The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-11-25

cupied the chair, tyranniZed over the
convention in a manner that would have
disgraced a backwOods school house. As
a sample of some of his rulings the fol-
lowing will suffice to characterize the
mans actions:
when the delegates voted down. d
motion to ajOurn two to one he declared
the motion carried and adjourned the
convention. Previous to this a motion
to ajourn had been voted down unanim-
ously, and after that the lights had been
turned out. AS it was to the interest of
Allen and his crowd to secure adjourn
ment, the question was put again and
declared carried in the face of two
thirds vote against it.
When motion was made to adjourn
in order to telegraph to Bryan and ask
ii he would stand on the platform, the
chair declared the motion out of order.
Parliamentary rules will have to be
revised-they say motion to adjourn is
always in order.
Another one of his phenomenal rul-
ings was that it requires only a majority
vote to suspend the rules.
He also ruled that minority report
cannot be considered and that the re-
port of the majority must be acted on
first, and had the convention vote that
way.
And then bedlam broke loose. All
kinds of banners and devices that had
been smuggled into the hall were pro-
duced and carried around in procession.
A large cross surmounted by crown
was in front and everything done to
stampede the convention. And it sue
ceeded. The men who were undecided
were caught by the demonstration and
the scale turned to Bryan.
"One might ask why the delegates per-
mitted such abominable rulings by the
chair. They coud not help themselves.
Every appeal from the decision of the
chair was ignored, and there was no re-
dress except by direct violence and that
was out of the question.
"Allen carried his point, but he lost
the confidence and esteem of honest
Populists."
in his opening address Mr.. Allen pro-
voked the anger of all true Populists in
the following language:
x tell you that every boodler in this
city tonight with Republican money in
his pocket is talking in the middle-of-
the-road.
Every paper in this country, every
man that has distributed Hanna's boo
die, from North to South and from East
to West, is crying in the middle -of-the-
road"
It was evident from the start that the
managers of the Bryan campaign were
intent on securing Bryan's nomination
at all hazards, if possible. 1t was like
wise their intention to do everything in
their power to secure the Endorsement of
Sewall. To describe Aliens tyrannical
course from first to last would require
more space than we care to devote. 1t
was almost impossible for middle-of-
the-road man to secure recognition on
the floor without he and his friends first
raising small sized riot On the other
hand the Bryan managers, when they
wanted to speak we're quickly recog-
nized, on the floor, or given place on
the speakers stand.
The most brilliant stroke the middle
of-the-roaders made was the motion to
reverse the order of business and NOM
mate the vice president first. On the
opposition to Sewall they could mass
their forces. This movement also un-
masked the position of the sell-outs who
delivering the convention over the Dem
ocracy. The false plea for union showed
up to mean absolute surrender.
By a good majority it was decided to
nominate the vice president first. When
this decision was made National Chair
man Jones wired the following telegram
to Mr.. Bryan:
"Populists nominate vice president
hot cho1
favor your declination in that case. An
sWer quick. }. K. JONES'.
Bryan answered at once with the fol-
lowing telegram:
II entirely agree with you. With
draw my name if Sewall is not nomin-
ated. w. j. BRYAN"
But Mr.. Bryan's telegram was not read
to the convention, nor did Mr.. Jones
withdraw Bryan's name as the telegram
instructed him to do
Then came the contest for vice pres
ident. 1t was evident from the start
that it was the intention of the Dem
ocracy to capture the convention If pos
sible.
Lafe Pence, ex-Populist congressman
from Colorado, but then and now rail-
road attorney in New York, put Sewall
in nomination.
Congressman Howard of Alabama,
nominated Watson.
Scores of speeches we're then made
seconding the nominations.
Col Harris, of Kansas, favored Sew
alrs nomination in a speech before the
convention. Tom Patterson, of Colo
RADIO, Frank A. Fogg, of Michigan, and
others also favored his nomination.
Hon. Ignatius Donnelly eloquently ssc-
onded the nomination of Watson, and
vigorously denounced the idea of NOM
mating Sewall. "The Populists of the
country" said he, rather than vote for
such a man, would see MIN 500 miles be-
low the lowest pit of hell"
Everybody knows the result Mr..
Watson was nominated and Sewall re-
jected by such an overwhelming major
ity that it ought forever to have settled
the question as to Populists supporting
Sewall either directly or indirectly:
Immediately after Watson's nomina-
ton, and while the enthusiasm was car
rying everything before it, the electric
lights went out, and it has since been
learned that this was done on purpose by
Bryan managers to save the defeat Of
their candidate.
When the order for nominations for
president was reached the attempt was
made to railroad Bryan's nomination
through rough shod.