The San Francisco call., 1896-07-23
PARTY MEN
BEGIN THE STRUGGLE
Continued from First Page.

for the chairman and othcers by placing in
one corner of the stand table bearing a
large glass pitcher of icewater and a
couple of glasses. There, however. it
stopped. Soon after this some workmen
hung over the railing of one of the GAL
leries a fair-sized picture of Abraham
Lincoln, draped in the American flag, and
the sight of it drew out the first manifesto
ton of applause or interest that the con-
vention had yet given out.
At II o'clock there was still no sign of
an organization for the convention. The
portion of the hall reserved for delegates
was then about two-thirds filed and there
were not a hundred spectators in the GAL
leries. Probably one-third of the dele
gates were in their shirt sleeves, and
many women (not delegates) were seated
among them.
Just at the hour of noon three addi-
chairman's stand, and few cane-back
chairs were set alongside of them, but no
further attempt was made to decorate the
stand.
At 1915 the members of the Popuiist
National Committee took seats on the
platform. and with them were Senators
Butler OF North Carolina, Ignatius Dom
nelly of Minnesota, "Cyclone" Davis of
Texas, Senator Allen of Nebraska and
Governor Stone of Missouri.
at 1898 the convention was called to
order by Mr.. Taubeneck, chairman of the
National Committee, who announced that
the proceedings would be opened by
prayer by Rev. w. r. L. Smith of the
Third Baptist Church of st. Louis.
At the conclusion of prayer Governor
Stone of Missouri was introduced bv
Chairman Taubeneck and delivered an ad-
dress of welcome.
"The people of Missouri are an earnest.
as intense, as partisans, if you please, as
the people of other States," said the Gov
ernor. whether PopuIist, Republican or
Democrat, we are all agreed that freedom
of opinion, freedom of speech, freedom of
the press and freedom of the ballot must
be maintained. [Cheers.] We differ as to
methods and we differ often as to policies
and principles, but it is to be devoutly
hoped that all of US are actuated by love
of country and by motives of greatest
patriotism. [Applause.] l hope the day
is near at hand when this starry flag of
our great Nation shall be, indeed, an en-
blem not only of National unity, but of
National prosperity" [Cheers.1
Hon. Ignarius DonnelIy of Minnesota
responded to Governor Stones address of
welcome.
Selection of the center of the Missis-
sippi Valley for the convention of the
Peoples party" he said, 'was particu-
larly appropriate, because this movement
was an outgrowth from the agricultural
and laboring population of this country.
1t began at a million firesides, where the
farmer, in the silence of his home, studied
out for himself the causes of the Affections
he endured and united to find remedy.
sour city friends" he continued, ''for a
time regarded it as movement hostile to
themselves. They never could be further
from the truth. That which insures pros
perity to agriculture insures prosperity to
every honest industry in this whole broad
land. [Cheers.] 1t is at last dawning
even upon the minds of our far Eastern
cities that in asserting to the evil con-
ditions that now surround US they have
destroyed their own prosperity. [Cheers. !
While reaching out for foreign markets
where they must encounter the hostility
of the whole world they have permitted
their own natural market, of which they
had the monopoly, to fall into poverty
and wretchedness, and they are to-day in
sackcloth and ashes, feeling the result of
that mistaken policy. loud cheers.l
Mr.. Donnelly closed by making an elo-
quent appeal for unity.
81 stood at the cradle of the Peoples
party" he said. ''God forbid l should be
here to-day to attend its funeral. Stand
together, friends. Lift up your hearts to
the majesty and dignity of the duties laid
upon your shoulders. There is no man,
however popular or great, whose interests
are worth a sclntilla against this great
party. TCheers.l We must not desert it.
We must not destroy it." [Applause.l
The chairman asked such members of
the executive committee as were in the
body of the hall to step up to the plat
form. Among those who advanced was
Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease, who was warmly
cheered.
Chairman Taubeneck introduced as
temporary chairman of the convention
Senator Butler of North Carolina. Sena-
tor Butler was received with three cheers,
which he characterized as "a cyclone of
American patriotism"
Two political parties. he said, had held
National conventions this year, had
adopted platforms and had put forward
their Ieadsrs; and now another great
political party, young, but growing giant
in strength, had assembled to speak to the
American people at this critical and in
portant hour. [Cheers.l
The Populists were here because there
was need of them TO be here. The parties
that had had charge of the Government
since the war had succeeded in bringing
the Nation to the verge Of bankruptcy and
ruin and had necessitated the existence of
the PopuIist organization. The two
parties had We'd with each other in
'straddling," but now "straddling' was a
thing of the past.
He went on to speak OF the transporta-
ton question as standing side by side with
the money question, and he declared that
both those great questions would have to
be solved before the country got back to
prosperity.
The Peoples party had come into exist
ence to perform a great mission. There
40. . rooa.e;tv for its cominu ord ~ mo g