The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
POPULISTS SCORE BRYAN
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE CON-
EMN HIS WATERING COURSE.
This Year-Thc Republican
Meeting.

The Populist state central committee yes
terday officially condemned the wavering
course of William j. Bryan in his evasions
of the questions submitted to him by the
chairman of the Missouri state committee.
1t was asked of him If he were elected
President whether he would be a Demo-
crat or Populist on the subject of govern
ment ownership of railroads; and, If elected
President, whether he would be a Populist
or Democrat on the money redemption
question. The differences between the st.
Louis and the Chicago platforms were
pointed out to him in this connection. Mr..
Bryan made no definite answer to either
question and the state committee con-
demned him for it. The committee declared
that it desired to have a man express his
views and not to vacillate.
All districts were represented except the
First district, and the members of the COM
mittee were jubilant over the prospects Of
the party. The reports showed gains in all
parts of the State, it is claimed, and the
meeting was largely attended by workers of
the party other than the members Of the
committee. John OFT, Of Herrick, Ill, was
present. An ample fall campaign was
planned and the organization, 1t is said, will
be perfected In every township in the State.
The work already done by Chairman F. j.
S. Robinson, Of Cloverland. and Secretary
c. NJ. Walters, Of this city, was Endorsed.
and the officers were instructed TO continue
on the same line. The state convention will
be held on Feb. %, 1900, unless the date Of
the national convention conflicts, In which
event the chairman of the state committee
is authorized to change the date for the
state convention. The basis of representa-
ton will be one delegate for each town.
ship and city ward in the State and one
delegate for every fifty votes or fraction
thereof cast for secretary of state in 1898.
The Populists know that the Democrats
are planning to have an early convention
and so the date OF this party convention
was set early to circumvent any Demo-
cratic scheme. The organization OF the
party was reported to be such that a state
convention could be held within twenty-four
hours after notice had been sent out. The
Occidental Hotel was selected as the off1cial
headquarters of the committee. A confer
ence of workers of the party will be held
at Shelbyville next Saturday, when further
steps in perfecting the organization will be
taken.
Those present yesterday were: Second dis
trict, S. W. Williams, who held the proxy
of R.. j. Miller: Third district, J. c. Stew
art: Of West t. Baden @oI FOURTH Eift6 diS Sirtrict D +
Fl. Allen, of Terre Hapte: Sixth district,
Elan Leary. of Greenfield; Seventh district.
A; J. Williams of Needham Eighth N, dis,
district, G. W. Walters, as proxy for John
w. George. of Frankfort: Tenth district,
J.. c.. Smith, of Monticello;. Eleventh dis
trict. L. E. Collier. of Kokomo: Twelfth
district, represented by proxy; Thirteenth
district, Harvey Wiley. of Kewana. Beside
the large number present from this city, the
meeting was attended by DR.. Keightly, OF
Greencastle; Allen jennings. E.: s.. Casey,
of Irvington, and J. NJ. Owens, of Winamac.