The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-23
MIDDLE ROAD, MEETING.
TROL OF THE MEMPHIS
GATHERING.
ROsELLE RUNNING A SIDE SHOW
Reform Editors In Favor of the But
Ter Idea i'm Session at Kansas
City.

form Press aSSOciat ton met in annual
convention in this city today, about
three hundred delegates being present.
Among those in attendance are Paul
Vandervoort, of Omaha, president Of
the association; Jacob S. COxey. Of
Ohio; Hon. Frank Burkett, of Missis-
sippi, and Cyclone" Davis, of Texas.
National Committeeman George r.
Washburn, of Mass, is also present
but took no part in today's proceed
ingS. The appointment of committees
and the annual address of President
Vandervoort occupied the morning ses-
sion and the feature of the afternoon
meeting was the election of Frank
Burkett, of Mississippi as president
for the ensuing year. The anti-fusion
middle-of- the-road element, gave hear
ty support to President Vanderyoort
an uncompromising anti-fusionist. and
the meeting is decidedly of the mid
dle-of-the-road complexion as shown
by the proceedings today. President
VanderVoorts recommendation that
National Chairman Butler be deposed
was received with loud applause from
all parts Of the hall
When President Vandervoort called
the convention to order this morning.
Mayor l.. W. Clapp, of Memphis was
introduced and welcomed the delegates
on behalf of the city. President VAN
dervooa't responded briefly, and intro
duced Hon. Thomas B. Turley, of
Memphis. who delivered an address of
welcome on behalf of the bimetallic
league of Shelby county.
In 10 r.
dervoort said in part:
We have passed through a most eyentf1l
year, and the struggle for the life of our
party has been the hardest in the history of
the organization. All of our papers have
suffered on account Of the mistake we made
at st. Louis; many have suspended. and our
great campaign Of education was side-tracked
and our literature useless When we last
met, we were all aware that deep-laid con-
spiracy to ruin our party and destroy the
reform movement had been inaugurated had
secured control Of our party machinery and
OF nearly all those whom we had elected
70 positions or honor and trust But with
all their devilish skill in manipulating events
and men, they have never been able to Sc
duce the power and influence of the great
reform press. Some have been deceived and
been led astray, but they are opening their
eyes to the true situation and will rally as
one man to the defense of our sacred prin-
ciples,. when the slogan sounds for the great
campaign Of 1900.
The Republican party boldly announces
the doctrines we believe destructive of our
nations best interests, and fatal to its pros
perity: 1t has thrown off the mask, but real
ICES that some concessions must be made to
put the people to sleep, and break the ranks
OF the aggressive foe. This We predict will
be an international agreement in favor of
free silver. This is the SOP that will be
thrown to the disconnected masses, and 1t
will avail about as much in bringing about
prosperity As the enactment of a new tariff
law, differing 80 per cent in its provisions
from the present law.
The silver panacea will add some forty
million annually to the money volume of the
nation; it will employ more labor, which
will be benefit, but it will not solve the
problem Of employing all the idle labor or
starting up the dormant machinery We will
never consent to make another campaign with
that question as the vital issue; our thunder
would be stolen by the Republicans and we
would be stranded by the roadside with the
disorganized, broken-down, spawned wreck of
the Democratic party.
We are unalterably opposed to the retire
ment OF the greenbacks. The national banks
should be deprived Of the power to issue
money. This would release and put into cir
culation the vast sum held in reserve, the
banks would be unable to contract the vol
ume of money and would have no selfish
reason for squandering millions to control
elections.
Believing that the life and preservation and
success of our principles depend upon it, /
recommend that this association demand the
resignation of Marion B9tler as national
secretary, and if they do not Immediately re-
spond that this association and the members
of the general conference ~depose them, and
elect new officers and cali our people to
recognize them. If we have not the power to
protect ourselves, we had better disband.
President Vandervoort declined to
appoint committees. saying he prefer
red to have the convention name them,
Joseph A. Parker, of Louisville. CORE
spending secretary zOfUtfe association,
was appointed secretary and treasurer
by the executive committee, vice A.
ROselle, Of Missouri. Adjourned until
2 p. m. KS
The first business Of the afternoon
session was the passing of a motion
ordering Gen. Vandervoort's address
spread on the minutes. The creden-
tails committee reported and the re-
port was approved. An invitation was
voted to the reform papers of the coun-
try to join the association. There was
considerable opposition to the motion
en- the ground that only papers Of
the pronounced Populistic principles
should be accepted as members of the
association. A committee was appoint
ed to revise the by laws and cOnsti-
tuition so as to give the president and
secretary authority to strike from the
rolls any member. of the association
found advocating the cause Of other
parties. - -7a
By a rising vote Hon. Frank Bur-
kett. of Mississippi. was unanimously
elected president of the association for
the ensuing year Mr. Burkett adj
dressed the convention briefly, thank
ing the delegates for the honor con-
ferred upon him. The convention. at
D. M, adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow. Tonight the delegates were
entertained with a concert at the Pea
body hotel. SD