The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-07
SOME ODD PROCEEDINGS
NOMINATION OF A NATIONAL
TICKET FOR 1900.
WAR; CAMP FOLLOWED BY A DIVISION
Denunciation of Senator Butler--Adopton ofthe
Referen um System as Card ma Pin
cpe of Government Of the
Recognized Party.

Road Populists to-day reorganized the
Peoples Party, renewed its former de
claration of principles and nominated its
national ticket two years and two months
in advance of the date of the election.
The object of this early action was
to hold off any such Susion as that of
1896 While the radicals controlled the
convention they could not carry out their
programme without a bolt from North
ern delegates. The Western and the
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 national convention
on record and it adopted the longest plat
form on record, one of over 1000 words.
Most of the usual rules of conventions
were ignored as most of the delegates
came with self-constitutcd credentials,
owing to the confusion over the call. IL
was a very noisy convention and no
connected report of the proceedings will
ever be recorded While the Peoples
Party was heretofore divided on the is
sue of fusion. it has now been found
that even the anti-fuSionists are badly
divided and that the fighting among the
Middle-of- the Readers themselves mas
just begun.
An elaborate address to the people of
the United States was also adopted.
The address in part says:
Senator Butler, who is the chairman
of our National Colwaittee, preached
disintegration and decentralization just
as Benedict Arnold stipulated for the
scattering of the American forces that
the British might the more readily over
throw the young republic.
'.Mr. Butler taught our forces that
the first duty of soldier was to break
ranks and go over to the enemy.
"All efforts to chain the boundless
subtlety of this cunning man have been
in vain. Our chief battle is not against
demonstration of one metal for the bene-
fit of another, but against the claiming
of the worlds progress to the car wheels
of prehistoric superstition in the shape
of both metals. The whole world to-
day is held in check by system of gold
barter. while enterprise languishes, in
dustry suffers and the cemeteries are
populous with the bodies of bankrupts
and suicides. We will end the tricks nf
the office-seekers by putting our nation
al ticket in the field at once We have
nothing but kind words for Republicans
and Democrats individually. While we
demand that if either gold or silver is to
be used as money. both shall be used.
we insist that the best currency this
country ever possessed was the full legal
tender greenback of the Civil War;
Previous to the adoption of the adj
dress Mr.. Foster. of Minnesota. created
scene by his bitter objections and was
Kissed down, as We're other of the But
Ter faction. A bitter discussion then fol-
lowed on motion to proceed with nomi-
nation for President and Vice President
The Butler faction moved to amend ty
referring the whole matter to their ma
tional committee. This caused great dis
turbance, and the utler men were
knocked ont. Joseph Palmer, of Illinois,
then called the Butler faction together
in another part of the hall, and it was
announced that they would bolt and
leave the hall if the motion to proceed
with the nominations prevailed, and
such action was taken when there had
been no regular call. and when only a
portion of the States and Territories
were represented. There was a scene
of confusion and commotion which was
finally quelled by Mrs. Walker, of Iii
nois taking the platform and address
Ing the convention in the interest Of
order and harmony.
After he was defeated on his motion
to refer nominations and other decisive
action to the national committee, Mr.
Palmer attempted repeatedly to get the
floor on question of personal privilege
He was interrupted by Or. Fay and a
chorus Of other DIRECTORS who insisted
on proceeding with the nominations
AT this juncture the disturbance of the
small crowd became SO fierce that Mr.
HaZebett, manager Of the Lyceum. ap-
peared and requested the assembage tC
yacate the hall as he was apprehensiye
Of the security of his property. The
Butler faction led by Mr.. Palmer, of II.
linois, then left the hall and the other
factions proceeded with the nomination
After several nominating and second
ing speeches in presenting the names OF
two candidates for respective offices, the
ballot was taken as follows:
Wharton Darker, of Pennsylvania
12S 40: IgDatius Donnelly. Of Minnes0
Ia, 80 10. On motion of Mr. Donnelly
the nomination of Mr.. Parker was made
unanimous. Ignatius Donnelly was ther
nominated by acclamation for Vice
President.
A very long platform was adopted
which incorporated the provisions Of the
Omaha platform, as well as the address
adopted at the morning session. The
declarations in the platform do no
differ from those of other platforms, ex
cept in the plank which especially de
nounces Senator Marion Butler, o.
North Carolina. as chairman of the
national committee for attempting "tt
drive the Populists into the Democrat,
organization"
The resolution also provides for tn,
reorganization Of the party, with Milton
Park, of Dallas, Texas, as chairman.
The boiling delegates said they wer,
instructed not to participate in the nomi
nation of ticket. The convention ad
journed without fixing any time or plac
for another conventions and they con
slider their campaign for 1900 nov
opened.
The most important action of the con