The herald., 1896-07-22
Preparing to Annihilate
One Another
SILVER MEN QUIET AND Confident
Populists More Noisy Than the
Cyclone
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MEN
Shrek Their Claims of Ability to As.
sumo Control of Affairs
Fierce Fight Is Certain Over the Choice
of Chairman
Fears Are Expressed That When the Fight
Is Over the PopuIists VIII Be Found
to Have Eaten Each
Other Up
llDDLE OF THE ROAD MEN
Shrlek Their Claims of Ability to As.
sumo Control of Affairs
A Fierce Fight Is Certain Over the Choice
of Chairman
Special to the Herald.

Special to the Herald.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July 21.--The great
fighting convention of the age is now at
the battle field, and the fight is raging
with the utmost fury. Old stagers ad-
nit that such a series of combinations
and complications were never before
known at political convention.
Every man in st. Louis seems to be
a politician, and a goodly number Of
women have adopted the same profess
sion. The question of the hour is, Are
you for Bryan or not?" State delega-
tions are early on the field and are fight
ing in sessions held in hotel parlors ever
since they arrived. The silver party
men are so well agreed in favor Of Bry-
an that their quiet state makes people
forget that they are here. The Popu-
lists have come upon the city in such a
clamoring row that no man can say
what will be done.
The middle of the road" people have
control of the Southern and Laclede no.
tells, and the sidewalks and streets in
that vicinity. They have held half a
dozen meetings, and they claim to have
800 Of the 1900 delegates. The delega-
ton from Texas is leading the opposi-
tion to Bryan. The other southern DEL
egations that were said to be against
Bryan are rapidly coming in, and the
tide is setting in strongly for the young
hero. The Tennessee delegation is now
about unanimous for Bryan. The Ohio
people seem anxious for Bryan, with
some concessions. If Bryan is nominat-
ed Sewall will win also. The talk Of
another candidate for vice president
is the merest newspaper gush. All the
Populists of note seem to be here ex-
cept Taubeneck. His manifestos and
fiascos have nearly annihilated his in
fuence and have led many to express
ions of severe condemnation.
1t is probable that fight will be made
against Senator Butler for temporary
chairman. The committee reported In
his favor, but the radicals sent a COM
mittee to ask the senator his views on
the middle of the road. He sent word
that he was for Bryan as the only hope
of liberal people of all classes Even
Cyclone Davis of Texas is in favor Of
Butler for temporary chairman. OF the
California delegation, Daggett, Gill
strap, Dorr, and Buttner declare them
selves against Bryan in favor of a sep
arate ticket If Bryan is nominated or
endorsed. Gator Dillon, Wordall and
Hamilton are not in favor of a separate
ticket. The delegations from New
Mexico, Nebraska and Nevada are
solid for Bryan.
A radical platform is a certainty.
General A. ]. Warner informs me that
the Silver party expects to hold the
briefest possible session. nominate
Bryan and Sewall, then visit the Popu-
lists and encourage them to do likewise.
General Warner had searched in vain
for Southern California silver delegates
and was sorry they had stayed away.
Rumors of Hanna's gold are flying
everywhere. Some who claim to know
his agents say that several are in the
city and that they can point them out.
Crowds of gold men have developed a
great fondness for the society Of the
Populists and they urge them to stand
by their guns like Prohibitionists, even
if they do not expect to win victory
in a lifetime.
The California delegation held
stormy session tonight. Red hot
speeches were mado by Daggett, Ca
tor, Dillon, Eilstrap, Hutchison, Butt
ner and Dorr. A conference committee
was appointed to confer with other dele
cations. T. V. Gator, Taylor Rogers
and w. A. Vann are on that committee,
committee on platform, J. A. Johnston;
on permanent organization and rules Of
order, Ed Mcclure; on credentials, E.
M. Wardell.
Today's fight and tomorrow's are ex-
pected to be so fierce that the Kilkenny
cat fight will be utterly forgotten or
simply referred to as mild and friendly
tiff. EDWARD l.. HUTCHINSON
Proposed Joint Debate