San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-23
PEOPLES P0W-W0W.o
BIG MIDDLE-0F- THE-R0AD DE-
M0NSTRATI0N.
Morning Spent in Singing Songs While
the Committees Formulate
Reports.
WESTERN UNION BULLETINS.

Convention Hall. st. Louis, July %.
lO:0S a. m.-The weather is clear and
pleasant but the delegations are slow
in gathering. Both the Bryan and
the anti Bryan men claim the MAORI
ty. There will probably be a test vote
on the credentials committee report.
1910 a. m.-Chairman Butler has
called the convention TO order.
1O:1S a. m.-The committee on ere
dentials has been called ulpn to re-
port, but is not ready.
1920 a. m.-The roll of states is be-
ing called for the committee on per-
manent organization.
11:45 a. m.-The committees on per
manent organization, rules and plat
form have been appointed and have
retired.
11:53 a. ma delegate from Okla
homa takes the platform and enter
taihs the delegates.
Ills a. m.-Delegate Geo. +. Gath
en- of Alabama, introduces Mrs. Pen
nington, of Arkansas, who sings
Populist song.
12:4O p. m-The credentials commit
tee will not be ready to report until 3
o'clock. A motion to adjourn to that
hour is defeated.
12:45 n. m.-The convention takes
recess till 3 u. IN.
st. LOUIS, July 23.-The Popu-
lists began assembling in conven-
ton hall shortly after 8 o'clock
q. m. The delegates, with coats
slung over their arms, stood about
in the sultry atmosphere discus
sing the situation such as the ad-
visibility of endorsing Bryan, the
planks of the platform, and
kindred topics. "The middle-in-
the-roadn men could be heard voci-
terating everywhere.
j. j. Crandall, of Camden, New
Jersey, was distributing circulars in
favor of the ratification Of the plat
form of the new born Democracy,
lately christened at Chicago.
"The trouble will soon begin" he
shouted 1--WE don't want harmony"
The tall form of 1'Cyclone" Davis
could be seen everywhere on the
floor towering above the other
delegates.
"Stumpn Ashby held forth from
the rostrum Of a chair.
The Texas delegation contains
some of the most incorporating
men in the convention and they
were mad to the bone at the pros
pect of teing baked In their mid
dle-Of-the.road policy.
At 1906 Senator Butler appeared
on the platform. The attendance
in the galleries, as on yesterday,
is very thin, not more than 500 PEG.
pie being in the balconies. Five
minutes later Chairman Butler
called the convention to order and
Rev. Mr.. Stith offered the invoca-
ton.
The report of the committee on
credentials was called for, but no
one responded and the roll Of states
was called for members of commit
tees on permanent organization
and resolutions. There were at
times delays and the delegates
grew impatient. The-middle-Of-
the-road men were extremely sus-
picious and intimated that it was
part of a plot to defeat them.
After the announcement of the
committees on permanent Organi-
cation the members retired.
While other an announcements were
being made the middle-of-the-road
men attempted to make demon
stration. 1t was dramatically ar
ranged, but 1t only served to dem
onstrate the hopeless minority OF
straight.outs. A squad OF middle.
of-the-roaders, headed by Delegate
Branch, of Georgia, suddenly
plunged into the hall and came
Whooping down the center aisle,
Mr.. Branch with big white ban.
ner with this inscription middle
of-the-road straight ticket
At sight Of it Texas. Georgia,
Maine, Nilsson ri and Mississippi
delegates mounted their chairs and
yelled at the top Of their voices.
At the same time the middle-of-
the-road delegates stationed in the
gallery hurled out through the air
about peck Of small green tickets,
which broke and came like cloud
OF stage snow over the pit. The
four delegations gave cheer after
cheer, but the others sat stolidl,v In
their seats. About q sixth OF the
delegates joined In the demonstra-
ton.
The green tickets when examin-
ed contained the following:
"The Middle-of-the-road. Our