Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-17
REFORM PRESS ASSOCIATION
MiddIe-or-thc-Rond populists In Com
ference TO Formulate
Policy.

KANSAS CITY, May 16-The seventh
annual meeting of the National Reform
| Press association and the national re-
| organization committee of the people :
party, with something under 100 delegates
! present, convened here today. After de
! Gliding on policy for 1900 the delegates
I will start for Colorado Wednesday even
| ing on junket. Wharton Barker of Phila-
delphia, who is to all practical purposes the
| candidate of the party for president, Il
| represented by his son, Rodman Barker.
The proceedings of the association were
presided over by Frank Burkett of Mis-
sissippi, its president. The following COM
mitteemen are here: ]. NJ. Adams. j. II.
| Whorton Ross Winn II. L. Jones and Mil
ton Park, Texas; 10 A, Parker Kentucky;
| John w. Rannells. j. Il. Clyde. Emmet
Romsower and J. NJ. Reynolds, Missouri;
| w. L. Peet and NJ. A. Bodenhamer
Georgia; James NJ. Perriss, Illinois; w. s.
Morgan, Arkansas; Lucian Stebhens. Ne
braska; John NJ. Burton, /. S. Yoeman and
Abe Steinberg, Kansas; l.. H. Weller and c.
A. Weeks, Iowa, and Frank Burkett, Mis-
sissippi.
At the morning session President Burlitt
delivered his annual address. which evoked
considerable applause. "To the mistaken
policy which led to the disastrous results of
the campaign of 1896" said President Bur
kit, I'VE may trace the cause Of all the con-
tention and want of harmony which has ex-
listed in reform ranks since that unfortunate
hour when a majority of our representatives
consented to go outside the party to find a
candidate for president
surely no one continued he, mot a
democrat or republican at heart will contend
the campaign of '96 should he duplicated"
President Burkitt aimed shot at the
trusts and expansion. He said: "Popu-
lism while refusing to lower the flag in the
presence of any enemy on earth would
strike from the limbs of American working
men the shackles of industrial slavery be-
fore they engage to emancipate the mongrel
races of strange and foreign lands"
After a brief address by Ignatus Dom
nelly and the appointment of the usual COM
mttees recess was taken
Bryan Charged with Trcachcry.
Mr.. Donnely advised the populists against
fusion and eAcoriated W. ]. Bryan and the
democratic party for what he termed treach-
cry. The burden of his speech was a plea
to the populists to keep in the middle of the
road and thus acquire success over "the tot
tering and corrupt democracy" Mr. Don
nolly's remarks were heartily appauded and
it was plain that his auditors were in sym
At the afternoon session of the press as
sociaton the following officers We're elected:
President, Frank Burktt Okolona, Miss;
vice president, +. d. Mays, Pomery, Wash;
secretary and treasurer Paul J. Dixon,
Chillicothe, Mo-; corresponding secretary,
W. ]. Hennng, Augusta, Ga; executive
committee, Abe Steinberger, Girard, Kan.
n. H. Motsinger, Shoals Ind. Frank
Barker, Pennsylvania NJ. Bodenheimer,
Georgia; p. j. Dixon, Chillcothe Mo.
Early in the afternoon a recess was taken
to await the report of the national organ
ization committee OF the peoples party, !
which committee was in executive session
most of the afternoon. Their report was
presented to the editors at tonght's session |
of the press association, from which all out |
siders were barred. The report, which was |
in the form of address to the people, |
did not meet the approval of the editors |
and after a spirited debate it was referred |
back to the organization committee, which |
will modify the address and again submit !
it to the press association at tomorrows |
session.
was addressed by Ignatius Donnelly of Min
nesCta, J. w. Lowe Of Faribaut, Mimi;
n. II. Motsinger, Shoals, Ind, and eX-Con-
gresham L. II. Weller of Nashau, la. To
man the speakers declared against fusion in
any form and under any circumstances.