Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-07-23
Populists Meeting.
NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
CONVENTION HELD IN THIS
CITY SATURDAY.
B. O. Sims Nominated For Congress
Strong Speeches Against Fus-
ion With the Democrats
Delegates to st. Louis
Are Selected.

Delegates to st. Louis
Are Selected.
The Populist Convention OF this
1.-THE NINTH Congressional district
convened in the Circuit Court room
in this city Saturday for the pur-
pose of electing a delegate to the Ma
tional Convention, which meets in st.
Louis on July 22nd, and nominating a
candidate for Congress from this dis
trict. Four of the counties in the dis
trict were represented, there being
about twenty delegates present be-
sides a small crowd of spectators.
At 1870 the convention was called to
order by Chairman w. A. Dillon, of
the Congressional Committee, who
read the call for the meeting, after
which B. o. Sims, of Audrain county,
was selected as temporary chairman
and J.. H. Roberts, of the same coun-
ty, as temporary secretary.
On motion it was decided that each
of the three committees should be
made up of n delegate from each
county. The following committees
were selected:
On order of business-Montgomery
county, R. G. White; Audrain coun-
ty, P. R. Cauthorn; Pike county, Mar
Gus W. Wood.
On MISUNDERSTANDING coun-
ty, E. A. Harris; Audrain county, T.
Turley; Pike county, j. T. Mcmillan;
Warren county, F. II. Durant.
On observation-disclosures coun-
ty, L. M. Bryan; Audrain county, S.
o. Wright; Pike county, G. P. Wells;
Warren county, James Yoacum.
While the committees yer out, DIR.
Hutchinson, of Clinton county, read a
speech to the convention. He began
by singing a campaign song, which
was not appiauded, and then contin-
ued by condemning both the old
~parties-not the men belonging TO
them. He said that he believed those
who voted the Republican and Demo-
cratic tickets thought they were doing
right, but that they were not. After
relating an anecdote he touched upon
the currency question.
DIR. Hutchinson said that the Popu-
lists could not afford to go over to
either of the old parties, but that they
must work to preserve the govern
ment. He said he saw the dissolution
of the country threatened by the
clouds of Democracy and Republican
ism and denounced the action of the
National Convention, say
ing that he could not indorse the nom
inee of that convention standing on
the platform adopted. This state
ment was applauded. DIR. Hutchinson
spoke for owe an hour.
When he had finished the Commit
tees on Resolutions and Credentials
reported.
The Committee on Resolutions made
the following report, which was adopt
ed:
To the Chairman and members of
the Peoples Party Congressional Con-
vention Ninth Missouri District now
in session in Mexico this 18th day of
July, 1896: We, your Committee on
Resolutions, beg leave to make the
following report:
Resolved, That we reafirm Jul adj
herence to Peoples party principles
as enunciated in the Omaha platform.
Resolved, Second, That we instruct
our delegates to the Peoples Party
National Convention to work or vote
for no nan who will not indorse the
Omaha platform.
F. Fl. DRUNERT, Chairman.
E. A. HARRIS, Sec'y.
The committee on credentials then
made their report, seating 20 dele
gates from Montgomery, Audrain,
Pike and Montgomery counties.
L. j. Sims then offered the following
motion:
Moved that all persons placed in
be required to state their
position on the following questions:
First. The Omaha platform.
Second. On fusion with any other
political party.
Third. On adopting a platform and
nominating a ticket for President and
.ice-President at the st. Louis Con-
The reading of this motion stirred
Up a hornets nest and was followed
,y a number of short speeches pro
con.
Fred Tompkins made a short, manly
Ipeech in which he said he objected
o Mr.. Sims motion. He said that
he leaders of the Populist party knew
he situation better than the delegates
iere and that they should be allowed
o govern things as they thought best.
He was followed by DIR. F. III. Dru-
lert, of Warren County, who also
to the motion being adopted.
lie brought forth a storm of applause
declaring that Mr.. Bryan could not
ndorse the Omaha platform, there-
ore he should not be the nominee of
he PoPulists.
After two or three more speeches
he motion raj put to a vote and car
a large number of delegates not
Nominations for delegates to the Ma
ional Convention were then in order
nd the following gentlemen were
ominated: w. A. Dillon, of Middle
own; l. j. Sims and T. T. Turley, of
.udrain county.
According to the motion adopted
ach candidate had to state his views. {
Mr.. Dillon was the first to do so and 1.
e was frequently applauded. He said /,
Q would never follow the standards j
T the Democratic party; that he was |
.ainst fusion with any other party
nd that If he was elected he would G
ote against any such a motion.
/. J. Sims then expressed his views, g
hich were substantially the same as /
Ir. Dillon's, emphatically declaring