The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-10

tory Of the Peoples party. By your &C.
tion today you are 20 dstermins whether
the party is 10 lire for glorious future
or to die an ignominious death, TO light
anew ths fires Of hops In the breasts of
the people wko have heretofore followed
cur fiag or 10 sound the death knsll Of
tbs aspirations Of thoss who have laborsd
long In ths cause Of reform.
81 think your answer will be that the
Peoples party Il bora 10 live and NOT 10
die.
"Ths chaotic conditions walsh nov
confront NJ and our party were brought
about BY oiics holders and Office seeking
politicisns who were willing TO fuse the
life out Of our party In ordsr that they
mighs obtain petty ofiics with its emolu-
msnts. The folly Of 1896, when We be-
came the tail Of she Democratic kite, has
brought ne to the verge of diruption and
the only thing to-day that can avert that
disaster 10 Q straightforward course OF
Independents action. At tine forefront Of
| these stands the financial question.
"Ons Of our great mistakes has been In
accsntuatinR our demand for the free
| the Democratic party took IL mp ~ their
battle ory and thus produced confusion In
our ranks, when In fact 10 In one Of the
least ef the reforms which We seek. An.
other great question and one which has
bean met bysalmost every civilizsd nation
OF the globe exoeps this one, Is the ques-
tion of government ownership OF rail-
roads. A great deal 10 being said In an
academic sort Of way about the best me-
thods Of controlling and suppression of
| trusts, but 80 long as We maiotain our
present system Ut private ownership OF
railroads, the trusts Will flourish.
| One other issue oopsidsr greater than
all the rest. / refer TO the principle Of
direct legislation. Our great tight should
be for the great system Of initiative and
referendum under and by which the
people can demand the right to vote on
and settle these great questions.
Organization was completed By the Sc
lection Of temporary seorstsriss and som-
mittees.
In response to louo caiis Ignatlua
Donnslly OF Minnesota, N ade bis way to
the platform. He was crested with en-
husias,u. Mr. Donnelly addressed the
oou INVENTION. he fsiioitated the national
committee on Its success In bringing
together suoh body OF delegates, say Ing:
"Thsrs Is not a fusionist In the whole
gang. The future success Of mankind
hinges on this movement Of ours."
He then reviewed the history of the
Peoples party movement. The census
Of 1890, be declared, was tina CAUSE for
tina formation Of the party. That csn-
sus, he added, revealed the fact that three
one-hundrsdths OF one per cent OF the
people owned one-iifth OF the wealth Of
tho country--tbs outcome OF the :irst
ons hundred years Of this country.
Mr. Dopneiiy reviewed the repeal o.
the sherman act and declared that at the
nsxt election following that rereal the
Democratic party was on the way to the
"bonsyard."
The Populists gaiasd immense strength
In many states. Then he said, was th
game Of the Democratic party sprung to
steal the Populist platform aud save IT.
self from destruction. He denounced
bryan and lHudsd Thomas q. Watson,
but declared thas the Democrats In 1876
refu cd to recognize the Popuiists whom
they only wanted for their two million
votes.
"They threw away an opportunity"
he said, land want to tell you Mr.
Bryan was nearer the Presidency In 1895
than he ever Will be again.
''The spirit OF 1899 10 here and all we
have to do IL to renew the agitation and
build up the Peoples party; to save the
republic snd save mankind. We are q
combination Of the best blood, we are
Jeffersonian Democrats and Abe Lincoln
kspubiioans." (Great applAuse.)
After tho applause had subsidized there
we're vooiferous cries for Wharton Barker
OF Pennsylvania. MIR. Barker arose and
expressed the opinion that the convention
should give itself up to business aud
added that he would speak iatsr.
Recess was then taken until p. m
The committees then went 70 work.
On calling the convention to order at s
p. m, Chairman Howard referred to the
troubls at Sioux Falls over the division
Of the spoils.
Ths committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported in favor Of Colonel w. l..
Peek Of Georgia for permanent chairman
and former Governor w. II. Walt OF
Colorado for vi,e oh iirman. A minority
report was off ,red to substitute the naine
Of Judge s. W. Williams Of Vincsnnes,
Ind, for that Of W. l.. Peck.
Those favoring Barker for the head OF
the ticket favored Peck, ard those IA
voring Howard voted for Williams.
The minority report WAS declared
aadoptsd So7 t, 500. The vote was disput-
cd and verified when 1t was announced
to be yeas S67, nays seS, and the majority
report was then adopted.
Col. Peck then addressed the conven-
tion as Its permanent ohAirman.
At ILLS o'oi9ok the convention ad-
journed until O. m. tomorrow.
OXFORD SUPREME COURT.