Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-02-27
REFORM PRESS ASSOCIATION IN
CONVENTION AT MEMPHIS
An,ony Them General COXey ana W.
clone Davis of Texns-Fusl""
Not in Favor.

Memphis. Tenn, Feb. 22.-The REFORM
Press AssoclalIUn met in convention ~
day, about 300 delegates being present
Among those in attendance are Paul van
deryoort of Omaha, president OF the do
ISOLATION: Jacob s. Coxey of Ohio' hon
Frank Burkett OF Mississippi, ana w
clone" Davis of Texas. National com
mitteeman George +. Washburn of Mass
achusetts Is also present but look ho
part in the proceedings.
Appointment of committees and the
reading of reports consumed the forenoon
and the feature of the afternoon was the
election Of Frank Burkett of MISSISSIPPI
as president for the ensuing year. Inc
anti-fuson, dde-of-the-road element
gave hearty support to President Fahder-
WORT, an uncompromising antl-tuslonlsI'
and the meeting Is decidedly of the MD
dle-of-the-road complexion as shown by
the proceedings today. President Van
dervoort's resolution that National Chair
man Butler should resign was received
with loud applause from all parts of the
hall.
Nearly every southern and western
state is represented. The only prominent
eastern peoples party man on the ground
is George f. Washburn of Boston, who
was closely associated with Senator Jones
in the direction of the late campaign.
Mayor w. L. Clapp welcomed the dele
gates on behalf of the city. Thomas b.
Turney delivered an address on behalf of
the bmetallc league of Shelby county,
and a response was made by Frank Bur-
kett of Oklahoma, Miss.
President Vandervoort declined to ap-
point committees, saying he preferred to
have the convention name them. Joseph
A. Parker of Louisville, corresponding
secretary of the association, was appoint
ed secretary and treasurer by the ex-
ecutiye committee, vice A. Roselle of Mis-
souri,.
President VandervoOrt delivered his an
nual address before the adjournment.
The address was received with evident
approval by a large majority of the dele
gates.
The first business of the afternoon SEES
sion was the passage of a motion order
ing General Vandervoort's address spread
on the minutes. The credentials com
mittee reported and the report was APP
proved.
An invitation was voted to the reform
papers of the country to join the asso-
citation. There was considerable opposi-
ton to the motion on the ground that
only papers of pronounced populistic
principles should be accepted as members
of the association. A committee was ap-
pointed to revise the bylaws and con-
sttution SO as to give the president and
secretary authority to strike from the
rolls any members of the association
found advocating the support OF other
parties.
BY rising vote, Hon. Frank Burkett
of Mississippi was duly elected president
of the association for the ensuing year.
Mr.. Burkett addressed the convention
briefly, thanking the delegates for the
honor conferred upon him. The conyen-
ton at p. m. adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow. Tonight the delegates were
entertained by a concert at the Peabody
hotel.
This organization. which is an auxiliary
to the National Farmers Alliance, op-
posed the Bryan fusion in the campaign
OF Iast year. Inc present meeting is large
ly for the purpose of devising means for
reorganizing the populist party and con-
tnuing the campaign of education On
true peoples party lines. Some of the
members are still sore at the action of the
majority in opposing the Bryan fusion,
and these headed by Secretary Rozelle, of
Lamar, Mo, recently called an opposition
conference 10 be held at Kansas City to-
day to bring into existence a new associa-
ton. President Vandervoort has suspend
ed Rozelle from membership in the reg,1-
lar organization.
A number of participants in the now
General CoXey party which was
launched at St Louis on January a. are
also here.