryan and to act very
much as the silver steering committee
did at the Democratic convention in
! Chicago.
| 1t was the general feeling that much
would depend on the thoroughness with
which the steering committee should do
| its work, and the Chicago committee
was frequently referred to as a good ex
ample, not only in point of thoroughness
of organization but also as to the results
attained. The committee is to canvass
the delegations as they arrive, and be-
sides doing missionary work among them
| is to constantly report to the full commit
| tee Among the states represented at
the meeting today We're Maryland. Penn
! sylvania, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma,
! Nevada, Utah, California. Washington,
| West Virginia, Nebraska, District of
Columbia Indiana Iowa and Montana.
An imperfect canvass of the delegates
so far as they had arrived was reported,
as a result of which the Bryan people
make their claims as to delegates: Ala
.
Illinois, 81; Iowa so; Nebraska, 81; Okla
homa, .; California. 19; Indiana, 40; Kan
sas, 90; Maryland 8; Nevada, Z; Penn
sylvania, 30; West Virginia, s; District
of Columbia. 4; Utah. 8.
Besides these definite claims. Bryan's
friends say they have had assurances of
a large part if not all of the Minnesota,
Missouri, Oregon, Washington and Ohio
delegations.
There are also various states from
which no word has been received and to
which no claim is made.
The "middle of the road" faction does
not by any means admit these claims.
They say, for instance, in the case of
California. they will get all but three
votes and in Iowa a majority. They also
claim that Missouri and Washington will
be with them instead of with the Bryan
people. They admit that Alabama is
doubtful. but claim the solid votes of
Texas. Mississippi and Florida against
the Endorsement of Bryan. They also
say that Georgia is opposed to the Bryan
policy, so far as heard from.
The middle of the road men are doing
some close figuring tonight and an
nounce that a canvass of the delegates
already here and those who are on the
way and whose position is known will
give them majority of 291 against
Bryan and for a straight ticket There
are TO be two middle of the road" meet
ings tomorrow one in the afternoon and
another in the evening. Speeches are to
be made by Hardstaff and SouthwiclI of
Colorado and Cyclone" Davis of Texas.
EX-Congressman jerry Simpson, who
is a very shrewd observer, is strongly of
the opinion that Bryan and Sewall will
be endorsed.
The issue is paramount" said he "and
men dare not play politics at such a time
as this. If this convention should re-
fuse to endorse Bryan, the Populist
party would not contain a corporals
guard in November. Honest endorse
ment is the only salvation of the party.
SO far as Kansas is concerned it matters
not what this convention does. We en-
dorse Bryan and vote for silver"