The Meeker herald., 1896-07-25
POPULIST PROBLEM.
WHAT WILL They DOT
Who Ysvos lnAssssaenf, TasSoa os ~
, Ia4spsadsat flekss.

delegates to the POpullst convention
have arrived. but among the leaders
who have reached the city a very bit
ter war has already developed. They
seem to be aligning themselves for q
three-cornered fight: first, those who
favor u straight indOrsement of Bryan
and Sewall, which will bring to the
Chicago ticket the support Of the Pop
ulists; second, those. who desire a
fusion electoral ticket. which will
maintain the Populist party organiza-
tion intact, and place the leaders In
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, how
ever. will prove stronger and vaiuaDle
allies of the leaders of the second class,
who are determined to preserve their
party organization at all hazards, but
bine all the silver strength If n way
can be found to give them recognition.
The real fight, 1t is believed, will come
between this faction and those who
are In favor of putting behind them,
for the present, all pride of party. for
the sake of the cause of silver, to
which they are pledged.
Chairman Taubeneck, the leader OF
this middle wing, gave out state
ment last night, outlining the plan for
n fusion of electors as the only condi-
tion on which he is willing to join
hands with the free-silver Democracy.
But even with fusion electors he wants
n set of Populist nominees, the purpose
being, II his plan is carried out, to elect
Bryan president and n POpulist vice
president Taubeneck's interview met
with a storm OF protests from the fac
ton which advocates the straight in
dorsement of Bryan and Sewall as the
only chance of solidifying the silver
forces and gaining victory.
Among those Populists who have ar
rived from the South there Is much op-
position to indOrsing Bryan and Sew
all, without conditions. Senator But
Ter of North Carolina, who heartily ia
vors harmonizing all the silver ele-
ments as the only way to win. points
out the strong enmity between the Pop
ulists and Democrats In the South and
expresses the opinion that unless the
Populist organization is recognized in
the fight 1t will be impossible to secure
the support Of the rank and file of the
Populists In the South for the Chicago
ticket
All the Indications are that the con-
vention will be very lively affair,
with the certainty of much bitter
wrangling and the probability Of some
sensational Incidents and OF bolt of
larger or smaller dimensions, no mat
ter 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 Bry-
an and Sewall should be Indorsed.
''Vtctory 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 Il strong influence
over the other convention, especially
as there seems to be disposition to
arrange joint compromises of the sill
yer and Populist leaders.