Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-05-17
CINCINNATI MEETING.
Convention Of the Middle.of-the-
Road Populists Called to Order.
an ADDRESS BY lCNA1lUS DOyNELLY.
ne Reviewed the Hlstory Of the Peoples
Party Movement--Wha the Census OF
1890 Revealed-Brysn Denounced
and Watson Landed.

NihNihAi"''t %""J
man d. Glen Deaver called the con-
vention of the middle-of-the-roaders
to order at 1850 p. m. When he raped
for order there were on the floor of
the opera house 47O men and women
occupying delegates seats. lie in
troduced Mayor Tafel, who welcomed
the delegates to Cincinnati in brief
speech. After Chairman Deaver had de-
livered his formal address to the del
egates National Secretary Joel Park
er was introduced to read the call for
the convention. Parker was received
with tumultuous applause. He pre-
faced the reading with few remarks
on the work of the national commit
tee following the disruption in the
populist forces at Lincoln, Neb., on
February 10, last. At the conclusion
of the reading of the call Chairman
Deaver announced that the national
committee had recommended the Sc
lection of former Congressman W. M.
Howard, of Alabama, for temporary
chairman. The convention unanl-
mously ratified that recommendation.
References by the temporary CHAIR
man to the unlimited issue of govern
ment paper currency, to government
ownership of railroads and telegraphs,
public control of public utilities and
to the principle Of direct legislation
were greeted with tumultuous cheer
ing.
Organization was then completed
by the selection of temporary Secre-
tary J. C. Allen, of Oklahoma, and of
Assistant Secretary Earl Richardson,
of Illinois. These were made by ac-
clamation. The selection of regular
committees was then called for.
Soon there were calls for lgnatius
Donnelly, of Minnesota. Mr. Donnel-
ly edged his way down toward the
stage. When he reached the foot
lights he was seized and lifted to the
stage where he was greeted with con-
tinued cheers. Mr.. Donnelly felici-
tated the national committee on its
success in bringing together body
of delegates and said that there was
not a fusionist in the whole gang.
He then reviewed the history of the
peoples partT movement. The cen
sus of 1890, he declared, was the cause
for the formation of the party. That
census, he declared, revealed the fact
that three one-hundredths of one per
cent. of the people owned one-ffth OF
the wealth of the country-the out
come of the first one hundred years
of this republic. That census, he said
resulted in the first convention of the
peoples party at Cincinnati in 1891
Mr.. Donnelly then denounced William
}. Bryan and lauded Thomas c,
Watson, but declared that the demo
Gratis of 1896 refused to recognize the
populists whom they only wanted for
their 2,0Oo.OOo votes. "They threw
away a golden opportunity" he said
"and | want to tell you Mr.. Bryan
was nearer the presidency in 1896 than
he ever will be again. The spirit OF
1892 is here and all we have to dc
is renew the agitation and build uE
the peoples party; to save the re-
public and save mankind. Let us say
to one another: Let us save man.
kind We are a combination of the
best blood-we are Jetfersonian dem.
ocrats and Abe Lincoln republicans.
A motion was then carried for re.
cess until eight p. m.
On calling the convention to order
at eight p. m, Chairman Howard re-
ferred to the trouble at Sioux Falls
over The division of the spoils. A dele.
gate from Missouri pointed to the big
"16 to / placard' and moved that the
corpse be moved from the hall. This
led to discussion on that issue which
was shut off by calling out A. &. Burk
hard, candidate for governor of In
diana. for speech. He was followed
by Wharton Barker, who discussed
the trusts. Like other speakers, he
favored government ownership and
the control of everything that got be.
yond the range of competition. He
opposed expansion and especially the
retention of the Philippines. The
committee on credentials reported the
official list selected by referendum
and no contests. The committee re-
fused to recognize proxies. The re-
port allowed Kansas only two votes in
stead of Sc, as there are only two del
egates present. When the proxy test
was made on Kansas, b. M. Chemault
of Kansas, made speech in which
he said Chairman Howard could ear
ry that state for president and wild
demonstration followed, but it stirred
up the Barker, Donnelly and other
men against allowing Chenault to cast
43 votes or half that of Kansas.
The committee on permanent or
ganization reported in favor of Col
W. L. Peek, of Georgia, for permanent
chairman, and former Gov. W. II
Waite, of Colorado, for vice chairman
with long list of secretaries and