The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-05
HOV FORREST MISSED
Ancient Democrat Explains
PoSt-Conventio naIIy.
NEFF AS BIG A SURPRISE
70 the Pops as He Was Grief
to the Democrats.

Guthrie o. T, Aug. TT doubt very
much if Bob Forrest of FL Reno is aware
Of the excellent show he had of receiving
the fusion non,inas-.0n for delegate in
congress-" said ths veteran politician
while throwing some side lights on the
recent Democratic and PopuIst eonven-
lions at Oklahoma city. "As matter
of fact" continued the speaker, Forrest,
in my Judgment, just as good as had the
nomination up 70 the very moment he
made that injudicious speech in the DEM
ocratic convention in which he repeatedly
declared that he would. not allow his
name to go before the joint convention,
and accusing the delegates Of selling out
their Democracy to the Populists. 1t
was costly mistake, that speech, for
by reason Of it Forrest lost the support
Of the Populist delegates, the majority Of
whom had reached a secret understand
ing to throw their votes to the FL Reno
candidate as their. preference of the can
didates whom the Democrats should put
forward. While the eDmocratic convenr
ton was in session Tuesday morning
number Of the Populist delegates hav-
ing nothing else to do, sat in the balcony
of the opera house sizing up the mental
and physical makeup Of their prospec-
tive political allies and their consterna-
ton may be ina gined when Forrest arose
and made the fiery speech that put him
beyond the pale Of a congressional pos
sibility, even If his name had been pre-
scented 10 the convention. I can assure
you this story is straight goods, for it
was whispered to me in confidence by one
of the Populist high rollers who is on the
inside Of all that party's deals, and I
suppose in vouchsafing the information
he wanted 10 spare me nervous shock,
knowing that I am victim Of heart
disease.
''Let me tell you another thing that
may possibly cause a start Of surprise to
the majority Of the participants in the
participants in the joint convention"
continued the sage. THE nomination Of
Bob Neff was just as much surprise to
the Populists S it was a disappointment
to the Democrats. The real choice Of the
Populists was Callahan or Cramwell,
with a preference for the former. It was
their intention 20 allow the delegates TO
wear themselves out in fruitless ballot
ing and then attempt to stampede the
convention by springing the name Of one
or the other Of the two men 1 have
named At two different periods during
the earlier statges OF the bauoting their
names were sprung, but it was done mere
~ as a feeler to test the sentiment and
h, 4 fO
more suspicious opportunity. In order
that Nef might have no excuse for go
ing home sore it was planned to ballot
for him ur-il he should receive the full
Populist voc and then drop him for some
other candidate who would be more ac-
ceptabe to the eDmocrats. But the par
ty managers. apparently overlooked the
fact that among the Democratic dele
gates there was a rather large contingent
that was only waiting for the right time
to arrive to cast the deciding vote for
q Populist candidate. On the 29th bal
lot it viii be remembered, Neff had 247
votes, just % votes short Of the number
necessary to nominate, consequently the
succeeding ballot offered the opportunity
that the Democratic fusionists had been
watching for all evening and they were
quick to seize it, as the result showed.
"Under the circumstances 1t was re-
markable what strength Bill Cross, the
travelling mems candidate received in
the convention" unused the old politician,
land had it not been for the shrewdness
and determination of the Populist chair
man, Todd 1 verify believe he would
have carried Off the nomination when the
stampede was started during the twelfth
ballot. When you consider that he came3
into the race only about two weeks prior
TO the convention and that previous to
that time he was comparatively IN
known except to his fellow travelling men.
hotel keepers and the few business men
he came in contact with, I make the as
sertion that Bill Cross made the most
wonderful campaign ever conducted in
Oklahoma. His headquarters manager
and boomer. Allen Hail. accomplished
wonders in bringing out his man and on