The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-22
THEY'LL MEET TO-DAY
The POpulist and Silver Conventions
Will Have Their Turns.
BRYAN SENTIMENT LEADS
Much Dissension Among the Pops,
Who Promise to Enter into a
Fierce Fight-how the Sit
uation Now Stands.

St Louis. July 21-The populist and
silver conventions will convene to-mor-
row. the former in the hall In which
the republican national convention was
held. and the latter in Music hall,
where Grover Cleveland was renomi-
mated in 1883. Interest In the silver con-
vention has been eclipsed by the bitter
struggle among the populists over the
question of nominating or endorsing
Bryan. The programme of the silver
convention Is cut and dried. There Is
no division of sentiment. Congressman
Francis Newlands of Nevada will be
temporary chairman and william p
st. John, the New York banker, perma-
nent chairman. They will deliver their
speeches, platform of a single plank
in favor of the free coinage of silver
at l6 to l will be adopted. Bryan and
Sewall will be endorsed and the con-
vention will adjourn.
The populist, on the other hand, are
rent and torn by internal dissensions.
and the contending factions will plunge
Immediately into a fierce and deter
mined fight, which may be prolonged
for four or five days, and which. from
present indications. will probably re-
suit in a bolt no matter which fac
tion prevails. The Heterogeneous COM
plexion of the convention, comprising,
as 1t does, many whose opinions on the
question seem Numerically opposed
and the conditions that hedge the situa-
ions with q bulldog tenacity that
neither argument nor suasion seem
able to shake; the conflicting interests
and the condition that hedge the situa
Ition about would stagger the oldest po-
litical prophet were he to attempt to
forecast the result with anything like
detail.
The Bryan men still appear to be in
control and the leaders are very conf
dent that they are in the majority. Prac-
tically all the trained and experienced
generals are aligned with them. They
have the advice and counsel of Senator
Jones and the shrewd democratic man
ayers, who are vigilantly watching every
point in the battle. and all allies in the
republican silver boilers and the dele
gates to the silver convention. They have
a very thorough organization for sys-
tematic and effective work. To-day they
were reinforced by the arrival of 500
Bryan populist shouters from Nebraska.
headed by Governor Holcomb: $50 popu-
list workers from Kansas and many 9TH
or parts of the West. They are pressing
upon the middle of the road delegates the
view that the situation presents the sim
gle issue. Mckinley or Bryan; that the
western populists insist upon grasping
the opportunity to vote in the silver issue
whore their votes will count, and that
failure to nominate Bryan will split the
party wide open and cause dissensions
that will never heal. They confront the
southern delegates and scattering squads
from other sections who want to keep in
the middle Of the road and have no
track" as some Of them express 1t. with
either Of the old parties, especially the
democratic party, with which they have
been at war. While strong Of conviction
and vociferous In their declaration that
they will never surrender. the middle of
the road delegates are practically a disor-
ganixed crowd. They keep great deal Of
enthusiasm at their meetings and loudly
claim as high as 400 majority in the con,
vention.
The National Reform Press association
Is backing the middle of the road dele
gates with all the power 1t possesses. AL
together they are making q deafening
noise which, as Senator Allen says, cre-
ates an impression of numbers and
strength. Senator Marion Butler of North
Carolia is assaying the role Of compro-
miser. All his energies are bent in that
direction. He believes that both factions
could be harmonized and the integrity of
the populistic organization preserved by
the adoption Of poulist platform. A di-
vision OF electors In certain states and
the nomination Of Bryan for president and
Q Suothern populist for vice president. Al
together. sizing the situation up tonight.
Vt seems reasonably certain that Bryan
will be endorsed Beyond that nothing
can be safely predicted. A resolution will
be introduced in the convention to make
the field daisy the emblem Of the populist
party. 1t is lovely flower and grows in
almost all the countries where the silver
sentiment exists As conventionalized for
use and an emblem 1t would have 16 silver
petals with gold center. indicating that
slogan Of the campaign. 16 Of silver to 1
Of gold.
st. Louis. July N.-The middle of
the road" populists. recognizing the
organization OF the Bryan men, was
telling to-day, called q meeting and at
tempted to organize. but the non-ar-
rival Of delegates led to deferring ac-
tion. Many who arrived to-day, 1t IL
claimed, will join their ranks.
The attempt Of the middle OF the
road" men to organize resulted in a
very spirited meeting. A. H. Living
ston OF Missouri was elected temporary
chairman. A delegate from Oklahoma
named Albright pointed out a man
seated in front of the chairman and
declared he had been around various
hotels distributing Mark Hanna's
money for the purpose of pYeyentinp