Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-07
Will SUPPORT MR. BRYAN
That Is What the PopulistS
Will Do,
SO SAYS TOM WATSON
But Demands That the Democrats Take
Down SewalI.
HE SPEAKS UPON HIS OWN RECORD
And Upon the Platform of His Party.
Denounces Clevelandism-Ot ther
Political Gossip From
Different States.
HE SPEAKS UPON HIS OWN RECORD

Atlanta, Ca Aug. 6.-The Georgia pop
ulist convention was called to order at
noon today by the Hon. Thomas Watson,
chairman of the state executive commit
tee, and as he mounted the platform he
was given a great ovation by the dele
gates and spectators. The convention
assembled in the hall of the house of rep
resentatives of the state capitol and is
largely attended. Chairman Watson
made no extended remarks, as he is re-
serving his speech for tonight's rally of
the populists, which will take place at
the city tabernacle, at which Watson
will be the central figure.
After the completion of the temporary
organization recess was taken until
o'clock.
The convention reassembed at 1:90
o'clock. Judge James K. Hines was
chosen permanent chairman. Judge
Hines was the defeated populist candi-
date for governor two years ago. ]. L.
Sibley of Cobb was made permanent sec
retary. Judge Hines spoke briefly, de-
claring that the populists were today
masters of the situation and that their
principles would triumph unless they
were very foolish. He said he could not
go the whole democratic hog and asked
the populists mot to be alarmed by the
silly pra ting of the foolish chairman or
the democratic committee. l beseech
you" he said, ito put out a full electoral
ticket for Bryan and Watson. 1t Will
not do to countenance Sewall, the DEM
ocratic nominee for vice president. Ii we
propose to fight the national banks and
great trusts we cannot take man who Is
identified with both."
Numerous resolutions were then intro
duced, all of which were referred with
out debate to the committee on platform.
Several of these dema nded the withdraw
al of Sewall by the democrats and took
the position that nothing would be con-
sidered in the way of fusion on the cleo
koral tickets unless based on Sewalfs
withdrawal as the condition precedent.
The committee on platform retired and
then the convention proceeded to the
election of a full electoral ticket, of which
Ex-Congressman w. H. FELTON, was
placed at the head.
At 4 o'clock the convention adjourned
until 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning, as II
was reported that the committee on plat
form would require several hours to ad-
just it's differences, 1t having struck
snag over the prohibition question. The
prohibitionists demand an unqualified
plank on the prohibition question, and
there is a very strong sentiment In the
committee against it. The most inter-
esting development of today was the dis
covery of the disqualification OF Rev. j.
B. Gambrell as candidate for governor.
The state constitution provides that no
person shall be eligible for the office OF
governor who shall not have been citi-
zen of the state for six years. DR.. Gam
brell removed to Georgia from Mlsslssip-
pi three years ago, and when the "middie
of the road" contingent discovered this
they were ecstatic with JOY Dr.. Gam
brell had been practically agreed upon
by the leaders, and it was understood
that it was Mr.. Watson's special desire
that he should be the nominee for gov
ernor The middle of the readers OPP
posed him bitterly on the ground tnat ne
had not been in active afhliation with the
party long enough to justify this recognl-
ton Dr. Gambrell Is prominent Bap-
tist minister and an enthusiastic prohl-
bitionist, and it was to catch the prohi-
bitionist vote and unite 1t with the popu-
list that his name was being urged. Ihe
discovery of his constitutional disqualih-
cation promptly removed him, however,
and it Is now certain that the convention
will nominate either Judge Hines or W.
l.. Peek for governor tomorrow. Peek
was the nominee of the party four years
ago and Hines two years ago The indl-
cations tonight are that Peek will be
nominated tomorrow and that Hines Will
retire in his behalf.
Great preparations have been made for
tonight's rally at the city tabernacle, and
Mr. Watson's speech tonight will an
moi nee his campaign policy.
Thomas E. Watson made tonight his
first speech since he was nominated for
vice president by the populists at st.
Louis. He had an audience of 5000 at the
Moody tabernacle here. The popuilsts
are holding their state convention, and
tonight's meeting was for the purpose OF
ratifying the nomination OF Bryan and
Watson. The audience was made up OF
members of all parties, but they were
mostly third partyites.
The night was warm and the old farm
ers drew off their coats. Congressman
Howard of Alabama, b. M. Blackburn
and Judge J. K. Hines preceded Watson.
The audience wanted Watson and insist
ed upon the others cutting their speeches
short.
Mr.. Watson began by asking that there
be no display of partisanship during the
proceedings. Let every man be chiefly
concerned for the welfare of his cuuntry.
There has never been known since 1860
such political upheaval as at present
confronts the country, he remarked. 1t
sweeps from ocean to ocean and from
lakes to gulf. What caused it? Some
say that 1T is demand for the free COIN
age of silver. That is partly true, but
there are other things. This country is
in revolt against Grover Cleyelandism,
which is the twin brother of John Sher-
manism. The people of the south, who
have so long been trained to one opinion,
have broken their party ties. They are
now thinking for themselves, their heads
having ceased to be mere hat pegs.
Our concern for free silver is not our
only grievance. We indict the govern
ment OF the United states because IL mas
dealt badly with the people. Applause)
This government has been administered
IN the interest of the rich against the in
terests OF the poor, of the dollar against
the man. Powers that have belonged to
the sovereign have been given to priv
tleged class. The national banks have
been given the power to expand and con-
tract the currency. We do not fghtthe ma
tional banker as an individual, but the
system. We demand that the govern
ment shall take back the power to make
money and exercise 1t for the benefit of
the people.
We complain that the government does
not tax the bondholder and the railroad
kings as 1t taxes the poor man. This