The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-25

St Louis, July 24.-Only half of the
delegates to the Populist convention We're
in their seats at ID O'Clock this morning
when Senator Allen, the permanent chair
man, appeared on the platform and called
the convention to order
The committee to confer with a similar
committee from the silver convention was
then appointed, one from each State.
When Texas was called for its member
for the conference committee Delegate
Park jumped up and shouted: ''Texas
never treats with the enemy Texas
| names no member of that committee"
The regular order was called for. This
was the reading of the minority report
of the committee on rules. 1t raised a
change in the order of making nomina-
tions so as to make the nomination of
Vice President before that of President
This was move of the middle of the
I road men, The plain purpose of of the
straightouts was /, to test Sewall' :
| strength.
Judge Green, of Nebraska. declared the
Peoples party would emerge triumphant
from this contest if it grasped the oppor-
| tunity TO achieve success in November
for silver.
''Sit down, sit down." cried hundred
voices. "Ill not sit down." replied
Judge Green fiercely, ''until get ready"
When he completed his speech Con-
gresham Howard, of Alabama, one of the
stralghtoutS, came forward He took n
shot at Senator Allen for suggesting that
| any man wearing delegates badge was
influenced by the use of money. Howard
pleaded for the nomination of Vice-Pres-
ident first in the interest of the South and
party harmony.
Gorge Abbott. of Nebraska, appealed to
the convention not to change the regular
order of business
After he left the stand there were loud
cries for Cyclone Davis and Jerry
Simpson. The former quickly responded.
He made characteristic speech. With
arms waving like the fans of windmill,
he wanted to know If the men from the
'crested heights'' would give the South
the second place. There were. loud cries
of Eyes, we will" He announcedI that
they were willing to accept the Joshua of
Nebraska If they could be assured of
Candidate of their own for Vice-president
and the preservation of the Peoples party.
The committees recommendation that
nominating speeches of Vice-presdent
and President be limited to twenty min
utes and seconding to five minutes was
adopted
Senator Butler moved that the national
committee select its own chairman and
pliCClS, WHICH, WIS uSTttu 10.
The question relating to the order in
which Presidential and Vice Presidential
candidates should be nominated showed
the anti-Bryan delegates in favor OF the
adoption of the minority report
The roll call was followed with intense
interest.
BY this time il was rumored about
that the minority had small majority
in its favor. Bedlam broke loose The
band played, men wrestled with each
other and great excitement prevailed
When order was restored Congressman
Skinner demanded absolute pledges. 1--WE
don't want this convention rum" he
shouted, las Grover Cleveland was
elected-by false pretenses.n
The announcement of the vote in favor
OF the minority was of course the signal
for another enthusiastic anti Bryan de-
monstration.
Gen j. B. Weaver, chairman of the
committee on resolutions was then at
300 recognized to present the platform,
which was in brief as follows:
ltasserts that the influence of European
money changers has been more potent in
shaping legislation than the voice of the
American people and that plutocracy has
been enthroned on the ruins of Democ-
racy. To restore the government intended
by the fathers it demands the establish
ment of an economic and financial system
that will make us masters of our own
affairs and independent of European con
troll by the adoption of the following
declaration of principles:
national money safe and sound is
sued by the Government only without the
intervention of banks of issue and which
shall be a full legal tender for all debts,
public and private, is demanded along
with the free and unrestricted coinage of
silver and gold at the legal ratio of 16 to
l without waiting for the consent of for
eign nations; also an increase of the cir
culating medium sufficient to meet the
demands of the business population of
this country. The sale of bonds and the
increase of the public Understanding
debt Is denounced as without authority
except by specific act of Congress, and
legislation to prevent contracts for pay
ment in gold demanded. \ graduated
income tax is called for and the recent
decision of the supreme court against
that law Is denounced as misrepresenta-
ton of the constitution Postal savings
banks are demanded; also governmental
control and ownership of railroads The
schemes for the sale of the Pacific rail
roads or for refunding their debts are
denounced as infamous and the enforce
ment of the laws applicable thereto de-
manded. The ownership of the telegraph
by the Government is advocated, and in
order TO secure homes for Industrious
settlers the reclamation of land held by
nUnrnntonu An0 Wnuthlouu