San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-22
POPS CONVENTION.
PRELIMINARY ASSEMBLY MADE
THIS MORNING.
Middle-of-the-roader Seem All At Sea-
Bryan Democfatic-PO pulists Will
Usurp the Peoples
Party Rights.

die. f.the.road men have decided
to place o. d. Jones, of Missouri,
in nomination for temporary chair
man, against Senator Marion But
Ter, who has been selected by the
national committee. The Middle
of.the-road men are not holding
any formal meetings, but that
agreement was reached among q
few leaders who gathered this
morning. The Middle-of.the.road
men are not to be frightened by
the threat that Jones is not dele
gate, aud claim any man can be
chosen for chairman. 1t was also
announced early today that
definite agreement had been reach
ed to place Paul Vandervoort, Of
Nebraska, in nomination in oppo-
sition to Bryan. Vandervoort has
consented to run before the con-
yention, and says he will give them
ali the fight he has in him. The
Middle, Of the. road men are not
well organized and have no definite
idea of their strength, either on
the temporary Craftsmanship or on
the nomination of candidates.
The probability Is now there will
be little or no opposition in select
ing Senator Butler for temporary
chairman. just before getting to
the convention the Texas delega-
ton decided not to make any fight
on him; that it was unwise to
show their strength.
The Texas delegation Is the back
bone of the middle-of the.road
movement, and its action Is likely
to influence other anti-Bryan men
in the convention. 1t was stated
at the Texas meeting that Butler
could not harm the cause by any
speech he might make. The Texas
men were not harmonious, and
there were many bitter express
sions heard against Butler. Some
delegates said they reserved the
right to support anyone they
pleased in opposition to the choice
of the national committee.
The hall in which the Populists
met in national convention today
was the same in which the ma
tional Republican convention was
held last month. There were the
same arrangements as to seats but
the decorations were not elabor-
ate. The delegates began stray
Cling in before 10 o'clock but the
spectators were slow in arriving.
When the pit was filled with dele
gates there were not 300 people in
the galleries.
AS the air in the hall grew OPP
pressive the delegates did not hes.
itate to shed their coats. Some of
them came to the hall with their
coats on their arms. Others re-
moved coat and vest and hung
them on the back of their chairs.
Many wore negligee shirts and
quite a number wore neither collar
nor cravat.
Several women delegates are on
the floor, among them Mrs. j. o.
A. Bush, of Prescott, Arkansas;
Mrs. Jennie B. Atherhold and Mrs.
Hes, of Colorado.
Senator Allen received the first
personal ovation.
The Texas delegation grew de-
monstrative. A moman posed
with a'middle-of-the-road stream
er pinned to her gown and they
cheered wildly. She waved her
handkerchief fransically in re-
Spouse and the enthusiastic Tex
ans crowded about to shake hands
with her. She proved to be Mrs.
Jones, of Chicago.
Then a Lone Star delegate
mounted chair and read num-
Der of kilograms from Texas Popu-
lists, admonishing them to keep in
the middle-of-the-road and bolt il
necessary. Stuart Ashby, one Of
the delegates, also made speech,
and it looked as IL Texas intended
to hold little convention all by
herself. Shortly before II o'clock
the chairman's table and oak gavel
were carried to the platform.
The Mississippi delegation
marched down the aisle with BAN
ners bearing the slogan "No Com
PROMISE There was an answer
ing yell of joy from the Texas
delegation as they recognized
their allies. The "middle-of-the-
road" leaders, after comforting to-
gether, decided not to make an or
ganized fight against the selection