The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-07-21
HOLD THREE VIEWS
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AMONG
THEsPOPULTST LEADERS.

Bryan's Endorsement Is Favored by
One Faction, Another Desires
Fusion on the Electoral Ticket,
While the "NIiddle-of-the-Ro
Men Want an Independent Plat
form and Ticket.
st. Louis, July 21.-Few of the dele
gates to the Populist convention have
arrived, but among the leaders who
have reached the city a very bitter
war has already developed. They ap-
pear to be aligning themselves for Il
three-cornered fight; first, those who
favor a straight endorsement or NOM
ination Of Bryan and Sewalll which
will bring to the Chicago ticket the
support of the Populists; second, those
who desire fusion electoral ticket
which will maintain the Populist party
organization in the act and place the
leaders in position to demand recog-
niticn in the event the ticket is sue
cessful; and, third, what are known as
the middle of the road" Populists,
who favor ali Independent platform
and ticket, and who oppose fusion in
any form. The latter, if present indl-
cations count for anything, will event
ually be overruled The middle of
the road" men, however, will prove
strong and valuable allies of the lead
erS of the second class, who seem de-
termined to preserve their party or
O01 of a hazards hlJt who
fesS an earnest desire to combine oil
the silver strength if way can be
found to give them recognition. The
real fight, it is believed, will come be-
tween this faction and those who are
in favor of putting behind for the pres
ent all pride of party for the sake Of
the silver cause to which they are
pledged.
Chairman TaIbeneck, of this middle
wing, gave out Il statement Yesterday
outlining the plan of fusion electors as
teh only condition on which he is will
ing TO join hands with tie free silver
Democracy. But, even with fusion
electors, he wants set of
POpuIist Nominees,
the purpose being, if his plan is car
ried out, to elect Bryan president and
1ODullSJ Vice p1cSIucut' 1dUOC-
neck's interview met with storm Of
protests from the faction which advo-
Gates q straight endorsement of Bryan
ard Sewall as the only chance of So
lidifying the silver forces and gaining
victory.
Among those Fopulists who have ar
rived from the South there is much
opposition to the plan of endorsing
Bryan and SeWall without conditions.
Senator Butler Of South Carolina, who
heartily favors harmonizing all tile
silver elements as the only way to
win, points out the strong enmity be-
tween the PopLlsts and the Demo
Gratis in the South, and expresses the
opinion that unless the Populist or
ganization is recognized i'll the 4Ight,
through fusion electors, it will be i'm
possible to secure the support of the
rank and file of the Populists of the
South for the Chicago ticket.
All the indications are that the con-
vention will be a very lively affair,
with the certainty of much bitter
Wrangling, the probability of some
sensational incidents, and of a bolt
of larger or smaller dimensions, no
matter what the ultimate decision of
the convention is. The leaders of The
American silver party who are here
appear to be all of one mind-that
Bryan mad SeWall should be endorsed.
They oppose anything which will tend
to cloud the issue of victory for sill
ver'' or divide the silver strength.
They expect by their action to exercise
a strong influence over the other con-
yention, especially as there seems to
be a disposition to arrange joint com
promises of the silver and Populist
leaders.
SnrnnInn. .Inrns There