The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-12
THE OHIO POPUL|STS
Severed Alliance Made With
Democrats a Year Ago.
.C0XEY FOR GOVERNOR
HANNA OPENLY CHARGED WITH
BUYING THE DELEGATES.
GENERAL MELEE NARROWLY AvERTED
The Hanna MiddIe-of- -the-Roaders Had it
Their Own Way by Majority of
535 to 170--A Bunco IN
vestigatiOn.'

vestigation. "
Columbus, O., Aug. 11.-Fusion was
repudiated to-day by the POpulists of
Ohio in a manner so emphatic as to
leave no chance for controversy regard
ing the future policy of the party. The
Populist State convention, by an over
whelming majority, severed the alliance
made year ago with the Democracy on
the free silver issue and nominated full
State ticket, headed by Jacob Coxey, of
"Commonwear' fame as the nominee
for governor. Turbulent scenes marked
the opening of the convention this morn
ing The anti-fusiOnists had swept ey-
erything before them, capturing the tenn
porary and permanent organization and
all the committees and they were on their
mettle. Nor was the policy adopted by
the fusionists calculated to temper the
feeling which had been aroused among
the middle of the road delegates. The
threat of the fusiOniSts to explode
bomb in the convention was like Haunting
red flag and when the convention as
sembled the delegates were ready for any
surprise that might be sprung. The re-
port of the committee on rules and order
of business brought out the promised
sensation. The report provided that no
speech should exceed five minutes, re-
gardless of the subject discussed. Sew
eral delegates Immediately joined in a
protest against this provision, claiming
that it was contrary to the fundamental
principle OF the Peoples party, and an
amendment was offered to strike out of
the report the obnoxious section. Final
ly Peter Witt, OF Cleveland, secured rec
ognition from Chairman SeitZ, and
mounting chair, proceeded to denounce
the committee making the report and as
serted that the convention had been
bought out by Mark Hanna. He claimed
he had proof that delegates had been
bribed by the Republicans.
The matter could not be presented in
five minutes, however, nor discussed in
that 'ine, and he charged that the CO n
mittee's report was aimed to prevent it.
As Witt waved aleft his hand with
piece Of paper he claimed was n check
that had been given to one of the dele
gates by an agent of Mark Hanna, he
| launched into bitter invective against
the anti-fusionists, charging that all OF
them had been corrupted by Hanna mon
ey. A score of delegates were ON their
| feet in an instant, crowding around the
chair on which Witt stood. Whe1 one
of the delegates attempted to pull Witt
off the chair, the latter struck at the dele
gate and general melee ensued in which
several blows were exchanged and chairs
raised aloft in q threatening manner
n policeman, who was present, rushed in
| and interrupted the hOstilities and O few
minutes later platoon OF police reached
| the convention hall and the convention
| proceeded after quiet had been restored,
with a blue coat on guard in each aisle.
| The police remained until the convention
| took final adjournment.
| The anti-fusionists were not in the least
dismayed by the charges that had been
made and the report of the committee on
Rules and order of business was adopted
in its original form by vote of 535 to
10, which was the first accurate showing
of the relative strength of the factions.
The convention then effected n perma-
nent organization, temporary chairman
John Seitz, of Tiffin and Temporary Sec
retary A. S. Lighawalter, of New Phila-
delphia, being made permanent officers.
The resolutions adopted reaffrmed the
Populist platforms adopted by the Oma-
ha and St. Louis conventions of the party
and took issue on several matters of local
interest.
Before the morning session closed n
resolution was adopted providing for the
appointment Of n committee to investi-
gate charges made ON the floor of the con-
ventiOn that delegates had been corrupt
ed The fusionists who made the char
ges, opposed an investigation by a COM
mittee, claiming that it should be made
in open convention.
At the afternoon session the following
State ticket was nominated:
For Governor, Jacob Coxey, Stark
county.
Lieutenant Governor, Morris Whit
comb, Tuscararawas county.
Supreme Judge, ID. G.. Pomeroy.
Attorney General, c. A. Reider, Wayne
county.
State Treasurer, f. NJ Morris, Ang-
State Treasurer, f. NJ. Morris, Aug
laise county.
The convention remained in session un-
til after 6 o'clock awaiting the report of
the investigation committee, but it was
not forthcoming and the convention ad-
journed sine die with the understanding
that the committee would report to the
Central State committee.
Rev. j. III. Taylor and Hugo Pryor, of
Cleveland, both fusionists, were the prin-
cipal witnesses before the Investigation
committee. Taylor stated that he had
the Republicans were spending
II money to assist the anti-fusion Pop
ulis,5 and he determined to find out the
truth of it. He said he went to Major