The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-24
A DAY DOING NOTHING
Tie PopuIists at ST. Louis Are Still XIII.
Ing a Great Zeal of Time.
A sTRAIGHT TICKET WILL BE NOMINATED
Every Indication Points TO This Be-
ing Done, Though No Really Test
Vote Haas nv Yet Been nTakcn-AlIcn
of Nebraska, Bryan Man, is
Made Permanent Chairman.

ST. Louis, July 2S.-The Populists be-
gan to assemble in time for the morning
session. Tle are men accustomed to
early hours, and they Ike to get to-
gether to discuss the political and finan-
cial questions of the hour. The imme-
date and uppermost question in their
minds was:
Shall the convention keep to the mid
die of the road. making its own plat
form and choosing its own candidates
for Presiden; and Vice President; shall
it endorse or nominate the Democratic
nominees, or shall 1t take the middle
cou:se-endcr;e Bryan, nominate a
Southern Pcpuligt for Vice President,
or patch up some sont of terms by
which that agreement can be made
practicable and successful?
Each plan had its own faction deter
mined TO carry out its own plan and to
oppose any other plan even to the eX-
treme point of boiling, IL the other plan
be adopted.
AL ten minutes past ten Senator But
Ter, OF No..h Carolina, the temporary
chairman, oalled the convention to or
der. AT that time the body of the hall
was about two-thirds' full and there
were probably nc. 200 persons in the
galleries. The deputy sergeant at arms
set the example of laying aside coats
ana vests, and moving around in Shirt
sleeves. Many of the delegates adopted
like costume.
There wc.e several women seated
among the delegates. The Rev. Mr..
smith was selected to lead in prayer,
and he offered u short petition for .,the
blessing of Almighty God on ,.his con.
Vention, on Its members and its proceed
lhG:- May harmony, unity fraternity.
and patriotism characte. ize all its pro-
ceedings to-day"
The chairman called for the report of
The Committee on Credentials, but thai
committee WAS SKI unprtpared to report
and was given furth ~ iime
Ihe roll OF STATES was then called for
the names or eommf.tesmen on organi-
zation, resolution and notification of
nominees.
That operation was Stow and occup.ed
much time. While 1t was going on more
ot the delegates took occasion OF tie op-
bortun:tv 20 lay aside their coats and
Ve;ts. for the hea: was very oppressive
anu most CT ;hem famed IN mselves with
palm leaf fans. has and partially folded
newspapers. The Kansas delegates were
cohspscuous by IN use Of fans emblaz-
oned with the golden surflower.
Among the cors p.cuaua persons on the
Platform was Mr., Jesse !4I. per, of kan
sas who IS said 10 have uomina ed Abra
nam Lincoln for the Presidency In Chi
cago in 1860. Senator Stewart. of NJ
Nada, was also cn the platform. seated
between Senlto.s Allen Of Nobra ska. and
q
advocates of the endorsem nj of BRYAN
and Sewan
me names of the proposed committee
men having been sent in. those on The
permanent y: :gan!Zation were requested
Vo fe:!fe Tor consultation. While the call
O! conanitteemen was going on there was
Il sudden outburss OF cheering All over
the hall. 1t was caused by the irruption
OF small party of Texas delegates head
ca by che Two bearers OF banner in
scrihed with the words: Middle of tho
Road. Straight Popul!st Ticket"
nnaiority OF delegates rose and
cheered and shouted and waved hnts
ana rams. and the spectators in the gall
leFv ioined in the shouts and Cheering
from the gallery behind the stand n
Hight OF blue cords descended on which
We're printed financial plank proposed
Tor the middle of the road" people by
three Arkansas delegates-C. M. Jack
san. I. M. Rol!ison and Isaac McCra cker.
This plank is in the words
We demand a national Treasury note
>asred bv the general Government re-
ceivable for all public dues and a fun
legal tender payment OF all debts. pub
JIG and private. and loaned direct to the
neople. through postal and other gov
arnDental banks. at cost, for the benefit
or the people. and the purchase and
cafnaEe of such amount of gold and sill
Yer bullion at the ration of l6 to 1, as
NAV be necessary to pay the debts of
the Government which are made paya-
BILE ia coin
eve demand that the volume of
h-nnev shall speedily increase to an
amount necessary to transact the busi-
Hpas OF the country on n cash basis"
E2if an hour after retirement of the
to.tmtttee on Permanent Organization
;. message was received from 1t stating
that committeeman from nine States
were absent. The chairman annnounc-
ed the fact to the convention and re-
orosted the absentees to report imme-
d!atelv in the committee room.
- :35 the Committee on Platform
Icf. the convention to meet at the Lin
dell Hotel.
Fncene Debs entered the convention
and was greeted with applause While
the convention was waiting patiently for
some committee to report II was enter
tired bv the band with musical med
loy of national and popular airs but
% usual. Dixie" was the only tune
,Eai awoke enthusiasm.
y motion was made by Delegate Craw-
ford, OF Kansas. that the del gates to the
silver convention be admltted to THIS
convention on the presentation of Their
fatges. The wotion was greeted with
risses and shouts of NO" 1T was mod
iti.'i by making 1t apply only 10 the gall
leries. but the sergeant-at-arms raised
ihe objection that all the seats in the
galleries were assigned by tickets, and
that bsides there were counterfebt
badges out.