The record-union., 1898-07-13

Party and he insisted on having a Pop
ulist convention. He wanted a man
who would stand for Populism before
all other isms, and one who could be
trusted to stand squarely in the mid
die of the road. He emphasized his
second of Mr.. Webster as one who
would act fairly and with deliberation,
and whose experience would do much
| toward harmony in the rank and file
of the party.
| Delegate Carrolton of Los Angeles
said the question seemed to be wheth-
| er a young or an old man ghould act
| as Chairman of the convention. He
spoke of Mr.. Hutchinson as standing
! high in the ranks in the southern part
of the State. He seconded his nomina-
ton and was the recipient of mild ap
| plause.
Then Thomas V. Gator walked down
! the center aisle and paid compliment
to Mr.. Hutchinson by denominating him
| bright and able young man. But
he contended that ripeness of years and
! incidentally sound judgment was what
| was needed, and for that reason he
| pinned his faith to Jonathan Y. Web
ster He felt that Webster's Judgment
was sounder than his (CatOr's), and felt
| that with him at the head the conven-
| ton would never lack that great ele-
ment Of success-a leader.
! Mr.. Gator referred to the National
| Convention of 1896 stating that both
| he and Hutchinson We're delegates. He
! had subsequently seen Webster, who
1 told him that time would demonstrate
that fusion with the Democratic party
! was a mistake. Time had shown that
! Webster's conclusions were right, and
his were wrong, and it did not take
much time to prove it. The Democratic
party split in two, showing That their
| pledges were worthless. He spoke of
| the candidacy of Watson of Georgia for
| Vice President. and then turned his at
| tention to the Croker Club of New York,
and gave it a severe rasping. He said
| the Democratic party would never
again risk losing votes in the East and
the South to get a few from the West,
and that as a reform party it was and
will be a total failure. No reform that
is genuine, or that is worthy the Popu-
list party, viii ever, he said, come
through any effort of the Democracy.
He admitted that he had been wrong in
his judgment. and that Mr.. Webster
had been right, and for that reason he
seconded his nomination.
Mr. Gator with his left hand buried
in his trousers pocket and his right
beating the time to his words, said the
hour had come when PopulistS would
have to stand together and fight their
own battle-to prepare for the battle
royal in 1890.
Delegate Gillespie of San Francisco
said Gators change Of base had been
unaccountable, and was unparalleled
He could not understand that change
of base He contended that conditions
are the same now as two years ago,
and that party lines drawn then apply
to the present time He had not eX-
pected to have the dry bones Of former
campaigns dragged out, and knew of
! no reason why Gator should have
changed his coat. He seconded Hutch
inson's nomination.
Patterson Of Kings County urged re-
form and middle e-roadism. In
order to show that the convention
meant business, it ought to put up a
square reformer for Chairman of the
convention. Webster, he said, had been
with the party since its organization,
had been tried by fire and found not
wanting. The convention owed it to
itself TO act as Populists, and not as
fusionists.
Moynahan of Sacramento got the
floor and said one portion of the con-
vention seemed to think that if one of
the nominees for Chairman was elected
the party would go to the devil, and
| the other section seemed to think if the
other was seated the railroad company
would swallow the party, body and soul.
Every honor possible had been heaped
on Mr.. Webster, and it was about time
that younger men be given a chance.
He contended that Webster was no bet
ter a Populist than Hutchinson, and
seconded the nomination of the latter
A San Bernardino delegate tried for
the floor, but A. r. Sprague of Los An
geles nipped his talk in the bud by
declaring that talk was cheap and that
| time was flying. He demanded a vote,
and the roar of ayes that went up
made Hutchinson's election as tempo
rary Chairman (and incidentally Chair
man of the convention) a foregone con-
clusion
There were just a few tits during the
rollcall, but Chairman Wardall was firm
and his rulings We're not questioned,
and after it was over the Secretary an
| nounced 1711a votes for Hutchinson and
! 1897 for Webster. Thereupon Chair
man Wardall declared Mr. Hutchinson
elected.
Mr. Van Meter of Fresno nominated
F. j. Gregory Of Alameda for tempo
rary Secretary, and he was elected by
| acclamation
Delegate Moynahan, for the Sacra-
| mento delegation, presented the follow
| ing names to complete the officers of
the convention, and they were unani-
mously elected:
| Sergeant at Arms. VIM. Z. Bowles;
Assistant Sergeant at Arms, William
| Daily; Clerks, A. Dittmar and w H.
| Henderson: Pages, Edgar Camp, Nor
man Moynahan and Julius Jacobs
Delegate Van Meter was appointed a
| committee to bring Chairman Hutchin-
son before the convention. Mr.. Hutch
inson appeared very modest during his
/ presentation by Chairman Wardall but
| changed like the chameleon and made
! a ringing address, replete with argu-
ments for peace. He hoped to see no
! bitterness of feeling nor callousness of
! mind crop up in the deliberations of the
| convention. He hoped to see the dele
| gates work harmoniously. He was not
| he said, for fusion at any cost but only
| so long as il conceded with the prin-
| ciples of Populism. The convention he
! said has concessions to make and con-
cessions to request, and with proper
I bon5linor he pynppfpd tO the Marty