The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-23

stood at the cradle of the greenback
party. l stood at the cradle of the
peoples party. and God forbid that |
should be here now to attend its fune-
raj. This is the great work OF the GEN.
tury. Let us do our duty. first deter
mining that We will neither desert nor
destroy our party" There were cheers
when Donnelly finished.
Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease got demon
stration as she ascended the stage just
before Chairman Taubeneck introduced
Senator Butler as temporary chairman
of the convention.
- a.t-, ..utier's Address
In introducing Senator Butler, Tau
beneck SAID he had been selected by
the national committee without a dis
senting vote and added the belief that
the convention would act In as great
unanimity as had the committee in
choosing the chairman. At the sugges-
tion of Committeeman Washburne,
three cheers were given for the young
senator.
I've are here" said the senator, "be-
cause there Is need for us TO be here"
He referred TO the fact that the two
parties had held charge of the govern
ment for % years. These parties had
brought the country to the verge OF
bankruptcy. Hence the need of the peo-
pies party. He referred to Mckinley
as the candidate of aggregated capital
and combined greed" He declared that
both the old parties for years kept the
greatest issue in American politics In
the background and fought sham bat
ties. No matter where the victory lay,
Wall street and Lombard street won.
Meanwhile the populist party, he said,
organized to bring relief to the people,
had grown steadily. Victories against
greed had been won. He described the
various campaigns through which the
party had passed in the various stages,
the hardships endured, the filings and
ridicule to which they had been SUBJ
jected, but they had at last torn the
mask from the old parties. The repub-
lican party had been forced to align it.
self with the money kings of Wall
street and Europe. The democratic
party was driven to the alternative to
sign with gold or the people. They
were so forced that in their despera-
tion they finally committed grand and
petty larceny-"Stole our platform ana
tried to steal our party" This state
ment set the convention wild.
why did not they steal our trans
portation plank?" shouted California
delegate.
"Ah," replied Butler. 1.-THE old demo.
cratic habit got the better OF them
there. They staddled that question"
"Whoopee" cried thousands of voices.
'4rsrsrve he aitS"
"If the peoples party should abandon
its organization" said Butler. the
democratic party at the next national
convention would repudiate the plat
form adopted at Chicago and Bryan
would not have any more chance OF
being nominated than Thomas Jeffer-
con would II he were alive to-day"
The financial question had been as
much an issue since 1872 as 1t was to-
day, but 1t remained for the peoples
party to force this issue to tie front
Right here" he said, comes our re-
sponsibility; the greatest responsibility
that ever fell to any party. Shall we
save the party or allow II to go down
In defeat? Shall II be said tnait this
great band of patriots. who have brok-
en- all party ties. had allowed them
selves to be controlled by prejudice
rather than by Patriotism Cries Of
mo" and applause greeted the Ques-
tion. He appealed for the cessation OF
petty prejudices. He had heard Vt in
timated by one extreme that Mark
Hanna was corrupting the party and
by the other that the democratic party
was doing II. As for himself. he had
enough faith In the integrity OF the
party to feel convinced the party was
not making itself an annex to the DEM
ocratic party This statement gave
the middle -of-the-roaders q chance to
cheer.
Cheers for Bryan.
The Bryan followers were Afforded an
opportunity TO shout when he added
there was grave danger that 1t might
be made a republican annex. Let us
find the truth in the middle way" he
said. This was the keynote OF the SEN
ators speech. but there was no especial
applause at this evident suggestion of
compromise. "If this convention" he
shouted passionately. does not follow
its own teachings 1t Is unworthy to
represent the people"
"Hurrah for Bryan" cried an Alaba-
ma delegate.
"Put him OUT" yelled several Texas
delegates.
what shall we do?" asked Butler.
Nominate Bryan" replied the same
Alabama delegate.
shut up!" Put him out" shouted
several hundred voices rs he demo-
crat?' called out some one. Yes"
moi" were intermingled cries.
Butler. waving his arms, appealing
ly. to secure quiet. said: Whom the
gods wish to destroy they first make
mad. Every time you interrupt me you
endanger yourselves. Our duty Is to
approve what Is right and condemn
what is wrong. I am telling you what
you will find when you get home. /
have been down among the coatless
farmers of my state and | know what
say Is true. | tell you they expect us
to rise to the level of patriotism and
travel In the path of conscience" 1t
was the duty Of all populists to stand
by what they had taught In the past
He believed the convention was going
TO do what was wisest. and added:
I'VE should stand together. go away
united. strip our coats for the fray,
and be prepared for any emergency.
however great. Remember. you are
peoples party men. remember. you
have accomplished more in four years
than the old parties. Do your duty
now: you will very soon be the party
Of the majority"
Butler closed amid tremendous ap-
plause. The states were called for
members Of the committee on creden-
tials. After the call. the convention,
at 2:10 took a recess until s o'clock to-
night.
D,rkness In ontrol,
When O'Clock the hour for the con-