Evening star., 1896-07-20
LIKELIHOOD OF A BOLT
Dissatisfaction to Follow in Any Event at
-, st. Louis.
Inpossibiiity Nof Pleasing All Fac
tiOns In -thkXPOpulist Convention
The ERrrinx Elements.
Special From q stan Correspondent.

Special From q star Correspondent.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, July 20.-This is an
assemblage Of statesmen-populist states
men. They do not fill the city as did 'he
republicans coming to their convention.
The crowd isn't large. and 1t Is conf1nel
chiefly to the Lindell Hotel. with few
who seek seclusfon at the Planters'.
Two conventions are to meet at the same
hour Wednesday: the populists In one hall
and the silver party in another. They are
both silver parties. but no pent-up silver
policy can confine the expansive populist
mind.
The silver party convention is easy. II
the leaders are not all mistaken, that Is
already arranged. Bryan is to be indorsed
or nominated by them, and the silver plank
OF the democratic platform, and nothing
else. Is to be adopted.
Today there are almost as many populist
conventions as there Is room in the Lindell
for groups to form. Every group Is con-
vention. and II a single delegate finds him
self separated from all groups. he resolves
himself into committee Of one on the
state OF the Union and settles the social
and economic system to his own satisfac-
ton.
The transportation arrangements are
such as to prevent the early arrival of
delegates. Therefore comparatively few
are here yet. But all who are mere are
talking. They are all talking at the same
time. They cast the republican convention
In the shade for ciamor, and already rival
the Chicago convention in confusion. They
are all leaders. and hardly a man Of them
but has some pet theory, which Is exclusive
ly the product Of his own mental opera
tion. which he wants made an article of
faith by ary party seeking his support.
They are an earnest, enthusiastic. even
fanattcal lot Of men, taken as a whole.
Their great object is to improve the con-
d1tion OF mankind. each according to his
own idea Of what Is to benefit the race.
Even among populist conventions this
promises to be unique. A terrible conflict is
going on even while a majority Of tho dele
gates are still on their way or are waiting
for the ticket Office. All are in favor Of
silver. but many are reluctant TO confess
that the silver question is any more than a
pigmy alongside of the other questions.
The real leaders are working hard to get
order out of this chaos Many conferences
were held last night and this morning
and they say now that everything is work
ing we'll and that Bryan will be indorsed.
The opposition to union with the democ-
racy comes chiefly from the southern popu-
lists. 1t Is strong and extremely violent,
Though the Bryan people are more infiuen-
tial and apparently in the majority.
II an Endorsement of the whole democratic
ticket Is not to be secured a compromise
may be effeoted. qby which Bryan will be
indorsed and" a candidate be put in the
field for Vfce President against sewall
Many who are opposed to union will be
satisfied with this. and there Is a great dea
Of compromise talk this morning If q
compromise Of THIS sort be made there is
almost certainty of a bolt by one
faction or the other. If the democratic
ticket is indorsed outright a considerable
faction will bolt.
Many democrats are inclined to think this
Is the best thing that could happen in the
interest of Bryan, 1t would relieve them of
what is. popularity called the extreme
crank element, and give to the indorse-
ment more an air of conservatism II the
middle Of the road men have a majority
and put an independent populist ticket in
the field the conservatives" will proba bIy
bolt and go to the support of Bryan.
Jpn