The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-10
BRYAN POPULISTS
in CONVENTION
They Make a Plain Declaration
and Ask Party Support.
LADY DELEGATES PRESENT
yIee.PresIdeney Question Seems to Over
shadow All Other Mstter-.Towse Of
Minnesota Now Carries the Banner.-
How The POw.wOw Opeaed.

How The POw-wOw Opensd.
SIOUX FALLS. s. d., May g.--The
national convention Of the peoples
party began business at 2:20 o'clock
today in the big tent wigwam.
There have been few similar events
which have been marked by more evil
dent sincerity OF purpose or more pro-
nounced decorum Of behavior. The
accommodations for delegates and for
distinguished guests. for the press and
for ordinary visitors, proved excep-
tionally good, equal TO those Of most
conventions held In buildings Of a
more permanent character.
There were probably 500 delegates in
their seats and SURROUNDING them was
a fringe OF alternates and visitors num-
bering 600 to 500.
Seats had been provided for a much
larger number but the attendance did
not appear meager and It may be re-
marked that what was lost in attend.
ance was compensated for in enthus.
iasm.
From the arrival OF the Minnesota
delegation. bearing Bryan and Towns
banners. there were outbursts OF ap,
plause at every convenient opening
and upon the least provOcatlon. Many
sentiments were cheered 70 the schC
and this was notably the case viii
Governor Lees reference TO the Boer.
and the Filipinos.
Presumably nine-tenths OF the dele
gates, and a far larger per centag,
OF visitors. were from the northern
Mississippi valley states. This circum
stance served to give the convention
a Western hue, but as the other sec
tons Of the country were also repre-
sented. the West was not allowed {,
monopolize appearances in the con
vention hall
Few OF the picturesque character,
of the st. Louis convention OF 1896 wer,
present. but there were some broac
brimmed hats here from Texas an,
the southwest. There was also occa
sional ''whiskers," but ever thes,
seemed to have thinned out in tn,
party.
All told, It was a well-dressed, goo,
hammered and thoroughly well hehav
ed assenblage Of people.
Colorado led the list in the mum
Der of females. Kansas. Idaho anS
the District OF Columbia also sent la
dy delegates.
The convention took a recess unit
$3.50 O'Clock. The evening session wa,
devoted entirely to singing 3ad music
When temporary Chairman Ringda
called the convention to Srder at s:4
p. m 1t was announced that the com
mittee on credentials. resolutions ans
permanent organization were not read,
TO report.
The convention then adjourned unit
tomorrow.
The committee on credentials toniEh
decided by q vote OF 81 to l, that IN,
delegates preeant shall cast the entir,
number OF votes which their states ar,
entitled to
It was 2:2e D. m. when Senator But,
ler. chairman Of the national commit.
tee. called the convention to order
The great tent. with a seating capa.
city Of 5000. was comfortably nIled
The interior OF the tent vas beauti,
fully decorated with the national col,
ors. Bishop o. German. Catholic Bish.
op OF Sioux Falls. offered prayer. The
chairman then introduced Governor
Lee. Of South Dakota. who delivered
the address OF welcome. He said II
part:
Senator Marion Butler, OF North
Carolina, chairman OF the national
committee. in calling the convention
together, said;
II feel that It is my duty to state a
few facts concerning the party's his
tory since the last national conven-
tino. 1t Is well known that more or
less dissatisfaction resulted from the
unpleasant but seemingly unavoidable
episode Of two vice. presidential can
didates in The last campaign. A few
men took advantage of this dissatis-
faction to appeal to an honest senti-
ment. or shall I say, prejudice, to Gre
ate a scism in the party.
They charged that there was a con-
spiracy on foot, headed by myself. as
your national chairman. to deliver the
party bag and baggage to the demo-
cratic organization. In the spring of
1898, they loudly demanded a meet
ing Of the national committee. TO save
the party They said that 1, as your
shouldcall them together and
let the committeeman from each state
outline a policy for the party until the
next national convention. You all re-
member that I called a meeting Of the
national committee in the summer of
1898, at Omaha.
IT aid IL 70 givs those self,consti
tuted leaders chance to act after