The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-08
BRYANITEs AT SIOUX FALLS.
Fusion Populists VIII Meet I'm a Huge
Tent To-Morrow.

have already arrived spent the afternoon
in informal conferences and In visiting the
tent in which the convention Is to be held.
It was at first intended to utilize the citys
auditorium building for convention pur-
poses but the prospective attendance grew
so rapidly that is was found necessary to
secure larger quarters. Accordingly an
enormous tent under which 5000 to 10000
people can be seated was secured and II is
rapidly being put in shape for the recep-
ton Of the large throng that is expected to
occupy it. The speakers platform is al
most completed and a substantial floor Is
being laid The meeting place promises to
be very comfortable.
The streets are literally decorated with
bunting and on every hand there are evi-
dences of a purpose on the part of the peo-
pie of the city to make the convention
success and to make the visitors feel that
they are welcome. The convention will be
called to order on Wednesday at p. m.
by National Chairman Butler. He will make
a brief speech, after which prayer Will be
offered by some local minister not yet Sc
lected. An address of welcome will be made
by either Senator Pettigrew or Governor
Lee. A temporary chairman will then be
named and after the appointment Of COM
mittees the convention will adjourn until
Thursday.
For temporary chairman Governor
Rodgers, of washington, was chosen. but
he announced to-day that he was unable to
attend. This makes another selection nee
essary. Among the delegates who have ar
rived are Senators Butler, Allen and Petit
grew Congressman Sutherland. Captain
Rynder and Mr.. Olds. Of Pennsylvania: Mr..
McGavock, Of Virginia; Mr.. Lloyd. Of
North Carolina, and Mr.. Shibley. Of New
York. Senator Heitfield. of Idaho. is
pected tomorrow.
The principal talk to-day was about the
policy to be pursued in the selection of
vice presidential candidate. BY those al
ready present there is manifested quite
noticeable friendship for Hon. Charles A.
Towne. the silver Republican leader of
Minnesota, but there are some who con-
tend that the honor should go to Populist.
Senator Butler is among those who are
believed to favor Mr.. Towne. In an inter-
view he said: I'VE are going to be liberal
with the other parties who are co-operat-
ing with us on general lines In 1896
mated by the Democrats and we stood 10y
ally by him to The end of the campaign.
This year the Peoples party is going TO be
the first party to put him in the field. and
SO far as I have been able to discover
there is very general disposition toward
going even farther, If need be. and select
ing a candidate for the vice presidency who
will be acceptable to silver Republicans
OF course, in the short time / have been
here have not been able to see great
many members of the party, but those
whom I have seen are perfectly united
upon the proposition that all must be done
that II is possible to do to secure absolute
harmony among Populist. Democrats and
silver Republicans, in the support of Mr..
Bryan and. believe. the party will be
found equal to the surrender of both nomi-
nees in order to secure this paramount de-
sideratum. In fact. speak within bounds
when say that never within the history of
the country has any party ever shown
such unselfishness and such devotion to
principle as the Peoples party has shown
in the past and is willing to show now to
bring victory to cause"
Asked If he did not refer in his remarks
just quoted to the possibility of the nemi-
nation of Mr.. Towne for Vice President,
the senator said: "I do not go to the ex-
tent of mentioning names in connection
with the vice presidential nomination. but
do not mind assuring you as to the head
of the ticket. have heard no dissent from
the proposition to nominate Mr.. Bryan for
that position. and I have no doubt that
nomination might be made by acclamation.
AS to the vice presidency I will only say
that 1 discover disposition to give the
nomination to silver Republican. II
man is found upon whom that party can
unite. We recognize that one of three par
ties must make a sacrifice and / believe
our people will be found ready to make 1t
If necessary"
The senator refused to give any express
sion Of opinion concerning the bolting Pop
ulists, who are to hold their convention in
Cincinnati. further than to say: "They
represent nobody but themselves and need
not be dignified by reference to them"
Secretary Edgerton spoke more freely
concerning the bolt, which he explained
originated at the Lincoln meeting of the
national committee last February. cir
reality" he said, "only one member OF that
SoiiihitteS Wdihcu out OF the meeting and
he was accompanied by only four proxies.
These, with a few other rejected proxies
called the Cincinnati convention"
On the question OF platform to be adopted
by the convention the opinion is very gen.
eral that the st. Louis declaration of prin-
ciples will be reiterated with variations
and additions. Eve will express our opin
ion in no uncertain way on questions of
trusts and Imperialism" said a United
States senator. who is a delegate. 1--WE
will certainly take a position on the point
of attempting to govern any people with
out their consent. AS to trusts we shall
not content ourselves with denouncing
them. but shall offer a remedy That
remedy is to control the instruments OF
commerce, money transportation and the
transmission of intelligence. In our ST.
Louis platform we took the position that
all these functions should be controlled
by the government. We will accomplish
our end IL we point out that TO assume
this control will be to suppress trusts. and
furthermore, we will attempt nothing new
in this effort. nothing requiring a change
in the Constitution, for all that is there
The financial plank OF the ST. Louis plat
form will be unchanged and the gold stand
ard bill. passed at the present session of
Congress, will be denounced as in the in
- H.. ral Aax