The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-21
War TO KNIFE
And KNIFE TO HILT
Confusion In the Populist Convention
in St. Louis Threatens
Destruction.
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MEN
Confident OF . Majority Aasinnt Bryan
Bryan Aen Equally Confident Of
Victory With support Of
Silver Convention.

st. Louis. July 2O.--The Populist sit
nation does not crystallze rapidly. They
are at war over the question Of en-
dorslng or nominating Bryan. Some,
like Ex-Governor Llewelling, Of Kan
sas. Senator Allen. Of Nebraska; Gen.
Weaver, OF Iowa. who was the Popu-
list candidate for president In 1892;
Capt Reuben Kalb, Of Alabama, who
claims he was twice defrauded out Of
the governorship Of his state; Thomas
NJ. Patterson and Gov Waite, Of Col
orado. are earnestly striving for the
endorsement OF the Chicago ticket.
Chairman Taubeneck. Ignatius Dom
nelly. OF Minnesota. Senator Butler,
OF North Carolina, Ex-Governor Bu-
chanan. OF Tennessee, Gen. Coxey. Of
Ohio. want 10 endorse Bryan under
terms laid down by them; while "cy-
clone" Davis, OF Texas, Paul Wander
WORT. OF Nebraska. and others. want
TO keep in the middle Of the road and
nominate an independent ticket on an
| independent platform. Each faction
states that II desires to preserve the
autonomy of the party organization
and that it's way is the way. Ship
wreck and bolt seems inevitable no
matter what the ultimate outcome is.
The Bryan supporters claim to be in
the majority. They are well organiz-
ed. Their leaders are shrewd and sa-
gacious, many OF them experienced
politicians and In addition TO this they
have the open and active support OF
the silver party leaders. whose con-
vention is likely to be simply Bryan
ratification meeting. and Of Senator
Jones. chairman Of the Democratic
national committee. who Is here with
his ueutenants striving TO this end.
Their strength spreads over the en-
tire country west Of the Missouri,
where the cause OF silver is para
mount Many delegates from this sec
ton, like Llewelling, Of Kansas, and
Patterson, OF Colorado. declare that
II Bryan is not nominated or endors-
ed here nine-tenths Of the Populists
i will support him and the Identity OF
the Populist party in the West viii be
destroyed.
The middle-of-the-road Populists
mostly from the South where for sew
eral years they say 1t has been war to
the knife and knife to the hilt in their
battle with Democracy. and they have
nailed their banner to the mast. They
will have neither surrender nor fu-
sion They have captured the scat
tering votes in the West and quite a
number on the Pacific coast. An ire
deemable currency and direct legisla-
ton are proclaimed to be the founda-
tion OF their faith. The initiative and
referendum scheme which is to orig
mate all legislation with the people
and refer II back 10 them for endorse
ment is the keystone Of their arch.
These men will probably bolt in any
event. Although there are evidences
OF split in some Of the Southern
delegations. like that of Texas il
they can be held in line, and those
who desire a compromise do not re-
ceive the concessions which will ulti-
mately bring them to the support OF
Bryan. they may control majority OF
the convention. The basis of represen-
tation is one delegate for each senator
and representative. and one for each
! 1000 Populist votes cast. Under this
apportionment Texas and North Caro-
lima have the largest delegations, 95
EACH out of total of about 1900, In
North Carolina and Texas few Pop
ulist and Republican votes are count
ed and these two delegations, it will
be seen, comprise almost one-siXth of
the entire convention, Georgia has
81. The largest of the Bryan delega-
tions is Kansas, with 49, Alabama,
which is for Bryan, has "A. and Ne
braska 81. The Bryan people claim on
i preliminary canvass that takes no
account of some delegations which
have not yet put in an appearance, 42S
votes. Their claims, however, are dis
puted in several quarters.
The real fight appears to be between
the Bryan supporters and those who
insist upon a compromise that will
give the official endorsement of the
Popullst organization.
Many plans for this compromise
have been suggested, the basis of all
of which is the adoption of separate
platform and division of electors.
Today there was a movement in ia
vor of division of the ticket, Bryan
to head it. and some Populist, prefera-
bly, from the South to be his running
mate. All these plans are more OF
less impracticable as they would Gre
ate complications which would be hard
to straighten out Chairman Jones
has Indignantly rejected the PROPOSE.
} ton to throw Sewall overheard, and
the Bryan supporters in the Populist
party take a very positive position in
opposition to it.
! The "middle-of-the-road" men are