The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-29
ALL WERE SUSPICIOUS
He Has Sold Out" Was a Com
mon Expression.
PETTlCOAT POLITICS
The Women Exerted a Big In
fluence at st. Louis.
INSULT TO SENATOR STEWART
1t Was Disgraceful Piece of Business
The Silver Sentiment Sweep
ing the Entire West.

ST. Louis, Mo, July 26.-(Editorial
Correspondence -Suspicion, doubt
distrust These were the characters
tics of the Populist convention that
has just closed. There were honest
men in it-iust as honest men as could
be found anywhere-but if the expires
sions of the delegates themselves could
be relied on, there were very few who
were not on the make.
II am sick at heart" said one of the
most intelligent North Carolina Popu-
list delegates to me this morning as
we returned from the convention.
EVERY man seems suspicious of every
other man. He has sold out or he
wants to sell out is the answer to any
argument that doesn't please the hear
er. There seems a belief that most OF
the delegates here are on the make.
No party can live with so much inslnua-
ton of dishonesty and public charges
of selling out. | am new man at con-
ventions. If one-half of these charges
are true, most of the delegates ought
to be in the penitentiary instead OF IN
this convention. | do not for mo-
ment believe that money could control
this convention, but I have heard so
many delegates charge others with
selling out that | have come TO think
some are crying stop thief in order
to draw attention from their own
venality.'
This statement was frequently ex-
pressed by the better type of delegates
who are disguised with the lack OF
faith most every man had in his neigh
la1a foe
were talking about Senator Butler.
One called him "a d-n traitor who is
selling us out to the Democrats" An
other defended him from the charge
only to hear the fellow say II don't
know but what you have Mark
Hanna's money in your pocket right
now This happened in the North
Carolina delegation, which contained
the best men of any Southern delega-
ton. and in which there was less fric-
ton in the convention. In some dele
cations, not only were there charges
and counter-charges of selling out:
there We're assertions that the proof
could be furnished.
| do not mean to intimate that all
these charges are true. There were
very many of these delegates whose
honor and integrity are above suspl-
com. give these statements 10 SHOW
the air of suspicion and distrust that
prevailed, and to point a moral" 1t
was common to hear the middle-of-the-
road fellows say: Look at Gen. Weaver
over there. He has just had a confer
ence with Democratic managers. I'll
bet he is getting paid for his treach-
ery;" or Gen. Field was a good man
once, but he has sold out to the Demo-
Gratis" or 20, d-n Jerry Simpson
He's nothing but a Democratic agent,
and old PETER has sold out too"
Similar remarks were made to strang-
ers as well as TO delegates about Sena-
tor Allen, Senator Stewart, Senator
Jones, Senator Kyle, Congressman
Davis, Gov. Holcombe, Gen. Kolb, and
nearly every leader of prominence in
the party. The women delegates did
not escape SANDER and detraction.
They had ''sold OUT too. A difference
of opinion was sufficient ground for
charge of corruption, and these SLAM
ders became so common and were
banded about so freely that if a
stranger had dropped in and put ere