The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-23
POPULIST CONVENTION SEEMS
DESTINED TO SHARE THE
FATE OF THE OTHERS.
The BRYAN FACTION WORKING HARD
The Middle of the Road Men Are Firm
for Separate Ticket-Rumors of
Compromises Circulating-Bryan
Supporters Claim a Majority.

dorsing or nominating Bryan. Some, like
Ex-Governor Lewelling of Kansas; Sen
ator Allen of Nebraska, John b. Weaver
of Iowa, who was the Populist candidate
for president in 1892; Capt. Reuben f.
Kolb of Alabama, who claims he was
twice defrauded out of the governorship
of his state; big-lunged Tom Patterson
and Governor Waite of Colorado, are
earnestly striving for IN endorsement Of
the Chicago ticket.
Chairman Taubeneck, Ignatius Donnel-
ly of Minnesota, Senator Butler of North
Carolina. Ex-Governor Bucha IAN of Ten
nessec, Gen. CoXey of Ohio, want to en-
dorse Bryan under terms laid down by
them; while Cyclone" Davis of Texas;
Paul Nandervoort of Nebraska, Col. f.
Burkctt of Mississippi, and others went
to keep in the middle of the road and
nominate Independently on an lndepen-
dent platform. Each faction esserts that
it desires to preserve the autonomy of the
party organization and that its way is
the right way Shipwrecked hopes and
bolt seems inevitable, no matter what
the outcome is. The Bryan supporters
claim to be in the majority. They are
we'll organized; their leaders are shrewd
and sagacious-many of them are eX-
perienced politicians-and in addition TO
this they have the open and active sup
port of the silver party leaders, whose
convention is likely to be simply Il Bryan
ratification meeting, of Senator Jones,
chairman of the Democratic committee.
who is here with his lieutenants striving
to this end. Their strength spreads over
the entire country west OF the MISSOURI,
where the cause of silver is paramount.
Many of the delegates from this section,
like Lewelling and PattisOn, declare that
if Bryan is not nominated or endorsed
here nine-tenths of the Populists will
support him and the identity of the Popu-
list party in the west will be destroyed.
The middle of the road POpuists are
mostly from the south, where for several
years they say it has been war to the
knife, and knife to the hilt in their battle
with the Democracy, and they have
nailed their banner to the mast. they
will have neither surrender nor fusion.
They have captured scattering votes IN
the west and quite a number from the
Pacific coast. In California they claim a
majority of the delegation. They are cX-
tremely radical. Their headquarters at
the I.acelde are constantly filled with a
pushing, noisy mass of people. The halls
are placarded with notices and editorials
from POpulist papers demanding the re-
pudiation of the Chicago ticket, and sew
eral orators are usually talking to the
crowd at the same time. An irredeem-
able currency and direct legislation are
proclaimed to be the foundations of their
faith The initiative and referedum
scheme. which is to originate all the
legislation. is the keystone of their arch.
I'VE want to do away with the SUI
preme court" shouted one of their
orators today. "Then we will rcmone-
tie silver. have government ownership
of railroads and telegraphs, enact immi-
grafton and income laws crush the mon
opolies and trusts that have us by The
throat"
These men will probably holt in any
event. although there are evidences of a
split in some of the southern delegations,
like that of Texas, if they can be held i'll
line, and those who desire 20 compromise
do not receive concessions which will ul-
timately bring them to the support of
Bryan.
The basis of representation is one dele
gate for each senator and representative,
and one for each 1000 Populists votes
cast. Under this apportionment Texas
and North Carolina have the largest dele
cations, ninety-tive each out of total of
about 1900. In North Carolina the fu-
sion Populists and Republican votes are
counted, and these two delegations, it
will be seen, comprise almost one-siXth
of the convention. Georgia, which is
also claimed by the middle of the road
faction, has 81. The largest of the
Bryan delegations is Kansas with 81;
Alabama. which is for Bryan. has 81,
and Nebraska 81. The Bryan people
claim that on a canvass that takes no
count of those delegations which have
not put in an appearance, they have 423
votes. Their claims. however, are dis
puted in several quarters.
The real fight appears to be between
the Bryan supporters and those who in
sist upon compromise that will give Of
fetal endorsement of the Populist or
ganization. A great many plans for this
compromise have been 'ugyested, the
basis of which is the adoption of Il
separate platform and Il division of the
electoral votes. AS to the rest plans diff
fer. Some desire separate ticket; others
are willing to accept rhe Chicago nomi-
nee. Today there was a movement in
favor of Il different running mate for
Bryan.
The middle of the road people suggest
Vandervort of Nebraska and Burkett of
Mississippi as a good ticket.
The Bryan people are closely organized
for effective work.
Mr.. Weaver is ut the head of the steer
ing committee, and they are laboring
with all the incoming delegates. The
main thing they have to contend with is
the dread among the rank and file that
they would be swallowed up by the
Democracy. They declare they were
first in the field with the cry for the
restoration of silver.
The Democrats stole our thunder
said 1gnatius Donnelly" and now they
want to bury u.s."
There is a total absence of BRASS bands
and scarcity of flags and bunting, but the
lack of music and trappings does not
dampen the ardor of the delegates. There
is noise enough to satisfy any frequenter
of conventions. The delegates crowd the
hotel corridors. All of them ere debaters
with strong convictions, and they take
into their confidence all within the sound
of their voices. Most of the whskers
are dotted with gray; many of the dele
gates are far on the seer and yellow, but
they are full of fire and enthusiasm. 1t
it not believed that over half the dele
gates are yet on the ground.
In case Bryan is nominated or en-
dOrsed, Chairman Jones has agreed that
the Populists shall have Two representa- a
tives in the national convention and the
silverites one.
The two southern men suggested for
vice president in the event of compri-
mise which would give the latter place
an, thn tin1,ot 30 ;gt JuIOa