Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-01
TWO CONVENTIONS
Populist Gatherings to Take Place
This Month.
BOTH old PARTIES ARE INTERESTED
Democrats Are Uncertain About
the Ohio Situation.
THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF

Tho May national conventions are not en-
tirely without interest. While the popuist
parties cannot elect President. they may
assist to defeat one. On the 9th of May
one populist convention is to assemble in
Sioux Falls, 8. D., and another will meet
at Cincinnati. 1t Is difficult to foretell
which will be the more important of these
conventions. 1t is conceded that the Sioux
Falls convention will place Mr. Bryan in
nomination. Beyond that nothing is def
nitely known, though it, is expected that
no vice presidential candidate will be nomi-
mated.
What the platform will be, and how many
things may be put into it. which Mr.. Bryan
might not care to make prominent in the
campaign. are matters Of conjecture. While
this set of populists are loyal Bryan men,
1t Is quite possible for them to embarrass
their candidate by making platform which
Is too diffuse. Some very watchful men will
be on hand, but experience shows that
populist convention, of all political assem-
blages. is most difficult to manage. The
more radical and unruly, however, will par
ticipate in the other convention.
The Cincinnati Convention.
The Cincinnati convention may nominate
Wharton Barker. or Debbs, or Dewey, or
some one else who is picturesque but not
likely to get many votes, but the thing they
may be relied on not to do is to nominate
Bryan. Their platform will probably be as
picturesque as their candidate. whatever 1t
may be and whoever 1t may be, and what
ever votes their ticket gets in the national
election will come almost entirely from lnen
who would not under any circumstances
vote the republican ticket.
The republican leaders are not blind to
the use that may be made of this conven-
ton, and it is reported an effort Will be
la-nf r
lists into such a course as will be most
hurtful to Bryan. The convention may be
so manipulated as to become in negative
way a somewhat important factor in the
election. Therefore, If 1t amounts to any
thing at all. it is likely to be watched with
more interest by republicans and by demo-
Gratis than will be the convention at Sioux
Falls.
The Two COntrasted.
If the Sioux Falls convention does any,
thing calculated to hurt Bryan it will be
by accident or through enthusiastic ignor-
ance of politics on the part of a goodly
number of the delegates. If the Cincin-
natl convention does not do something to
the injury of the Nebraska leader it will
be because of lack of skill.
1t will be a consolation convention as
sembled for the purpose of getting revenge
for the treatment of Watson in 90 Its
Importance depends upon how Skllful are
the managers and how tractable are the
delegates. 1t is likely to be circus, as
characteristic was the one held in the
same city when the peoples party was
born, at which Cyclone Davis, wrapped in
an American flag, thrilled the assemblage
with song which called upon the govern
ment to set the presses going" and turn
out money for the people, every one taking
up the chorus with wild enthusiasm.
The Cincinnati crowd is expected to COL
lect the scattered remnants of the populist
party of the south, but under certain con-
dltions they are liable to draw enough
votes in the west to be of some damage to
Bryan.
These two conventions have an interest in
the uncertainty of their action which is
not possessed by the conventions of the
Two great parties, and, incidentally both
the old parties will watch them with close
attention.
With reference to the two old party con-
vent1ons. the things of greatest Immediate
interest are. for the democrats, the situa-
ton In Ohio. and, for the republicans the
Endorsement by state conventions of the
Porto Rican tariff.
Democrats Uncertain About Ohio.
The democrats are uncertain about what
the Ohio democratic convention will do
about Bryan. There is a very strong sus-
picion that If the way could be seen to &C.
cure enough votes elsewhere to prevent
Bryan from having the necessary two
thirds Of the national convention the NC
Lean influence would be exerted to prevent
the Endorsement of Bryan by Ohio.
kindly to the idea of an instructed deIega
ton, and though the democratic leaders
did not at first believe Mclean had anv
sympathy with the announced candidacy
or his brother-in-law. there have been
things which have led to different opinion
on this subject. 1t is quite possible that
while recognizing that Admiral Dewey can
have no ground for hope that he might
carry the convention, Mr.. Mclean might
welcome the introduction of any element
in the convention which would destroy
BryanS tWo-thfrds and render it necessary
to nominate some other man in order 70
break a deadlock.
1t is not generally believed that such a
plan can be successful, yet if Mclean can
hgure out way to get a third of the con-
Ventlon against Bryan he will try to throw
the Ohlo delegation into the balance to
bring confusion upon the Bryan forces
The Porto Rican Tariff.
The interest in the Endorsement of the
Porto Rican tariff by republican state con-
ventions lies in the apprehension some rs-
puoicans feel that there is serious danger
in thus committing the entire party as an
organization to a policy which is manifest
ly unpopular.
Republicans who voted for this tariff ra-
turning from their state conventions. after
vigorously securing an Endorsement of their
course, report with great show of conf
dence that the sentiment hostile to that
measure is dying out rapidly. but 1t is too
apparent that their observation is confined
TO the professional party workers who COM
pose convention, ready to do the bidding
OF their bosses. Expressions of opinion from
sources outside of the mere machine poll
tics indicate that public sentiment is still
strongly resentful of the bad faith shown
in the Porto Rican affair, and there Is a
feeling that in insisting upon these specific
Endorsements the party is being sacrificed
to a few of it's leaders in way that may
prove dangerous in the campaign.