Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-23
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
The Populist Convention.

ress made by the peoples party go faI
is exciting the ire of some of the popu'
lists. Jerry Simpson last night de.
nounced some officers of the convention
as "a lot of imbeciles." Charges arc
made that the failure to light the hall
last night was aplot against the-middle.
of the-road men designed, in part, to
shut off Mrs. Lease, who was to have
delivered one of her characteristic
harangues against endorsing the
action of the democratic conven-
ton at Chicago. 1t is regard
ed as significant that twenty
five minutes after Chairman Butler
had adjourned the convention, the
lights were turned on. The Bryan and
anti.Bryan forces seem to be distinctly
aligned behind rival candidates for
permanent chairman, the Bryan men
favoring Senator Allen and the anti.
Bryan, or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
supporting Ignatius Donnelly. Each
side claims to have clear majority OF
the convention.
The middle of the road people claim
to have made many accessions to their
ranks and assert they can prevent the
nomination of Bryan. There is some
talk of running Ignatius Donnelly as q
straight populist candidate.
At ten minutes past ten Senator But
Ter, the temporary chairman, called the
convention to order. At that time the
body of the hall was about two.thirds
full and there were probably not two
hundred persons in the galleries. The
deputy sergeant-at-arms set the exam.
pie of laying aside coats and vests and
moving around in shirt sleeves. Many
of the delegates adopted a like cos
tune. There were several women
seated among the delegates. Rev. Mr..
Smith was selected to lead in prayer.
The chairman called for the report Of
the committee on credentials, but that
committee was still unprepared to re-
port and was given further time.
The roll of States was then called for
the names of committeeman on organi-
zation, resolutions and notification of
nominees. That operation was slow
and occupied much time. The names
of the proposed committeeman having
been sent in, those on the permanent
organization were requested to retire
for organization. The committee on
permanent organization will consider
these names: Senator Allen, OF Ne
braska; Ignatius Donelly, of Minnesota,
and Mr.. Champion, of Maine. Allen
will represent the straight-out Bryan
element, while Messrs. Donnelly and
Champion will be the candidates of the
middle-of-the-road faction.
Among the conspicuous persons on
the platform was Mr.. Jesse Harper, of
Kansas, who is said to have nominated
Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in
Chicago in 1860. Senator Stewart, of
Nevada, was also On the platform seat
ed between Senators Allen, of Nebras-
ks, and Kyle, of South Dakota, all of
them strong advocates of the endorse
ment of Bryan and Sewall.
The Bryan men. it is said this morn.
ing, are dissatisfied with Senator But
Ter, and an effort will be made to sub.
stitute another man for permanent
chairman, to which dignity, it is under
stood, Butler aspires.
Half an hour after retirement of the
committee on permanent organization
for consultation, message was receiv-
ed from it stating that committeeman
from nine States were absent. The
chairman announced the fact to the
convention and requested the absentees
to report Immediately in the committee
room.
At 11:35 The committee on platform
left the convention to meet at the Lin
dell Hotel.
Eugene Debs entered the convention
and was greeted with applause.
While the convention was waiting
patiently for some committee to report,
it was entertained by the band, but
Dixie was the only tune that awoke
enthusiasm.
A motion was made that the dele
gates to the silver convention be adj
mitted to this convention on the pre-
sentation of their badges. The motion
was greeted with Kisses.
The motion was ruled out of order.
a motion was made for an inquiry
as to why there was so much delay in
the report of the committee
on organization, but member of the
committee stated that the report was
now being typewriter and would be
presented as soon as possible.
Mr.. Washburn offered the following
resolution Whereas, we are all popu
lists and depreciate an attack which
has appeared in some of the newspa-
pers that there is disposition on the
part of any portion of this convention
to refuse to abide by the action of the
convention, therefore, resolved, that
we repudiate all such utterances as a
reflection on the fidelity of the men,
bers of this convention to the peoples
party.
Strong opposition was developed to
this on the part of the southern dele
gates and the point of order was made |
that the convention, not yet being per-
manently organized, it was out of order. |
This was followed by number of |
motions and the chair became involved |
N hopeless parliamentary tangle
rom which he finally extricated him
self by declaring the motion tabled.
A motion to take a recess until 2 |
o'clock met similar fate, although it
vas stated that the committee on cre-
ientials would not be ready to report
Until that hour.
a motion to take a recess until 8
,'clock was finally successful and the
chairman at 1915 declared
he convention adjourned.
The vote in the committee on per-