The age-herald., 1899-05-17
.REFORMERS ARE
 AGAINST FUSION Annual Meeting PopuliStI Press
 Association.
WILL ADOPT A PLATFORM
And Decide on Policy for 19oo-Whar- ton Barker, of Philadelphia, Con- sidered the Presidential Cam
 didate of the Party.

Kansas City, Mo-, May 16.-The seventh annual meeting of the National Reform Press association and the National Reor- ganization> committee of the Peoples party with something under 100 delegates present, convened hefe today.
 After deciding on policy for 1900 the delegates will start for Colorado Wednes- day evening on junket.
 Wharton Barker, of Philadelphia, who is to all practical purposes the candidate of the party for president, is represented by his son, Rodman Barker.
 The proceedings of the association were presided over by Frank Burkett, of Missis- sippi, its president.
 The following committeeman are here: J. M. Adams, J. H. Wharton, Ross Winn, H. E. Jones and Milton Park, Texas; J. A. Parker, Kentucky; John w. Rannells, J. E. Clyde, Emmet Ramsowell and J. A. Reynolds, Missouri; ". L. Peet and M. A. Rodenhamer Georgia; James M. PerrisS, Illinois; w. s. Morgan, Arkansas; Lucien Stiben, Nebraska; John M Burton, I. s. Yomen and Abe Steinberg, Kansas; L. H. Weller and c. A. Weeks, Iowa; Frank Burkett, Mississippi.
 At the morning session, President Bur kett delivered his annual address, which evoked considerable applause.
 ''To the mistaken policy which led to the results of the campaign of 1S96,'' President Burket said i've may trace the cause of all the contention and want of harmony which has existed in reform ranks since that unfortunate hour when a majority of our representatives went outside the party to find a candidate for president
 Surely no one,' continued he, mot a democrat republican at heart will con- fond sbn plicated.''
 President Burkett aimed a shot at the trusts, and on expansion said: "Populism, while refusing to lower the flag in thesp ence of any enemy on the earth, would strike from the limbs of all workmen the shackles of industrial slavery before they engage to emancipate the mongrel races of strange and foreign lands.''
 After a brief address by Ignatius Don- nelly and the appointment of the usual committees a recess was taken. MT. Donnelly advised the populists against fusion and denounced Wm. J. Bryan and the democratic party for what he termed treaehery. 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 tottering and corrupt democracy"
 MT. Donnelly's remarks were heartily ap- -plauded and it was plain that his auditors
  noon session the following officers were elected
 : President-Frank Burkett Okolona Miss. Vice-President-F. D. w. Mays, Pome- roy, Wash.
 Secretary and Treasurer-Paul J. Dixon, Chillicothe, Mo.
 Corresponding Secretary-W. J. Henning, Augusta, Ga.
 Executive Committee-Abe Steinberger, Girard, Kan; H. N. Motingser, Shoais, Ind. Frank Barker, Pennsylvania; - Bodinhemer, Georgia; P. J. Dixon, Chilli cothe Mo.
 Early in the afternoon a recess was taken to await the report of the national com- mittee on organization. Their reports Will be presented to the editors at the night session of the Press association from which all outsiders are barred.
 The report which was in the form of an address to the people, did not meet with the approval of the editors, and after a spirited debate it was referred back to the organization committee who will modify the address and again submit it to the Press association at tomorrow's session. A public meeting was held in Lyceum hall tonight. To a man the speakers declared against fusion in any form or under any circumstances.