The record-union., 1898-09-07
A Small But Noisy Convention at
Cincinnati.
The Fight Between Anti-Fusionists Has
Only Just Begun.
One Faction Declares Its Princi-
pies and Nominates Wharton
Barker for President and Tg-
natius Donne1ly for Vice Presi-
dent in 1900.

dent in 1900.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 6.-The Middle
of-the Road Populists to-day reorgan-
lied the Peoples party, renewed its for
mer declaration 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 head off any such fusion
as that of 1896. While the radicals
controlled the convention, they could
not have carried out their program
without a bolt from Northern delegates.
The Western and Southern delegates
nominated Wharton Barker and Igna-
thus Donnelly, and declared the prin-
cples of the reorganized party. The
Eastern States were not represented. 1t
was the smallest National Convention
on record, and it had 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-consti-ut-
ed credentials, owing to the confusion
over the call. 1t was & very noisy con-
vention, and no connected report of The
proceedings will ever be recorded.
While the Peoples party was hereto
fore divided on the issue 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 has just begun.
The Populists convened their second
days session of the National Conven-
ton at an early hour to-day, when the
organization was made per-
manent.
Chairman Ignatius Donnelly made
radical speech, denouncing all those
who had co-operated with fusion move
ments, and strongly advocating the re-
organization of the party, not only for
an independent Presidential ticket, but
for independent candidates for Con-
gress, State officers, etc.
A letter was read from Ex-Governor
Davis Waite of Colorado, in which he
denounced Senator Butler as treacn-
erous Chairman and false leader, and
advocated the nomination of straight
Populistic tickets for President and
other officers.
An elaborate address to the people
of the United States was made. 1t re-
afirms the previous platform Of the
Populists, and covers many additional
questions, and in referring to the pres
ent situation it says:
'The Peoples party vote in 1894 and
1885 rose to nearly two millions, and
everything indicated its speedy nation
al triumph In. this emergency the
Democratic party saw that it had no
recourse but to steal one of the prin-
ciples of the despised Populists. IN
the Chicago convention of 1896, in n
prearranged theatrical scene of great
uproar and enthusiasm, it moved to
the front as the devoted friend and
champion of that which it has always
opposed.
Senator Butler, who is the Chair
man of our National Committee,
prea ched on disintegration and demor-
alization Just as Benedict Arnold stip-
ulated for the scattering of the AmoTi-
can forces that the British might more
readily overthrow the young republic,
Mr.. Butler taught our forces that the
first duty of a soldier was to break
ranks and go over to the enemy. All
efforts to chain the boundless subuety
of this cunning man have been n
vain.
"Our chief battle is not against the
demonstration of one metal for the
benefit 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 a sys-
tenn of gold barter, While enterprise
languishes. industry suffers, and the
cemeteries are populous with the bod
les of bankrupts and suicides. We Will
end the tricks of the office seekers by
putting our National ticket in the field
at once. We believe that the soul is
bigger than the pocket book; we have
nothing but kind words for Republicans
and Democrats individually.
s.Our hearts go out to the wretched
and oppressed of the whole world.
While we demand that if either gold or
silver is to be used as a money both
shall be so used, We insist that the best
currency this country ever possessed
was the full legal-tender greenback Of
the civil war, and we look forward
with hope to the day when gold shall
he relegated to the diseased teeth of
the people and the human family pos
sess. free of tribute to bankers. a Gov
ernmental full legal tender measure Of
values made of paper, that will expand
side by side with the growth of wealth
and population. We call attention to
the public school question and the
State service as eXemplifications of a
beneficent State socialism, and to sim
liar institutions for the improvement
of the condition of the people,
Previous to the adoption of the
address Mr.. Foster of Minnesota Gre
ated a scene by his bitter objections,
and was hissed down, as were others
of the Butler faction.
A bitter discussion then followed on
motion to proceed with nominations for
President and Vice President. The
Butler faction moved to amend by re-
ferring the whole matter to their Ma
tional Committee. This caused a great
disturbance, and the Butler men were
knocked out.
The Butler faction, led by Palmer of
Illinois, then left the hall, and the
other factions proceeded with the nom
nations. After numerous nominating
and seconding speeches in presenting
two names for Presidential candidates,
a ballot was taken. resulting as fol-
lows: Wharton Barker of Pennsyl-
vania, 12S 40; Ignatius Donnelly of
90 1-5. On motion of DON