The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-20
WARRINGATST.LOUIS
PoPULIsT FACTIONS ARE FIGHTING
AMONG THEMSELVES.
Developing INTO a Bitter Three-Cor-
nered Row That Promises to End
I'm Disruption of the Party.
BRYANITES STILL CONFIDENT
OF SECURING ENDORSEMENT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES.
Second Faction Working for Fusion
Electoral Ticket and the Third
for Independent Action.
ONE OF THE PLATFORMS READY
WHAT THE ",IDDLE-OF-THE-R
MEN WILL DEMAND.
Senator Jones's Promises to the Sup
pOrters Of Bryan-Secret Meeting
of the Taubeneck Faction.
Second Faction Working for a Fusion
Electoral Ticket and the Third
for Independent Action.
ONE OF THE PLATFORMS READY
WHAT THE "1IDDLE-OF-THE-
MEN WILL DEMAND.
Senator Jones's Promises to the Sup
porters Of Bryan-secret Meeting
of the Taubeneck Faction.

ST. LOUIS. July 19.-Few of the dele
gates TO the Populist convention have ar
rived, but among the leaders who have
reached the city a very bitter war has
already developed. They seem to be align
ing themselves for a three-cornered tight
first, those who favor a straight indorse-
ment or nomination of Bryan and Sewall,
which will bring TO the Chicago ticket
the support of the Populists; second,
those who desire a fusion electoral ticket
which will maintain the Popuist party Or
ganization intact and place .he leaders in
a position to demand recognition in the
event the ticket is successful, and, third,
what are known as the ''middle-of-the-
road" Populists, who favor an Independent
platform and ticket and who oppose fusion
in any form. The latter If present indica-
tions count for anything, will eventually
be overruled. The "middle-of-the-road"
men. however. will prove strong and valu-
able allies of the leaders OF the second
class, who seem determined to preserve
their party organiza, lion az all hazards, bat
who profess an earn y. desire to combine
all the silver strsngch if way can be
found to give them recognition. The real
fight, it is believed, will come between this
faction and trose VINO are in favor Of ILi-
ting behind them for the present all pride
of party for the sake of the cause of sill
yer, to which they pledged.
Chairman TaubenecK, the chairman OF
the middle wing. gave out statement
last night outlining the plan os fUslon
electors as The only condition on which lie
is willing TO join hands with Ibc free silver
Democracy But even with fusion electors
he wants a set cf Populist nominees. the
purpose being, If lis plan is carried oLt
to elect Bryan President and a Populist
Vice Presider-. raubencck's interview met
with Il storm of protests from the faction
mich advocate; straight Endorsement Of
BRYAN and SewaI as .he only chance tf
solidifying the silver forces ami gaining
victory.
Mr.. Patterson of Colorado, who heads
the regular Colorado delegation, came out
in an interview tonight in which he de-
nounced Taubeneck's plan as not only i'm
practicable but impossible. He declared
that insistence upon such a plan would
SAVIOR of a deal and jeopardize the cause of
silver, to which all professed 20 be and
should be devoted. While he counseled the
maintenance of the Populst organization
in the future he went so far as to intimate
that those who now sought TO place 1t
above the cause of silver were looking to
their own personal advancement and such
loaves and fishes as might come to them
with the advent of a silver administration
Among those Populists who have arrived
from the South there is much opposition
to the plan of indorsing Bryan and Sewall
without conditions. Senator Butler. of
North Carolina, who heartily favors har-
monzng all the silver elements as the
only way TO win, points out the strong
enmity between the Populists aud Demo-
Gratis in the South and expresses the opin-
ion that unless the Popuiist organization
is recognized in the fight. through fusion
electors, it will be impossible to secure the
support Of the rank and file of the Popu-
lists Of the South for the Chicago ticket.
George r. Washburne, of Boston, chair
man of the Eastern wing of the Populsts
returned to-day from visit TO Mr.. Bryan
at Lincoln. where he went presumably to
confer with the candidate concerning his
Endorsement by the Populists. He was out
spoken in his expression that the Chicago
ticket should be indorsed and the people
be given an opportunity to express clear
verdict on the issue.
All the indications are that the conven-
tion will be very lively affair, with the
certainty of much bitter wrangling, the
probability of some sensational incidents
and of a bolt OF larger smaller dimen-
sions 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 and Sewall should be indorsed
Victory for silver is their slogan. and they
oppose anything which will tend to cloud
the issue or divide the silver strength.
They expect by their action to exercise a
strong influence over the other conven-
tion especially as there seems to be dis
position to arrange joint compromises of
the silver and Populist leaders.