The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-23
WATSON KEPT OUT OF THE WAY
THE CONVENTION Of POPUL{sTs
FAILS TO DEN0UECE BUTLER.

The Failure OF the Late Vice Presi
Dental Candidate to Put in an APP
pearance Exeites SIuch Comment
The Convention, However, I'm
dorseS Him and the Omaha and -
Louis PIatforms-AdjOurnm
Follows Election of Delegates tC
the Nashville Convention.
Atlanta. Ca, June 22-The populist state
convention met here to-day. They en-
dorsed Tom Watson, the Omaha and 81
Louis platforms. selected delegates to the
Nashville conference and adjourned.
John H. TrayloI of Troup was made
chairman. NJ. D. Irwin secretary, and Aus
tin IIolcomb assistant secretary.
During the morning session the ocnven-
ton broke the record by making no
speeches.
About 200 delegates were present. They
came from 70 of the 1877 counties.
judge J. K. Hines, who once fancied he
was going TO he elected governor, threw a
bombshell into the camp by Offering a
resolution declaring in favor of state con-
trol Of convicts. His idea was to nave
them build railroads and repair the public
highways. As a starter he thought it
would be wen to extend the Western and
Atlantic railroad from Atlanta TO Savan-
nah. This was to be a mere experiment,
If il succeeded other enterprises of the
kind were to be undertaken. The resolu-
ton was adopted amid great applause.
Tom Watson was absent and so was
Chairman Cunningham of the executive
committee. But neither Of them suf-
fered. A local afternoon paper stated
that the populists would cast Watson
aside ana follow the leadership Of Yam
cev Carter. The convention repudiated
the report and passed resolutions indors-
ing Mr.. Watson and acknowledging him
as the leader of the party in Georgia.
Mr.. Cunningham was not attacked. The
biggest question before the convention
and one that provoked serious debate,
was the matter of fusion. Anti-fusion is
Overwhelmingly the sentiment of the
bodv. and the middle of the road men
prevailed. One member said OUTSIDE the
convention hall: THE old parties are
carrying us to hi, and at hi of a
rate. We want nothing to do with them,
hut all. who sympathiZe with our move
ment are invited to join us.
The convention cut the gordian knot
when a question Of credentials come up
from Richmond county. Both of the con
testing delegations were seated, each OF
the two to cast half the vote TO which
the county was entitled. This saved time
and labor.
The committee appointed TO attend the
Nashville convention, are: T. z. Watson,
W. L. Peek, J. K. Hines. B. N. Saun-
ders. and c. J. Thornton. In addition TO
these. three popuiists are to be sent from
each congressional district. The purpose
Of this convention is TO demand the resig-
nation of National Chairman Marion But
Ter.
Tom Watson's failure to appear at to-
DAVIS convention has been the subject OF
nn1Icb significant comment. He had given
the meeting every encouragement through
the editorial columns of his paper, making
n prominent in the news columns and ad-
vocating il on the editorial page. 1t is
believed that he was shPewd enough TO
see the weakness of the movement and
kept away from the meeting to-day.
The convention was designed IN the
brain of Mr.. Watson for the purpose OF
demolishing Marion Butler as leader.
The denunciation Of Mr.. Butler did not
come. The convention steered away from
any mention Of the populist chairman.