The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-20
1T HAS THREE SIDES
The Contsnding Forces Aliguiug Them
selves for the Big Fight
GATHERING AT ST. LOUIS
Middle Of the Road Pops. Who Want
Recognition and those Who Are
Are for the Chicago Ticket
what the Leaders Say.

St Louis. July 1s.-Few of the dele
gates to the populist convention ar
rived, but among the leaders who have
reached the city very bitter war has
| already developed. They seem to be
aligning themselves for three-corner-
ed fight. First, those who favor a
straight endorsement Of Bryan and
Sewall. which will bring to the Chicago
ticket the support Of the populists
second, those who desire fusion elec-
toral ticket. which will maintain the
populist organization intact and place
the 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, II present indications
| count for anything. will eventually be
| overruled. The middle Of the road
men however will prove strong and
valuable allies of the leaders of the
second class. who are determined to
| preserve their party organization at all
hazards, but who profess an earnest
desire to combine all the silver
| strength II a way can be found to give
them recognition. The real fight. II is
believed, will come between this fac
| tion and those who are In favor Of put
ting behind them, for the present, all
pride Of party for the cause Of silver to
which they are pledged.
Chairman Taubeneck, the leader of
this middle wing. gave out a statement
last night outlining the plan for q fu-
| sion of electors as the only condition
on which he is willing to join hands
with the free silver democracy; but
even with fusion electors he wants a
/ set Of populist nominees, the purpose
| being, IL his plan Is carried out. to
elect Bryan president and a populist
vice president. This Is met with a
| storm of protests from the faction
which advocates the straight endorse
ment Of Bryan and Sewall as the only
| chance of solidifying the silver forces
| and gaining victory.
Patterson of Colorado came out In an
interview tonight In which he de-
nounced the Taubeneck plan as not
| only impracticable but impossible. He
declared that insistence upon such a
plan would savor of audGal -asd- jeopar-
\ dfze the cause OF silver, to which all
professed to be pledged and said to be
devoted. Among those poptffists who
have arrived from the South there Is
much opposition to the endorsement of
Bryan and Sewall without conditions.
Senator Butler Of North Carolina,
who heartily favors harmorizlng all
the silver elements as the only way to
win, points out the strong enmity be-
tween the poulists and democrats In
| the South. He expresses the opinion
that unless the populist organization
IL recognized in the fight. It will be
impossible to secure the support Of the
rank and file of the populists In the
South for the Chicago ticket.
George F. Washburn Of Boston
chairman Of the eastern wing of the
populists, 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 outspoken In
his expression that the Chicago ticket
should be endorsed and the people
given an opportunity to express a cleaI
verdict on the issue,
All the indications are that the con-
vention will be a very lively affair
with the certainty OF much bittel
wrangling and the probability Of some
L StDSdllOlldl HlClQtuls anu VI a boit vi
/ larger or smaller dimensions, no mat
ter what the ultimate decision Of the
convention.
The leaders of the American Silver
party who are here appear to be all OF
one mind-that Bryan and Sewal
should be endorsed. Victory for silver
is their slogan and they oppose any.
thing which will tend to cloud the issue
| ar divide the silver strength
Except at the Lindell, where populist
and silver men make their headquart
ers, the hotels contain few politicians
Most Of the delegates will not arrive
until Tuesday. A number of promi
nent leaders came on to-day's. trains
With the exception Of Lawrence Nc
Parlin of New York, all the member!
of the national executive committee o
the populist party are now here. NC
Rankin, the treasurer. from Terr'
Haute, and Ignatius Honnelly Of Min
nesota arrived tonight Hon. 7. NJ
Patterson, chairman Of the populis
delegation from Colorado; A. Cecil. ;
prominent silver man and populist o
California, and George #. Washburn o
Boston, arrived from Lincoln, Neb.
having visited Mr.. Bryan. Ex-Gover
nor Waite, who heads the contestini
delegation from Colorado, Is also here
General vandervert OF Omaha was al
early arrival.
Senator Jones of Nevada is expected
and his arrival is anxiously looked for
ward TO by the Bryan supporters amoni
the populist and silver men. Genera
Standish of North Dakota came In oi
an early train and had been In the cit!
but a short time before he received
telegram from one of the members o
the delegation who had not yet lef
home, saying: stand up for Bryan
ne is our only salvation"
Most of the day at the hotels wa
spent by the delegates In conversation
among themselves. Several informa
conferences were held. At the Lacled
hotel the middle Of the road populist
held a mass meeting which was fairl,
well attended. The towering forms o
"Cyclone" Davis OF Texas and "Gener
al Coxey OF Ohio attracted much a:
tention.
TIE DEMOCRATS