Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-08
Populists at Sioux Falls Looking for
a Good Sprinter.
PROSPECT OF LIVELY CONVENTION
Second Place on the Ticket NAV
Not Be Filled.
OBJECTION TO TOWNE


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
SIOUX FALLS, s. D., May S.-Senator
| Pettigrew is looked upon as a silver repub-
| lican throughout the country generally,
| though he has already expressed himself as
| favoring the populist principles and party.
| The tenth Dakota state populst convention
| held at Canton today will elect the senator
| a delegate-at-large to the national conven-
/ ton meeting here tomorrow. This will be
| the first formal recognition of Senator Pet
| tigrew populist and will leave no doubt
| as to his Identification with that party in
| congressional affairs.
| The contest in the convention which be-
| gins here tomorrow will be over the ques-
| ton of nominating a populist Vice President
| as a running mate for Bryan. There is a
! strong faction in favor of leaving the whole
matter until action is taken by the demo-
Gratis, SO as to have the populist and demo-
cratic national tickets synonymous. On the
other hand, there is undoubtedly a faction
opposed to the wiping out of the populist
party by falling so completely into the
hands of the democrats. and an attempt
will be made to force the convention to
make a vice presidential nomination. If
this is done. the nominee will not be ex-
Representative Towue of Minnesota neither
will ii be any one the democrats are at all
| likely to indorse at Kansas City. The Min
neSota delegation will arrive tomorrow
| morning. advocating Towne's candidacy.
What the Cincinnati Convention Rep
resents.
The leaders now here estimate that the
Cincinnati populist convention, also in ses-
sion tomorrow, represents about one~third
of the populist vote of the country, which is
claimed to be over one million, or as much
and perhaps more than was cast for Weaver
in 1892. While it is allowed that the Cin-
cinnau convention represents this third, Il
tod ON
ern or largely democratic states, where the
populist vote cuts little figure. The Sioux
Falls convention is held to represent the
populist vote in states where this vote is
more or less the balance of power and to
embrace in its membership the men who
are the real leaders and backbone of the
populist national organization.
The platform to be adopted here will pay
more attention to Cuban affairs than any
political declaration Yet recorded. and an
attempt will be made therein to bring Cuba
into the campaign by putting the republic
cans on the defensive in their administra-
ton of the affairs of that island and their
Interpretation of the congressional resolu-
ton of good faith.
1t is probable that the convention will
adjourn Friday, and from present indica.
tions about 5000 people will be in attend-
ance. The town of Sioux Falls will be
greatly overtaxed in its effort 10 care for
the crowd. Senator Pettigrews candidacy
for reelection as United States Senator
was the reason for the convention coming
here.
Bryan Will Not Carry the Stnte,
1t seems generally understood by repup-
licans and democrats alike that Bryan will
not carry South Dakota this year, but that
a fusion legislature will be elected to send
Pettigrew back to the Senate. This will
be accomplished by his strong personal
following, and sacrifice Of the state and
even national ticket to accomplish it,
A new scheme on the populist vice presi-
Dental nomination has been brought To
town by the Nebraska, Kansas and -TeXae
delegations, which arrived this morning.
1t is proposed to nominate a half dozen
or more candidates for Vive President, go
as to give the democrats choice. The
objections urged TO this plan are that the
candidates so chosen would quarrel amopS
themselves and all be rendered Ineligible
by the time of the Kansas City convention,
George Fred Williams is talked, of for q
vice presidential nomination, but E Gerry
Brown is doing his best to defeat hipf
The choice for chairman of the national
popuist committee will probably be ]. II,
Edmlston, who has been chairman of the
popullst committee for two campaigns. @,
F. Washburn is also talked of for national
chairman, though Gerry Brown is oppos-
ing him as he is opposing Williams for the
vice presidency Harry Tracy and Cyclorit
Davis of Texas arrived this morning Davis
and Tracy claim that of the 100, 600 portf-
list votes in Texas the Sioux Falls deleeal
that of the other 10000 votes one half ara
not represented anywhere and that the
representation in Cincinnati is not over
200O0