The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-23
"SHIRT-SLEEVE'
CONVENTION
POpulists in St. Louis Find That
1t IS Warm Work to
Organize.
LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR MOSES
Aiddls-oi-ths- -hOaders Charge About 10 the
Darkness TO Discover the Trick
Not 600 Spectators 10
the Galleries.

ST. Louis. July 22.--The PopuIist and
silver conventions were launched to-
day. but neither made much Roadway.
The program OF the silver conference
was all arranged in advance. II in
ciuded simply the adoption OF a l6 10
1 platform and the nomination Of Bry-
an and sewall. but those in charge Of
It deemed II good policy 10 go slowly
in the belief that they might, by re-
maIning In session, be able to exercise
an influence in shaping things in the
Popullst convention. To this end they
appointed committee OF seven. head
ed by Judge Scott. OF California. TO
meet a similar committee OF the Pop
ulists. for the purpose Of reaching a
common plan OF action, It is doubtful
whether their course win be fruitful Of
results.
The anti-Bryan PopulIsts affect to
believe that all outside influences
which are being brought to bear upon
them to induce them to accept the
nominees OF the Democratic convention
are part OF the same plot 20 drive their
party into a Democratic trap and de-
stroy or annihilate its identity They
are deaf TO suggestions. appeals and
warnings. Keep in the middle Of the
road" is their reply to every argu-
ment. They have convinced themselves
that IL they go marching on. in four
years more. the two old parties win
be scattered. disrupted and discredIt-
ed and they win come into their
own"
The first session-of the Popnlist con-
vention today was disappointment to
those who anticipated relentless,
bitter war from the drop Of the gayel,
and it was a disappointment to those
who imagined that the galleries would
swarm with people. drawn thither.
either by curiosity. or sympathy with
the deliberations OF the convention.
There was no wildcat fight, and the
galleries. which hold 1900 people,
were practically an empty waste. Not
over 600 spectators. at a liberal esti-
mate. were in the balconies. The floor
where the delegates were was crowded
with as unique an assemblage as was
ever under one roof. A single glance
showed that they represented the
common people--a term in which they
glory--that they were from the farm,
the mine, the workshop, and the fac.
tory. They discarded conventional
ties. Fully half OF them sat in their
shirt-sleeves with their coats slung
over the backs of their chairs The
appearance Of several women dele
gates on the floor was a novel feature
in national political gathering. The
press benches. usually occupied by
representatives Of the big dailies, were
largely given over to the editors Of
weekly reform papers. The decora-
tions of the Republican convention,
which was held in the same hall. still
graeed the balconies and hid the wood
en- rafters and pillars. All Republican
portraits had. however. been removed.
Only the bust of General Grant re-
.mained.
The day session. which lasted about
an hour and a half. developed nothing
except possibly that the noisy middle
of-the-road contingent were afraid to
be put to the touch on their claims
Last night after Senator Butler had
been chosen temporary chairman by
the national committee and they had
ascertained that he favored Bryan's
nomination, they at once decided to
depose him as Senator Hill was depos-
ed by the Chicago convention, At the
conclusion of an enthusiastic meeting
they determined to put forward as
their candidate o. d. Jones, of Missou-
ri, an old greenbacker who has writ
nights meditation, however, the lead
ers decided it would not be the part
of wisdom to make a fight against
Butler and their refusal to submit
to a test of strength was hailed by
the Bryan men as conclusive evidence
that they realized they were in mi
nority. But they were somewhat
compensated for the loss of the empty
chairmanship in the speech of Igna-
thus Donnelly, who replied to Cover
nor Stones address of welcome, He
made a middle-of-the-road speech that
stirred the radicals to their depths,
Senator Butler believes eventually
that all factions can be harmonized
on his plan to adopt a Populist plat
form and nominate upon it Bryan with
Southern Populist for vlce-president.
When o'clock, the hour for the
evening session of the convention, ar
rived. the hall was still in darkness.
The delegates were huddled in the
seats in front of the platform, while
groups Of faces swayed in the light of
few candles that fiickered on the
press tables. About this time some
shrewd middle-of-the-roader thought
he discovered that the refusal to turn