The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-22
BRYAN FAyORS
 THIRD PARTY
PoPuLIsTs AND SILVER MEN BE.
 GIN NEW MOVEMENT.
Public Ownership Among Features That are Urged-Said to Have Secured Endorsement of
 Nebraska Man.

h6uSaS IlkJ 6pGCldL u tHiCdSN
 Chronicle.
 The first definite step toward the organization of a new third party which Is proposed to embrae Missouri and to form the nucleus for a national growth. was taken today in Kansas City at conference of members of t,M' Populist State Committee, members of Lee Merriwether's public ownershl ? party and a few free silver hepubn- cans at the Centropolis hotel. The movement has the expressed sympathy if not the avowed support or William J. Bryan.
 Lee Merriwelher of St. Louis and twenty-two other leaders in the public ownership party of St. asouis arrived in Kansas City this morning after hay ing spent the whole of yesterday in consultation with MT. Bryan at Lin coin from St. Louis Sunday. Their purpose was to confer with MT. Bryan and to learn his views in regard to the third party movement. Mir. Mer- riwether is guarded in his statements concerning Mir. Bryan. but says that if Bryan does not support the present movement he is at any rate ln sym pathy with its purpose, for 1t is to ad- cate the same principles which Mir. Bryan has espoused.
 At today's session fifty-five delegates were present and many more are ex- pected tomorrow. Those present to- day were divided as follows: Public Ownership Party. 23: Populists. IS; Progressive Peoples Party, 2; Socialist Party,1; Silver Republican Party, s; Bryan Democratic Party, 3. The names of parties given are those which the hal Ciua Fl Cook was chosen temporary chairman and w. c. Guels of St. Louis tenn porary secretary.
 May Cali 6 Convention. Addresses were made by Chairman Cook. J. w. Foster of St. Joseph, Dr. H. D. Pattee' of St. Louis, Lee Mer- riwether and others. They outlined the purpose of the conference and dwelt on the need of all reformers ojining under one banner. The meet ing, which is in progress behind closed doors, was first suggested by MT. Cook in a circular letter asking conference with the free Silver Republicans and the public ownership party leaders. In response to this Lee Merriwether is- sued call for the meeting today to the men of his party and J. w. Foster of St. Joseph issued similar call to the Free Silver Republicans. The confer ence was to include middle of the-road Populists and all Democrats and Re- publicans who might sympathize with the movement. Mir. Cook said: There Is nothing left for those who believe in the principles of the Democra ac platform of 1896 to do but to hold q convention outside Of the Democratic organiza ton and either adopt ways and means to retain control of the party or to launch a new party around which all reform elements may crystalline. As a probable result of this conference a convention will be called for some time next fall.
 Mr. Merriweather was outspoken in his denuneiation of Governor Dockery and the entire State administration from a political standpoint. When Governor Dockery," he said, used his influence ; to- force the nomination for mayor of a man who had twice voted for Mckinley we could only construe it as a notice to the Democracy that the party organization had gone into the hands of the enemies of reform. There Is nothing left to do but to carry the fight into the State"
 Thinks 6 New Party Needed.
 ""will you try to control the regular organization or will you organize A new party?" MT. Merriweather was asked.
 That remains for the conference to decide" he replied. "Howaver, 1t seems to me useless to try to control the Democratic party. In Missouri. as in nearly every State of the Union, when the Democratic party reorganized 1t will be back into Clevelandism. So d third party is essential. The move ment Is bound to become national. The party will stand chiefly for public ownership of public utilities for direct legislation and for honest elections. /"
 Mir. Merriweather asserted that he had undoubtedly received plurality of the votes cast for mayor at the late St. Louis election and that he be- lieved he had received majority over both Wells and Parker. The confer ence will continue tomorrow night and a public meeting will be held. MT. Merriweather will make the principal address and Mir. Cook and others will talk. The result of the conference will be ebmodied in an address to be issued to, the people of the State.