The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-28
CONVENTION
SIDEL|GHTS
Incidents Of Interest and Obser-
vations Concerning the
Populist Meeting
in st. Louis.
ENDORSEMENT OF BRYAN
Causes That Led to Rejection
of Sewall and Nomina-
ton of Watson.
HANNA's DOODLE IN EVIDENCE
Butler Getting All the Praise
and All the "Cussin'."
HIS THE PLAN OF COMPROMISE.
The Middle of-the-Road Faction Was
Composed Principally of New
Recruits and Repubi-
can Emissaries.

ST. Louis, Mo-, July Editorial
Correspondence).- The natural ques-
tion that the readers of this correspon-
dence Will ask is: What were the UNI
DERIVING reasons for the action of the
Populist conyention?' | have been
here a week, have attended the sessions
of the convention, have talked freely to
men of all shades of opinions from
all sections, and think that l have faith
omed the spirit of the men who com
posed the convention. When | reached
here Monday night the impression was
general that Bryan and Sewall would
be endorsed, and that the silver forces
would present an unbroken front to the
enemy This was what nearly all the
prominent leaders of the party desired.
General Weaver and General Fields, the
Popuhst nominees for President and
Nice-President in 1892, were already
on the ground and were anxious for
their party TO come up to the just eX-
pectations of the friends of silver by
a plain and unequivocal endorsement
In this position they had the co-opeIa-
ton of Senators Allen, PETER, Kyle,
Stewart and Jones-eyery Populist
Senator except Butler-and nearly all
the strong men in the party in the
West. But when the delegations from
Texas, 105 strong, :arriyed, bearing
''middle-of-the-Toad banners, it became
apparent that the wisdom of the lead
ers would be met by bhe defiance of
those aspiring TO push aside the old
leaders and take the reins in their own
hands. The Georgia, Louisiana and
Mississippi delegations joined forces
with the Texans to demand a straight
ticket. and at least half of the North
Carolinians, led by Ramsey and Kes
Ter, were in full accord with the spirit
of making straight nominations. All
this time, while he had said nothing,
Butler was supposed TO stand in with
them. though there were those who be-
lieyed he was willing to 90 with the
other leaders in endorsing the whole
ticket. He soon saw what was clear,
that neither of the divisions were
strong enough to control, and he set
himself to effecting such compromise
as would permit the Bryan hosts to
name their fayorite for President, and
permit the middle-of- the-road men to
take the Viee-Presidency. Taubeneck,
chairman of the National Executive
committee, joined Butler in this plan
and they began TO bring argument
and persuasion to convert enough del
egates to bring 1T TO pass. And they
were successful. Butler is being prais.
ed and blamed as the author of the
plan. 1t was born out Of the necessi-
ties of the situation. Butler saw what
other leaders might have seen, and
what newspaper men saw. 1t may truly
be said that the policy pursued pre-
vented a bolt Either the endorsement
Of Bryan and Sewall, or the nominal
ton of straight 'ticket would have
resulted in an open bolt. The nomina-
ton Of Watson prevented A bolt in the
convention, though it caused much
dissatisfaction from both elements
lC may defeat silver. h. certainly opens
a door for trades and deals which UNI
scrupulous men might enter to Kill
the cause in the house of its friends.
There were three things that caused
the convention to refuse an endorse
n1ent of Sewall. They were these, as
/ gathered from talking with many
delegates:
/. Parity pride. The Populist party
now has an organization in most of the
States, and in half of them they poll
large vote. They have all the machin-
cry and paraphernalia that belongs to
the older prties, and a party spirit and
party pride that is characterized by
the zeal of new converts. In many
sections the local leaders have come
into conflict with leaders of other
PARTIES, prejudice and bad feeling have
followed and bitterness on both sides
has resulted. Some of these strong
party men have grown so bitter that
they have the feeling Of Aiissourian
with whom / talked: eff the choice
We're presented me of going back to
the Democrats or voting for Mckinley,
/ would vote for Mckinley. The Dem
ocrats have abused me and berated me
until III be id if I'll ever have any
thing to do with them" / ventured
to suggest that McKindey's election
would fasten the gold standard upon
the country, and that This party was
organized as a protest against such
legislation He said he didn't care
he'd rather have gold than see the Dem
ocratic party win even if that party
would carry out every POpulist de-
mand. He was an extreme type of
the partybug, about whom we have
heard so much in ithe hast half dozen
wears | do not write to criticize this
party bug. There are, perhaps, as
strong and unreasonable partisans in
other parties; and | pity any man of
any party who cannG. rise above the
prejudice ahat controlled his action.
4 North Carolina Populist, who OPP
posed endorsing Sewall, put it on this
ground. Our party is young. Its
success has been wonderful-in fact,
unprecedented. We believe 1t has a
great future. We believe it has done
more to bring silver to the front than
any other party, and hat there is ne
cessity for its existence. We cannot
let it die. The endorsement Of Bryan
and Sewall would disorganize and de-
moralize the Populist party, whereas
che election OF Bryan and a Populist
would give silver without destroying