Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-09-09
FIRST in TIE FIELD.
Middle-of-the-Roa Populists Open
the Campaign for 1900.
NATIONAL TICKET IS NOMINATED.
wharton Barker, of PENNSYLVANIA,
Named for President, and Ignntius
DonnelIy for Vicc-President-
Butler Faction Bolts.


former 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 rad
Heals controlled the convention, they
Gould not carry out their programme
without a bolt from the northern del
egates. The western and southern del
egates nominated Wharton Barker and
Ignatius Donnelly, and declared the
principles of the reorganized party.
The eastern states were not repre-
scented.
1t was the smallest national conven-
stion on record, and it adopted the long
lest platform on record, one of over
1900 words. Most of the usual rules
bf conventions were ignored, as most of
the delegates came with self-consti-
tuted credentials, owing to the con-
fusion over the call. Itwas very noisy
convention, and no connected report
tof the proceedings will ever be record
led. While the peoples party was here
tofore divided on the issue of fusion,
ut has now been found that even the
hnti-fusionists are badly divided, and
that the fighting among the middle-of-
ithe-roaders themselves has just begun.
! The Proceedings.
When the convention reassembled in
khe morning the temporary organiza-
btion was made permanent, and Chair
|man Ignatius Donnelly made radical
speech denouncing all those who had
|cooperated with fusion movements,
and strongly advocating the reorgani-
cation of the party, not only for an in
dependent presidential ticket, but for
independent candidates for congress,
state Offices, etc. A letter was read
from ex-Gov. David Waite, of Colorado,
hn which he denounced Senator Butler
as a treacherous chairman and false
leader, and advocated the nomination
iof straight populistic tickets for presi-
dent and other offices.
An elaborate address to the people
tpf the United States was adopted. 1t
reaffirms the previous platform of the
Ipopulists and covers many additional
questions.
A Stormy Scene.
Previous to the adoption of the adj
dress Mr.. Foster, of Minnesota, created
"a scene by his bitter objections and
was Kissed down as were others of the
Butler faction. A bitter discussion
then followed on a motion to proceed
with nominations for president and
vice president. The Butler faction
moved to amend by referring the whole
tmatter to their national committee.
This caused great disturbance and the
Butler men were knocked out. Joseph
Palmer, of Illinois, then called the
Butler faction together in another
part of the hall and 1t was announced
that they would bolt and leave the hall
If the motion to proceed with notnina-
st1ons prevailed and such action was
taken when there had been no regular
call and when only a portion of the
states and territories were represent
ed. There was scene of confusion
and commotion which was finally
Hnelled by Mrs. Walker, of Illinois, TAX
Ding the platform and addressing the
convention in the interest of order and
harmony.
After he was defeated on his motion
ito refer nominations and other de-
.ctsive action to the national commit
ftee Mr.. Palmer attempted repeatedly
TO get the floor on question of per
Honal privilege. He was interrupted
lpy DR.. Fay and chorus of other OBJ
5ectors who insisted on proceeding
with the nominations. At this juno
ture the disturbance of the small
crowd became SO fierce that Mr.. Haz.
lbett, manager of the Lyceum, APP
peared and requested the assemblage
TO yacate the hall as he was appre-
hensive of the security of his prop
erty. The Butler faction led by Mr.
Palmer, of Illinois, then left the hall
and the other faction proceeded with
the nominations.
. Ticket Named.
AFTER numerous nominating and sec
pnding speeches in presenting two
pames for presidential candidates, a
ballot was taken resulting as follows:
Wharton Barker, of Pennsylvania.
LBS 40; Ignatius Donnelly, of Mime
sofa, 90 Is. On motion of Mr.. DON
nelly the nomination of Mr.. Barker
was made unanimous. Ignatius DON
nelly was then nominated by acclama-
tion for vice president
Long Platform.
Z A very long platform was adopted
which Incorporated the provisions of
the Omaha platform as we'll as the adj
dress adopted at the morning session.
The declarations in the platform do
not differ from those of other plat
forms except in the plank which espe-
jcially denounces Senator Marion But
der, of North Carolina, as chairman of
their national committee for attempt
ing ito drive the populist party into
the democratic organization" The
resolutions also provide for the reor-
ganization of the party with Milton
Park, of Dallas, Tex, as chairman.
The boiling delegates said they were
instructed not to participate in the
nomination OF ticket. The conven-
tion adjourned without fixing any time
or place for another convention.
It's Cardinal Principle.
The most important action OF the
convention was the adoption of the
referendum system as the cardinal
principle in the future of the govern
ment of the recognized party. After
the nominations had been made reso-
luton was offered by Capt. Frank Bur
kett, of Mississippi, providing that the
nominations just made be referred to
q referendum of the voters of the
peoples party of all states and terri