The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-10
POPULIST CONVENTIONS
CIT DOWN TO BUSINESS
Fusion Sentiment is All Prevailing With the Dele
gates at Sioux Falls.
BryanS Name is Cheered to the EchO-WOrk Of MiddeOf
the-ROaderS at Cincinnati

otVuA ais, - Ia may ~ ne hd'
tional convention of the Peoples party
began business at 2:2O o'clock today in
the big tent wiswam on the top of the
hill on the western side Of the city OF
Sioux Falls There have been larger
crowds in attendance upon national
conventions and possibly there have
been questions upon which more en-
thus1aSm' has been manifested, but
there have been few similar events
which have been marked by more evil
dent sincerity of purpose or more pro-
nounced decorum of behavior.
The big tent was arrayed in full dress
attire for the reception and entertain
ment of its guests, and the structure
proved in every way equal TO the ser
vice required Of IT,. The interior of the
test was made Respondent by a lavish
display Of the national colors. The
platform was literally decorated with
the stars and stripes, and the uprights
Of this structure bore aloft excellent
black and white portraits Of Washing
ton, Jefferson, Lincoln and Bryan.
There were probably 500 delegates in
their seats, and surrounding them was
a fringe of alternates and visitors num-
bering 600 to 500.
Bryan and Towne Cheered-
From the arrival of the Minnesota
delegation bearing Bryan and TOWne
banners there were outbursts of ap-
plause upon every convenient opening
and upon the least prOvOCatiOn
United States Senators Butler, Allen
and Heitfeld received liberal greeting.
while Senator Pettigrew was over
whelmed by the cOrdiality of the well
come accorded to him. There was also
generous applause when the name of
Mr.. Bryan was mentioned by the speak
ers of. the day.
Many sentiments were cheered to the
echo and this was notably the case with
Governor Lees reference to the Beers
and the Filipinos
The audience was a representative
American gathering. Presumably nine
tenths Of the delegates and far larger
percentage of the visitors were from
the northern Mississippi valley states
This circumstance served to give the
convention western hue, but as other
sections of the country We're also rep
resented, the west was not allowed to
monopolize the appearances in the con-
vention hall.
Few. of the picturesque characters Of
the St Louis convention Of 1895 were
present, but there were some broad
brimmed hats there from Texas and
the southwest. There were also occa-
sional 'whiskers," but even these seem
to have thinned out in the party. All
told, II was well dressed, good man
nered and thoroughly well behaved as
semblage of people.
By no means the LEAST noticeable
characteristic of the gathering was the
presence Of a number of women. Colo
RADIO led the list in the number of fe-
males, three being present from that
state They were given front seats
Kansas. Idaho and the District of Co
lumbia also sent women delegates, who
took their places as if accustomed to
participating in public affairs. 1t was
noticeable, too, that while the women
delegates were treated by the men with
difference due their sex, they were re-
ceived as a matter of course, showing
that Populists are accustomed to the
presence of women in their political
meetings.
Enthusiasm of Delegates.
1t was but a few minutes after 2
O'Clock when Chairman Butler Of the
national committee, attended by Sec
rotary j. A. EdgertOn of Colorado and
George T. Washburne of Massachusetts
stepped upon the platform. The dele
gates and alternates had been filing
steadily into the nall. All the deIega-
lions entered quietly with the excep-
ton Of those from Minnesota and Ne
braska, both Of which evoked much
applause as they came marching down
the aisles. The Minnesota men car
ried banners and a large shield, upon
which was inscribed Bryan and
Towne"
A large number of the delegates car
ried tin horns and made their presence
manifest by ear-splitting toots. The
Nebraska men, by all odds the largest
delegation in the convention, having
all the alternates present, came in
close on the heels of the Minnesota
men. They also carried flags and
waved them vigorously as they entered.
Their arrival was greeted with cheers.
After the band Of the Fifty-first Iowa
infantry, which occupied a stand at
the west end of the tent, had rendered
a patriotic selection, Chairman Butler
advanced to the edge of his table and
brought down his gavel once, twice,
thrice ard said:
Before entering upon the regular
business of the convention we will list
en- to a prayer by Bishop O'Gorman."
The bishop read his invocation. which
was short, well expressed and aDDro-
priate. Chairman Butler, who had re-
NAMED standing throughout the invo-
cation, called on Secretary Edgerton
to read the call for the convention,
which he did.
Band Played National Airs.
When Secretary Edgerton had con-
cluded the reading the band played a
medley of patriotic airs THE Red,
White and Blue Yankee Doodle,
Dixie" and THE Star Spangled Ban
ner' were received each in turn with
wild enthusiasm. After a song by the
club, local organization.
Senator Butler introduced Governor
Lee Of South Dakota. who, on behalf
Of his state, welcomed the convention
TO South Dakota.
Governor Lee was given close atten-
ton and was frequently interrupted by
applause. his reference to the splendid
heTOism of the South African reDub-
lies" bringing 4 burst of cheers His
allusion TO WI. Bryan. however. the
FIRST time his name had been pro-
brought the delegates TO their
feet in a hurricane. Of cheers and wav-
ing of flags. some enthusiastic dele
gates climbing on their chairs to voice
their app sovaf.
L again welcome to South Dakota,
the Kansas Of the new revolution" he
said in conclusion, amid laughter and
applause. When the governor sat
down a Kansas delegate proposed three
cheers for the governor of South Da-
kCta. and they were given with a viii.
General Butler responded for the
Concluding his address he
aid:
To-day we are facing another nation
~ Trrs... hO
have increased and multi
Piled in number and manifold power.