The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-07
Hereafter PopuIists VIII Do Away
with Conventions and Select by
Referendum Plan.
THE BUTLER FACTION BOLTS
PART OF INDIANA DELEGATION TAX
ING PART IN THE ACTION.
Trouble i'm the Ranks OF the Reor-
ganized Party Only Begun-AII u
Unit Against Fusion.


CINCINNATI, Sept. 6-The middle-of-
the-road Populists to-day reorganized the
Peoples party, renewed its former declara-
ton of principles and nominated its na-
tional ticket two years and two months In
advance of the date of the election Tie
object of this early action was TO lsold OF
any such fusion as that of 1896. While the
radicals controlled the convention they
could not have carried out their programme
without bolt from Northern delegates.
The Western and Southern delegates nomi-
mated Wharton Baker and Ignatus Dom
nelly, and declared the principles of the re-
organized party. The Eastern states
were not represented 1t was the smallest
national convention on record and it
adopted the longest platform on record. one
OF over seven thousand words. Most of the
usual rules of conventions were ignored as
most of the delegates came with self-con-
stituted credentials owing 10 the confusion
over the call. 1t was a very noisy conven-
tion and no connected report OF the pro-
ceedings will ever be recorded While the
Peoples party was heretofore 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-roaders themselves has just begun
The convention got into such a row this
afternoon that the manager of the Lyceum
ordered them to leave the hall. fearing the
destruction of his property. Order was
finally restored by the Butler faction bolt.
ing and leaving the hall. The PoprlM9
then nominated Wharton Barker of PENN
sylvania for President, over Ignatius Dom
nelly, of Minnesota. On motion of Mr.
Donnelly the nomination of Mr. Barker
was made unanimous, and then Mr.. Dom
nelly was nominated for Vice President by
reclamation. The nominations must be re-
ferred to the party at large for fndorse-
ment and hereafter the national tickets are
to be nominated by the referendum plan
without convention being held
letter was read from ex-Gov David
Waite of Colorado, in which he denounced
Senator Butler as a treacherous chairman
and false leader, and advocated the nomi-
nation of straight Populistic tickets for
President and other offices. An elaborate
address to the people of the United States
was adopted. 1t roa1firms the previous plat
form of the Populsts and covers many adj
ditional questions, and in referring to the
present situation it says:
''The Peoples party vote in 1894 and 1893
rose to nearly two millions, and everything
this record the Democratic party saw it had
no recourse but to steal one of the princi.
pies of the despised Populists At the Chi.
eago convention in 1896. in a prearranged
theatrical scene of great uproar and enthu-
siasm, ii moved to the front as the devoted
and lifelong champion of that which il had
always opposed.
Senator Butler, who is chairman Of our
national committee, preached disiRtegration
and Generalization just as Benedict Arnold
stipulated for the scattering OF the Amer
lean forces that the British might the more
readily overthrow the young republic Mr.
Butler taught our forces that the first duty
of soldier 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 the demonetization of one metal for
the benefit of another, but against the
claiming of the worlds progress to the car
wheels OF a 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, industry
suffers and the cemeteries are populous
with the bodies of bankrupts and suicides
I'VE will end the tricks OF the ofice
seeker by putting our national ticket in the
field at once. We believe the soul is bigger
than the pocketbook. We have nothing but
kind words to Republicans and Democrats
individually. Our hearts so out to the
wretched and oppressed of the whole world
While we demand that if either gold or
silver is to be used as 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 be relegated to the diseased teeth
Of the people, and the human family pos
sess, free of tribute to bankers, a govern.
mental, full legal-tender measure Of value.
made of paper that will expand side by
side at the growth of wealth and popula-
ton. We call attention to the public school
system and the postal service as exemplia-
cation of a benehcent state socialism and TO
similar institutions for the Improvement OF
the condition OF the people"
BUTLER FACTION DOwNED
Previous to the adoption of the address
Mr.. Foster, of Minnesota. created scene
by his bitter objections and was hissed
down as were others of the Butler faction.
A bitter discussion then followed on mo-
tion TO proceed with nominations for Presi-
dent and Vice President. The Butler factian
moved to amend by referring the whole
matter tc their national committee This
caused grtat disturbance and the Butler
men were knocked out. Joseph Palmer. OF
Illinois. then called the Butler faction to-
gether in another part OF the hall and 1t was
announced that they would bolt and leave
the hall If the motion to proceed with nom
nations prevailed and such action taken
when there had been no regular cali and
when only portion of the States and Ter
ritories were representa-. There was a scenA
Of confusion and commotion which was