The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-09
IN The MIDDLE
OF The ROAD.
Nearly Seven Hundred Delegates
Meet at Cincinnati
To Place in Nomination a POpu-
list National Ticket.
ALL FULL OF FIGHT.
Every State in the Union Rep
resented but Five.
ROusing Speech by Ex-COngress-
man Howard of Alabama.


Opera House shortly after one o'clock
this afternoon the banner of the anti
fusion element of the Peoples party,
otherwise known as middle Of the-road-
ers, was nailed to the masthead. Nearly
seven hundred delegates We're present,
representing every state in the union
excepting fve-Arizona, New Mexico,
North Carolina, South Carolina and
Vermont
The hall was elaborately decorated
with banners bearing the notices of the
party. Pictures of Peter Cooper were
prominently displayed.
Across the footlights hung a banner
bearing the alleged remark of the
1uslonists at Lincoln, Neb., February
49, when the Populist elements sep
arated: I'VE have thrown them over
the transom." This was supplemented
with the reply of the middle-of-the-
readers; You have thrown the party
with u.s.
A national ticket was to be named at
this convention which the leaders pre-
dlcted would poll more than three
fourths Of the Populist vote for Bryan
IN 1896 (abOut 1000, GOOD and which by
deduction of the figures of these leaders
would make almost absolutely certain
the election of the Republican national
ticket in 1900. The middle of-the- readers
however are figuring on placing them
selves on top in many southern and
western states where the Populists held
the balance of power and where they
aver the anti-fusion sentiment has be-
come predominant. They assert that
the element from this time forth can not
be considered otherwise than part and
parcel of the Democratic party and that
the party to be firmly established at
Cincinnati will become the third of the
great national political divisions.
Chairman D. Glenn Deaver of Ne
braska called the convention to order
After the reading of hn a
tary j. A. Parker of national committee
Chairman Deaver opened the regular
proceedings in lengthy speech. He
was wildly cheered.
Former Congressman NJ w. Howard
of Alabama was then introduced as
temporary chairman. Mr.. Howard who
has been since yesterday morning most
prominently spoken of for presidential
nominee with Mr.. DeaVer for second
place was received with great applause.
He delivered an eloquent address and
aroused the delegates to continued out
bursts of approval Mr.. Howard spoke
as follows:
EX-CONGRESSMA TOWARDS AD-
DRESS.
we have reached a crisis in the his
tory of the Peoples Party BY your ac-
ton today you are to determine whether
the party IS to live for a. glorious future,
or to die an ignOminious death. And if
/ make no mistake, that answer will be
that the Peoples Party is born to live and
not to die The folly of 1896. when we he
came the tail of the Democratic kite. has
, brought US to the verge of disruption and
the only thing today that can avert that
independent action. If would win the
confidence and esteem of thinking men,
We must adopt such a platform of princi-
pies as will appeal to the millions who are
today seeking for a solution of those
great questions which confront US. At
the forefront Of these stands the finan-
cial question. Right here I want to say
that one of our great mistakes has been
in accentuating our demand for the free
coinage OF silver to such extent that
| the Democratic party took it up as their
battle cry and this produced confusion in
our ranks, when in fact and in truth. it
is one of the least of the reforms which
we seek. Beyond this is the broader and
currency Issued not through the national
banks, but directly by the government it.
self. Let US plant ourselves firmly upon
this proposition and while not abandon
ing the cause of silver, let US go forward
to the more advanced and more logical
position.
Another great question and one which
has been met by almost every civilized
nation of the globe except this one is
! the question of government ownership of
/ railroads. Under our present system of
railroad ownership, trusts are built up
and maintained. great deal is being
! said in an academic sort of way about the
best methods of controlling and suppress
! ing trusts. But the only remedy suggested
! so far by either of the great parties is un-
! worthy of a school boy in kindergarten.
I So long maintain our present sys-
! TEN OF private ownership OF r3lIrOadS, the
( trusts will flourish and when the railroads
/ pass into the control of the government,
/ we viii have delivered trusts one of the
most effective blows possible. Along with
| the government ownership of railroads
| should go the government ownership of
| telegraph. Every civilized country in the
| world today owns its own telegraph SyS-
| tenn. Under government ownership in
| other countries. telegraph tolls have been
| reduced more than one-half.
The city should own its street car
! lines, its electric lights, gas and water
! works-in fact, all public utilities should
/ belong to the people, instead of to the
| favored few. All talk of controlling the
4 trusts is mere nonsense. When we at
will take the next step in the process of
! evolution and become monopolies What
! is to be done with the monopoly. 1 be-
/ lieVe that whenever any line of industry
! becomes a MONOPOLY there is only one
! solution possible, and that is for the gov
ernment to control the monopoly and TO
/ use and operate it for the benefit of all
/ the people. There is one other issue which
! I will mention, which I consider greater
/ than all the rest because it underlies the
| other and without this principle engraft-
| ed upon our fundamental laws. all re-
| forms viii be impossible I refer to the
/ principle of direct legislation. We will
/ never obtain a wise financial system: we
! will never secure government and munich
! pal ownership until we first arrange a
system under Whlch the q9estlon VIII be
referred to the people for the direct vote
So our great fight should be made for the
! system known as initiative and refereT1-
| dunn under and by which the people car
lone Of the greatest trusts today is the
| Dolitical trust A few men have acquired
/ ali the wealth of the country and a des-
| perate attempt is being made TO form q
! political trust by which the election fran
/ chise will be placed IN the hands OF the
| favored few and the masses allowed nc
| voice in the affairs of the government.
To-day a number Of our MISGUIDED
| city to attempt to deliver our party to
! the Democracy. Many Of them, no doubt