Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-29
THE PEOPLES PARTY
MEETING OF THE POPULIsT STATE
CONVENTION.
GENERAL FIELD CHAIRMAN.
His Speech of Acceptance-Thc Fun
damentnI Principles of the ST.
Iouis Platform of 1896 Reafiirmed-
Adjournment Until To-Day.

to-day, has excited much interest ana
when IL was called to order by State
Chairman Hobson 200 delegates and visi-
tors were in attendance. Rev. l.. @. NJ.
Miller. of st. Marks Lutheran church,
opened the proceedings with prayer, and
among those occupying seats upon the
stage were Captain Edmund Cooke OF
Cumberland: General James G. Field, of
Albemarle; state-secretary II. a. Miller
of Henrico. and Major w. X. Andrews,
OF this city.
Chairman Hobson placed in nomination
for permanent chairman Captain Cooke,
and for temporary secretary, II. a. Null
Ter. both of whom were elected without
opposition.
CAPTAIN Cooke accepted the chairman
ship in a brief and appropriate speech,
and with complimentary illusions to the
principles of the Peoples party and to
Roanoke city, and introduced Mayor w.
X. Andrews. who, in a brief address,
heartily welcomed tho delegates to the
freedom Of the city.
Mr.. Thomas, of Henry county. respond
Mayors address of welcome. and said
the delegates were here TO lift up and
restore 10 the country that same pros
perity which had make Roanoke the city
that 1t is
The following Committee on Credentials
was elected: r. A. Muller. c. II. Harri-
son, j. \. Gilbert. c. W. Crumpecker,
w. A. Reiey, Joseph Blackwell w. NJ.
Davis, and G.. w. COyner.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The Committee on Permanent Organi-
zation was as follows: James NJ. Gregory,
w. A. Barrow. Jr.. j. r. Armstrong j.
r. Vaughan. James G.. Field. II. V. Glas-
cock. T. l.. Newberry, and Jacob Shaner.
The convention then adjourned till L.
NJ. when it was called to order by Cap
tain Cooke.
The report Of the Committee on Gre
dentials was presented. providing that
the delegates present be allowed to cast
the full vote Of the convention by con-
gressional districts, on the basis adopted
IN 1874. and was unanimously adopted.
The report Of the Committee on Per-
manent Organization. which was adopted,
recommended that General Field be made
permanent chairman. With the following
vice-presldents: William Ranes. First
District: o. Todd Second District; Walter
Grant. Third District G.. w. Jackson,
Fourth District; l.. $. Thomas, Fifth Dis
trict: G.. w. Crumpecker. Sixth District;
w. NJ. o. Oreiley, Seventh District; H. G..
Hicks. Ninth District; o. X. Lapham,
Tenth District
II. A. Muller was elected permanent
secretary of the convention, and w. Ii.
Tinsley assistant secretary.
GENERAL FIELD SPEAKS
General Field, in accepting the per-
manent Craftsmanship of the convention.
made a speech in which he dwelt on the
achievements of the Peoples party, and
at the same time paid a great tribute to
the political merits and personal worth
Of William j. Bryan, the late nominee
of the Democrats and the POpulists for
President of the United States, and
TO Senator Daniel. The first he pro-
nounced as the man destined to lead the
country from the shoals and breakers Of
Republican misrule, and the latter, he
declared to be the choice Of the Populists
for the position he now held.
General Field was also highly compn-
mentary to Roanoke, and said it was
fitting that the youngest party in the
State should meet in Virginia's youngest
city. since both were the most progress
I've IN lutI IcSpSNtifS 9PhNiNo' liz
said the delegates to the convention were
not here as ohice-seekers or to pro-
mote personal ambitions or party ag-
grandizement. but the well being Of
the state and the prosperity of the peo-
pie. His illusions 10 Mr. Bryan and
Senator Daniel were enthusiastically
cheered. In conclusion, he urged the
members Of the party to put on their
armor for the great battle Of 1900 for the
principles OF eternal justice, and pre-
dicted that instead of the vote OF 1896
of $500 900. there would be 100000 un-
bought American freemen who would
triumph over wrong and elect William
Jennings Bryan to the presidency.
The Committee on Resolutions ana
Platform was then selected, consisting ol
one member from each congressional as
trict.
The state Central Committee was also
elected as follows: First and Second Dis
tricts not named; Third District j. NJ.
Gregory and II. a. Muller; Fourth Dis
trict G. w. Jackson and w. a. Barrow; ;
Fifth District. w. b. Hale and Y. A..
Witcher: Sixth District, G. c. Tompklns
and Y. W. Evans; Seventh District, Colo
mel ]. r. c. Lewis and l.. NJ. z. Reed;
Eighth District, Robert IL. Tyler ana j.
Beverly.
THE PLATFORM.
The convention then took recess I'LL
3 o'clock, and when it reassembled az mat
hour ]. II. HObsOn was reelected state
chairman and the following platform
was unanimously adopted:
We affirm the great fundamental
principles set forth In the ST. Louis plat
form Of 1896, the true spirit and meaning
of which is that this government, FOUND
cd upon the idea OF manhood suffrage
shall not be destroyed and the people en-
shaved by the corrupt use OF money IN
elections and by moneyed and corporate
influence over the action Of legislatures,
courts. and executive officers Of the Ma
tional and State governments. Especial
ly do we repeat our unalterable demand
for a greater volume and fiexibllity In our
currency. without which the present I'M
poverished condition Of the people can
not be relieved. but we insist on TINS
currencys being issued by the General
covernment only and not by banks or
Isste. We demand the repeal OF all
LEGISLATION now upon the statute books
of Virginia providing for State banks oi
issue.
we favor the immediate enactment
NJ a non-partisan election law, so that
no advantage shall accrue to the party
in power by reason OF its control OF
the election machinery. All other ques-
tions in State politics must continue 10
he of secondary Importance until the
right of suffrage is safely shielded by
an aroused and determined public con-
science. Upon the foregoing proposi-
tions we again appeal 70 the calm and
intelligent judgment Of the people OF Vir-
einia for their support at the polls. as
suring them that our aim is TO bring
prosperity and contentment 10 our te-
loved Commonwealth.
3. We demand greater economy In
state and county expenditures. In order
10 accomplish tAis, we favor the reduc-
tion of taxes. The number OF officers
must be reduced with reduction OF their
.ota,tss Wa advocate cOnetitu-