The sun., 1900-08-09
FLOPPlNG TO STEVENSON.
MOST or THE POPULTST LEADERS
FAVOR PUTTING HIN ON THE TICKET.
Southerners May Force the Compromise sf
Leaving the Place Vacant - Executive
Committee Meets To-day - May Make
Proposal to the National Committee.


LINCOLN, Neb.. Aug. s.-The probable effect
Of the withdrawal Of Towne from the Populist
National ticket Is now the concern OF No
braska politicians, the followers OF Bryan In
particular. The talk to-day has shown gen.
orally surprising change Of front on the part
Of the Populist leaders. few weeks ago
they were almost unanimously insistent that
Towne should stay on the ticket and they
vowed that should he withdraw fusion for
Bryan's sake would be dead and profltless
here as in Massachusetts or Connecticut.
Among those who uttered such predictions
were Senator Allen. Gov. Poynter and Vice.
Chairman Edmiston. Of the National Pop
ulist Committee, and practically all the
Populist State officers followed suit. To-day
all have amended their opinions but Edmston.
who still makes show Of consistency. but
there are signs that he, too, Is waverine Last
night. after being informed of Towne's action,
he announced that the National COMMITTEES
would doubtless be called together to deal
with the vice-Presdentia vacancy. intima-
ting at the same time that a Populist would
be substituted for Towne. To-day he was
arranging TO leave for the meeting Of tho
Populist Executive Committee on Thursday
In Chicago, but found time TO make the follow
ing supplementary statement detailing his
views
Il will take no action toward calling the Ma.
tional Committee together 70 consider Towne's
withdrawal until after advising fully with party
leaders at the Executive Committee meeting In
Chicago. There will be no snap Judgment
but a conservative consideration Of the sit,N-
ton and the matters involved before a nnal
decision is announced.
Meanwhe there Ia every indication that tho
vice-chairman is also preparing for hop to
Stevenson. His associates have plainly been
urging him TO this step to-day. They argue
that Western Popuists want Bryan far more
than Towne and they must stand together In
the fight for Stevenson or there will be a repeti-
tion of the Tom Watson fissco Of 1898. There
ia well-grounded suspicion that some Of the
Southern members OF the Executive Committee.
headed by Marion Butler. will go 10 the Chicago
meeting and there seek to put the Committee
on record as favOring a Populst on the ticket
with BRYAN. The National Committee, they
say must finally decide, but II Is plain that any
precedent established by the Executive Com
larger body. For these reasons Edmstons
friends have been counselling him TO drop tho
substitution idea and take Stevenson instead.
Edmston left for Chicago tonight. As
Chairman Of the Executive Committee he
will preside. Nebraska Populists look for
him 10 favor either the acceptance Of Steven
the place blank.
Gov. Poynter said to-day. Il don't believe
Towne's withdrawal will have any material
effect one way or the other on the result In
this State When the people have had time
to consider the situation more thoroughly
better they will be perfectly willing to sup
port him instead Of Mr.. Towne. | haven't
had time TO consider what effect Mr. Towne's
action might have In other States