Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-28

HitchcOck's Nomination is Not Ac-
ceptable to Them.

ceptable to Them.
The populist congressional convention was
called to order in the Crounse block by Sena-
tor John Jeffcoat as chairman of the con
gressional committee. Edward F. Morearty
was chosen temporary chairman and c. B.
Sprague made temporary secretary
G. A. Whitford Of Washington and Elmer
e. Thomas and Henry Newcome Of this city
were made credentials committee, but
there were no contests. The convention then
made the temporary organization perma-
nent. Meanwhile a committee on platform
consisting Of v. e. Wilson Of Douglas. Jacob
Beck Of Washington and Charles Nownes,
was preparing a platform.
j. w. Carr appeared as a committee Of one
from the silver republican convention to in
form the populists that his body had already
nominated Hitchcock by reclamation. Chair
man Morearty desired to know what would
be done with the announcement from the
silver republicans.
G. ]. Field Of South Omaha made a mo-
tion to proceed at once to ballot. It was
carried and George w. Brewster and w.
s. Poppleton were named by Jacob Beck and
Mike OConnell respectively.
The opposition to Hitchcock became pain
fully manifest. Elmer Thomas timidly
hinted that the democratic convention had
gone ahead and followed the silver repub-
licans in nominating Hitchcock.
John G. Tierney arose to point OF order.
His point was: "This is a populist con-
vention; we are not here to nominate q
democrat"
Chairman Morearty was about to side
with Tierney and order roll call on the
two names SO far submitted when Thomas
moved a suspension of the rules and the
nomination of Hitchcock by acclamation.
To an inquiry from Judge Martin Langdon,
Thomas said John Flynn had told him the
democrats had nominated Hitchcock.
This made Tierney wrathy. John Flynn
is not a delegate to the democratic con-
vention and not delegate to the silver
republican convention, and his word don't
go here" he calculated.
]. Kelly McCombs formally nominated
Hitchcock and Jesse Blake named DR.. A. j.
Cook. ballot resulted In the choice Of
Hitchcock by sixty-seven votes to twenty
one for Cook and five for Brewster. The
First and Second wards had each cast their
five votes for Poppleton, but before the
ballot was announced they changed over,
the First to Cook and the Second to Hitch
cock. South Omaha divided its ten votes
between Hitchcock and Cook. Cooks other
votes came from the Third ward and Wash
ington county. Brewster got his five votes
from the Fifth ward. Altogether ninety
three votes were cast.
A motion to make Hltchcocks nomina-
tion unanimous was objected to by OCon-
nell. The chair did not declare the ballot
until j. Kelly McCombs asked him II it was
not the proper thing to do SO. When he
did finally put a motion on the acceptance
of Hitchcock as the conventions candidate
Tierney yelled a terrific but solitary moi"
Messrs. McCombs and Magney were Sc
lected as a committee to acquaint the
other two conventions with the action of the
populists. After a while the former re-
turned with an explanation that Magney
had gone to the silver republicans, as he
supposed while he had failed to find the
democrats, they having adjourned without
waiting to hear from the populists.
Diversion was afforded by Chairman Will
was ready to report. The resolutions re-
affirm the principles contained in the ma
tional platform adopted at st. Louis, en-
phasizing those applying to the questions of
finance and the initiative and referendum;
denounce Mr. Mercer for having voted for
bonds and the single gold standard and
against the Cuban war; point proudly to the
record Of the populists of this state since
their elevation to place and power; affirm
that principle should be the true test Of
joint political action and favor the union