The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-22
Who will be Temporary Chairman of
the Populist Convention.


Who will be Temporary Chairman of
the Populist Convention.
every point in the battle, and able allies
in the silver bolters and the delegates
to the silver convention. They have a
very thorough organization for syste-
matte and effective work. To-day they
were reinforced by the arrival of 500
Bryan Populist shouters from Ne
braska, headed by Gov. Holcomb; $50
energetic PopuIist workers from Kan
sas, and many from other parts of the
West.
They are pressing upon the middle
of-the-road delegates the view that
the situation presents the single issue,
Mckinley or Bryan; that the Western
Populists insist upon grasping the
opportunity to vote on the silver issue
where their votes will count and that
failure to nominate Bryan will split
the party wide open and cause dissen-
sion that will never heal.
While strong of conviction and voci-
ferrous in their determinations that
they will never surrender, the middle
of-theroad delegates are practically
a disorganized crowd. They have a
y
ings and loudly claim as high as 600
majority in the convention. The hotel
corridors ring with their oratory and
the applause of their followers, but
their claims of victory cannot be ar
gued out on paper unless in the final
contest those who insist upon COM
promise side with them.
In certain quarters, however, they
appear to have unquestionably gained
strength. In Washington State for in
stance, out of II Bryan men who came
in the delegation, they claim to have
captured all but two. They argue that
they have disrupted both the old politi-
cal parties and with four more years
of old party rule they will be able to
sweep the country. Their meetings
are the feature of the convention
thus far.
At the meetings to-day, some one
raised the cry that a man named Silas
Ross, of Buffalo, was here in the inter
est of the Republican managers to pre-
vent the endorsement of Bryan and a
fight was only ayerted by the discov-
cry that the man at whom the assault
was lexeled was some one else. The
National Refrom Press Association is
backing the middle-of-the-road dele
cation with all the power it has. AL
together they are making deafening
noise which, as Senator Allen said.
creates an impression of numbers and
strength. "a few frogs in a pond, p"
said he, "can make the night hideous
with their believing"
Despite the wild claims of the
shouters, it was apparent to-day that
some of their leaders were weakening.
They were talking in a more temperate
strain and were suggesting compro-
misses as the best way out of the tam
gle. "CyclOne" Davis, for instance, pre-
pared a resolution, which he said he
would offer, declaring that in order to
defeat Mckinley and the gold standard
the Populists should agree upon COM
mittee on electors. Riffs in the lutes
OF several of the Southern middle-of-
the-road delegations were also dscov-
cred, notably in Texas.
The out-and-outers, If they should
control, are at sea as to candidate.
Paul Vandervoort, of Nebraska, and
Eugene V. Debs, are about the only
names canvassed since Congressman
Towne, of Minnesota, arrived to-day
and announced himself for Bryan. AL
though the Bryan managers seem con-
tident of success they are by no means
out of the woods. The compromise
propositions passed are the principal
sources Of their anxiety.
Senator Marion Butler, of North Car