The herald., 1896-07-23
OF THE ROAD MEN
Decline to Be Driven Into Alleged Demo.
cratic Traps
From the Spectators Standpoint the Con.
vention Is a Failure
No Wildcat Fighting, and the Galleries An
Empty Waste - The Prospect Of
q Bolt Is Now An Abso-
lutte Certainty
Special to the Herald.

Special to the Herald.
ST. LOUIS, July 22.-The first days
work has not changed the political situ-
alton further than to weary the radicals
of both extremes.
Daggetf and Gilstrap Of California dis
tinguished themselves by frequently in
terrupting Chairman Butler when he
was delivering his address, and ex-Con-
gressman Howard of Alabama, who is a
fierce and passionate opponent of Bryan
kept yelling Bryan's name for the pur-
pose of making it odious to the delegates.
When the day session adjourned Car
ter of Georgia mounted the platform and
appealed to the middle of the road peo-
pie to remain awhile and form an or
ganization of their own.
Ex-Congressman Howard then began
harangue which lasted half an hour
and in which he appealed to the dele
gates to vote against anything and
everything that the southern Democrats
wanted.
Ashley of Texas spoke in the same vein.
Cyclone Davis of Texas was then intro
duced and he proved the validity of his
title to his sobriquet. In voice as clear
as a bell and as resonant as a fog horn.
and with his whole frame quivering with
excitement, he stormed and thundered
for half an hour. The crowd listened
with intense interest and the cyclonic
orator finished in perfect whirlwnd of
eloquence which was a passionate ap-
peal for a compromise that would lead
the ~ is out of the wilderness.
A few of the delegates remained and
made some sort of an organization. A
vast crowd went to attend the evening
session, but because of some manage
mentor mismanagement-the hall was
in darkness and could not be lighted. A
E9aw minutes after the enforced adjourn
aent of the convention, the lights failed
o work in the committee room at the
Lindell hotel, where the committee on
credentials was in session. Charges of
jobbery and interference were numer-
Gus.
The chief trouble of the committee is
the adjustment of the claims of rival
delegations from Chicago. Because of
lack Of experienced leaders and an un-
common dislike OF leaders of any kind,
matters are now in a chaotic state. Ger
tainly no other political convention of
Americans ever faced such labyrinthine
difficulties or had so many elements to
reconcile, or to fight with. The Bryan
Populists are in possession of the Lindell
hotel, and several smaller hotels. while
the Southern hotel and the Laclede no.
tel are in the hands of other factions.
So many schemes for nominations and
] compromises never before interested the
people.
Charges against Hannas cohorts are
still rife. Some of the local papers have
/ published the names and addresses of
persons charged with working off Han
mas surplus coin to prevent Bryan's en-
dorsement.
H The silver men expect to nominate
Bryan during their next forenoon's
work. Then they will probably adjourn
until Friday to wait for the result of the
Populists' work before proceeding with
the nomination of candidate for vice
president If the Populists nominate
Bryan and fail to nominate Sewall, the
Silver party expects to nominate the
Populists' presidential candidate.
l have interviewed nearly all of the
ablest workers in both factions of the
Peoples party. Senator PETER thinks
that Bryan will be nominated on Thurs
day afternoon or evening, and that Clark
/ of North Carolina, or some other south
erner, will be nominated for vice. -presi-
went; that an agreement will be made
with the Democrats so that the Demo-
cratic and Populist electoral tickets will
agree, except as to the matter of the vice.
presidential candidates. and that the
party polling the largest vote may Sc
cure the vice-president.
Senator Butler, the chairman, thinks
that we can agree upon candidates with
! in day or two, and that Bryan and Sc
wall will be nominated
Ex-Congressman Hartsell of Illinois
is working hard for Bryan.
Senator Allen of Nebraska thinks that
Bryan and Sewall will be nominated
and that they will sweep the country like
cyclone.
John w. Breidenthal, state bank ex-
aminer of Kansas. and Hon. w. H. Bid
die Of the same state are working for
Bryan. They say that everybody in the