Arizona republican., 1896-07-24
GOOD SENSE MAY PREVAIL The Indications AIlPoint
 to Bryan.
Both Conventions May Select
 Him Today.
It Is a Close Contest Between the Middle of the Road Men and
 the Bryan Forces.

ST. LOUIS, July 2e-The first ses- sion of the Populist convention We'd nesday was disappointment to those who anticipated a relentless, bitter war from the drop of the gavel, and it was a disappointment to those who imagined that the galleries would swarm with people drawn thither eith- CT by curiosity or sympathy with the deliberations of the convention.
 There was no wildcat fighting and the galleries which hold 12,000 people were practically an empty waste. Not over 600 spectators at liberal esti- mate were in the balconies. The floor where the delegates were gathered was crowded with as unique crowd as was ever under one roof. A single glance showed that they represented the common people, a term in which they glory, and that they were from the farm, the mine, the workshop and the factory. They discarded conven- tionalities and fully half of them sat in their shirt sleeves with their coats slung over the backs of their chairs.
 Among them were many pictures of personalities, men who have been known as agitators and reformers for years, but there were also many whose ability and force of character have given them rank in high station. As a body they were men of strong and earnest convictions.
 The day session, which lasted about ono hour and ho1f 6oua1onad h ing except possibly that the noisy middle of the road" contingent were afraid to be put to touch on their claims. 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. After nights medita- tion, however, their leaders 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 con- elusive evidence that they realized they were in the minority.
 They were somewhat compensated for the loss of the temporary chair manship in the speech of Ignatius Donnelly, who replied to Governor Stones address of welcome. He made a middle of the road" speech that stirred the radicals to their depths He appealed to them to stand firm SC that all the dynamite in Gods labora- tory could not tear the party asunder and predicted that If the Peoples Party fails the cause of humanity would go down with it.
 Senator Butler hopes to be the pivot on which the convention will turn. He believes eventually all factions can be harmonized on his plan to adopt a Populist platform and nominate upon it Bryan with a southern Populist fol vice president. His speech strongly upheld the demand for the perpetua. ton of the Populist organization which he described as having driven the Republicans to gold and the Dem ocrats to silver. To be swallowed by Democrats, he said, was a danger only equalled by the danger of being made indirect allies of the Republicans il the present campaign.
 There was no night session Wednes. day owing to an accident which de stroyed the electric light connections ST. LOUIS, July 23-When the Populists assembled this morning tht air was very oppressive and the dele gates stood around, mostly coatless discussing matters.
 The Texas delegation contains some of the most uncompromising men il the convention and they were mad a 1 the prospect of being baked in thei policy. The middle of the road meeting scheduled at the convention hall at S:30 this morning did not ma terialiZe.
 l At 1905 Senator Butler, temporar, chairman, appeared on the platform Simultaneously the band struck III Dixie" and the delegates uncorket some of their pent up enthusiasm The attendance in the galleries as yes terday, was very thin. At 10:10 Chair man Butler called the convention t, order and Rev. Smith offered an invo cation for blessing.
 After the announcement of the com mittee on permanent organization tn members retired.
 A squad of the middle roaders head ed by Delegate Branch of Georgia sud denly plunged into the hall At tn same time the middle of the road delegates stationed in the gallery ove the platform hurled through the ai about a peck of small green ticket which broke and fell like a cloud ol the stage and over the pit. The gree tickets contained the following:
 Middle of the Road; Our Fnancia