The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-07
The Standard Bearers of Pop
ulism for the Next Campaign.
HELD A STORMY SESSION
Northern Middle OF the Readers Bolted
Smallest National Convention on
Record and Issued the Lar
gest Platform

| 'ht bSoHlt party ItHeNtu It's former
declaration of principles and nominated
its national ticket two years and two
and half months in advance of the
date of the election.
| The object OF this early action was to
head off any such fusion as that of 1896.
While the radicals controlled the con-
vention, they could pot have carried out
their programme without a bolt from
Northern delegates. The Western and
Southern delegates nominated Wharton
Barker and Ignatius Donnelly and de-
clared the principles of the reorganized
party. The Eastern states were not
represented. 1t was the smallest ma
tional convention on record, and 1t had
the longest platform on record-one of
| over 1000 words. Most of the usual
rules of conventions were ignored as
most of the delegates came with self
constructed credentials, owing to the
confusion over the call. 1t was a very
noisy convention, and no connected re-
port of the proceedings will ever be
recorded While the peoples party
was heretofore divided on the issue of
fusion, IL has now been found that even
the anti-fusionists are badly divided.
and that lighting among the middle-of-
the-roaders themselves has just begun.
The middle-of-the-road populists con-
vened for the second days session Of
the national convention at an early
hour. when the temporary organization
was made permanent. Chairman Dom
nelly made another radical speech, de-
nOuncing all those who had co-operated
with fusion movements and strongly
advocating a reorganization of the
party. An elaborate address 10 the
np0nlp nf the ITpftaA
ed. II reafiirms the previous platform
or the populists and covers many ad-
dltional questions, and in referring to
the present situation says:
Ihe peoples party vote in 1894 and
'95 reached nearly 1000. 600, and every
thing Indicated its speedy national tri-
umph. In this emergency the demo-
cratic party saw II had no recourse but
10 steal one of the principles OF the de-
splsed populists. In the Chicago conven-
tlon OF 1895. in prearranged thea tricaI
scene or great uproar and enthusiasm
IL moved TO the front as the devoted
friend and lifelong champion OF that
which II had always opposed.
senator Butler. who is chairman of
our national committee. preached dis
integration and Generalization Just as
Benedict Arnold stipulated for the scat |
terlng OF the American forces. Butler /
taught our forces the first duty of the /
soldier was to break ranks and go I
over TO the enemy. All efforts to chain /
the boundless subtlety of this cunning |
man have been in vain.
"Our chief battle Is not agaIns, do
Of one metal for the bene-
nj OF another. but against the claiming
OF the worlds progress to the car wheels /
or prehistoric superstition in the shane
or both metals. While we demand IL
either gold or silver is to be used as
money both shall be so used, we insist
lnat the best currency this country ev-
er possessed was the legal tender green
PACK or the civil war. and we look for
"ard with hope to the day when gold
'nail be relegated to the diseased teeth
u the people and the human family will
possess, free of tribute to bankers. gov
'rnmental fun legal tender measure OF
'alues made Of paper that will expand
lue Dy side with the growth of wealth
md population"
Previous TO the adoption of the address
.lr. Foster Of Minnesota crea.ed a scon6
" his bitter objections and vas hl.sed
own, as were others of the Butler fec
ion.
A bitter discussion then followed On a
notion 70 proceed with the lominaSi7ns
or president and vice president. IIe Put
ar faction moved to amend by referrIns,
ne whole matter to their national com |
llttee. Ihis caused a great disturbance |
hd the Butler men were knocked out |
osepn Palmer OF Illinois then called the |
'uuer taction together in another part of
he hail and IL was announced that they / I
'ould bolt and leave the hall II the mo- | i
on 10 proceed with nominations prevail ,
H. Ihey insisted that such actions had | !
OF been taken. as there had been no reg
lar call and only portion OF the states !
nd territories were represented. There
as scene OF confusion and comrnotion
men nnalIN h,rN 1
lllinois taking the platform and ad-
ressing the convention in the interest of !,
-der and harmony,
After he had been defeated on his mo- i
on TO refer nominations and other de-
sive action 10 the committee. Mr. PAL
er attempted repeatedly 20 get the or
question Of personal privilege He Z
as interrupted by DR.. Fay and a chorus I
other objectors, who insisted on pro- | r
'ealng with the nominations. At this .
ncture the disturbance of the small b
owd became so fierce that Mr. Hazebett 4
ansger or the Iyceum, appeared and .e- e
rested the asss mblage 10 vacate the hall | h
he was apprehenslve Of the security OF a
: property. ri
The Butler faction. led by Mr.. Palmer Of ii
lnois, then eft the hall and the other G.
ctiOn proceeded with the aom.ua-ions.
tier numerous nomina ing and second
2 speeches in presenting two names for
esldential candidates, ballot was ia q,
n resulting as follows: Wharton Bar :
r OF Pennsylvania, l2S IS. Ignatius :,
1nnelly Of Minnesota. 80 To- on motion -
Mr.. Donnely the nomination OF Mr. / -
irker was made unanimous Ignatius =
1nnelly was then nominated by acc,a4na :,
n for vice president. =
4 very long platform was adopted.
lich incorporates the provisions OF the
NARA platform as well as the adi.-ss
opted at the morning session. The &c
-atlons in the platform do not 4irer r.
IN those Of other platforms exeapt in IT
2 plank which especially der o luces p,
nator Marion Butler Of North Carclina sp
chairman OF their national committee / Cl
r attempting TO drive the populist
r.y into the democratic party"
'he resolutions also provide for the re-
sBuizstion OF the party with Milton | IA
rk Of Dallas, Texas. as chafrman. NJ
'he bolting delegates said they were in ! vi