The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-07-14

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doom Of the Peoples party, and drown
what few Populists might get into the
convention he based the representation
in the convention, not upon the last
known Peoples party vote, but upon the
combined Democratic and Populist votes
cast for elector in 1896. The effect of
this upon the character of the conven
ton should be apparent to the most
casual observer. 1t was to make it a
Democratic convention instead of Peo-
pies party convention because the Dem
ocratic vote of Iowa last year was prob
ably more than four times as large as
the Peoples party vote, hence under
the call it would be possible to make our
own convention four-fifths Democratic
and in fact the result shows that it was
at least two-thirds such. The Populjsts
in the convention protested against this
and made the following motion, viz:
"That the committee on credentials is
hereby Instructed to prepare a new basis
OF representation to which each county
shall be entitled in this convention, and
to reapportioE the vote, giving to each
county one vote and one vote additional
for each 200 votes, or majority fraction
| thereof, cast for s. B. Crane for. govern
or at the general election in the year
1896"
By claiming the floor in advance, Mr.
! Weeks was heard on this motion and ex-
/ planned the fact that we wanted to sit
in Peoples party conventions; that the
motion only sought to change the vote
| Of the counties so as to make such vote
! represent Peoples party strength in
| stead of Democratic strength. But no
one else was permitted to be heafd:. fpt
one word of discussion was allowed
upon this most vital point, for as soon
as the mover Of the motion relinquished
! the floor, Mr.. Robb, OF Union county,
late fusion candidate for congress and
son-inlaw of Fred White, the Demo-
cratic nominee for governor, moved to
lay the motion on the table, which mo-
| ton being unbeatable, was carried, a
roll call of counties demanded by ex-
| Congressman Weller, even being de-
MED by the free silver Republican tenn
porary chairman who, Notwithstanding
Populists' protests, was forced upon the
convention as it's presiding officer. And
| ioh bo
call and the manipulation of the, pri-
| maries was Democratic, refused to be-
| come a Peoples party convention, but
remained Democratic.
We insisted at the time that the chair
man should have called a purely Peo-
pies party convention, that he had no
| right to assume in advance that the
| party desired to become Democratic or
should first be constituted a Peoples
party convention, and then, and not un-
! til then should it decide what course
should be pursued by 1t at such a con-
| vention, but the majority thus forced
| upon us representing an element
which desired our total extinction was
| already there aided by the treachery OF
those whom we have heretofore trusted
| struck us down on our own threshold.
We insist that the work of that conven
ton does not represent the desire of the
Peoples party of Iowa, but that it was
mere annex and side show to the other
Democratic convention across the river
When the committee on conference
with the silver Democrats and Repub-
licans made it's report, it only covered
the division of the Offices, and made no
reference to the name under which the
ticket should go upon the Official ballot.
General Weaver, the permanent chair
man, announced that the ticket would
have to go on the ballot under the name
Democratic" but when pressed three
times for his authority to make such