The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-02
IS A NEW BRAND OF OHIO
POLITICS.
STATE TICKET NOMINATED
Promoters Of Movement Disappoint-
ed at Small Attendance OF
Delegates.

Columbus, O., July 31-"The pro-
gressive democratic party was or
ganized here today. The attendance
was so small that many doubted, up
to 2 D. M, whether any attempt would
be made to hold a state convention.
The week following the recent demo-
cratic state convention a conference
was held at Cleveland protesting
against the present democratic state
platform, ignoring Bryan, free silver
and other issues and in not reaffirm-
ing the national platforms on which
Bryan made his campaign for presi-
dent.
At that conference a call was issued
for a state convention of Bryan DEM
ocrats'' and others opposed to both
the democratic and the republican
state platforms, to meet here. today.
Circulars containing copies of the
call and the platform of the proposed
new party were sent out by mail and
they were also published in the pa
pers. Less than a dozen responded
to the call and today attended the
christening of the new party. Geo.
A. Groot, who called the conference
at Cleveland and presided over it
on July II, was both temporary and
permanent chairman today. His name
was presentd for governor but he said
he did not want any nomination. He
was afterward put on the ticket for
supreme judge but he declined to &C
cept it. The convention was held in
his room at the Great Northern hotel
and in that small % he did his
key note speech of a half an hour in
length.
The reporters, who were perched
on and about the bed outnumbered
the delegates two to one A few
spectators stood at the open door.
The total attendance did not exceed
80, while the forms of a state con
vention was carried out between the
hours of 2 and 4 p. m.
A delegation from the Hooking Val.
ley reported tonight that they had
come to the city today to attend the
convention and on being unable to
find it, they went to the races. 1t is
doubtful if there, ever was more
amusement at a convention than at
the little gathering this afternoon.
Even the promoters of the movement
did not disguise their disappointment
over the small attendance, enjoyed
the participation of the reporters,
who used the chairman's bed in the
absence of chairs and who were al.
lowed to take part in the proceedings
with suggestions. At the conclusions
Of the proceedings the reporters, who
were in the majority, were given 6
vote Of thanks, and they returned the
compliment to the minority.
1t was announced that the platform
sent out from Cleveland on July 1
in circulars and published in the pa
pers had already been adopted on tn
referendum system by many subscrit
ing to the same.
The following ticket was named
Governor, DR.. Rudolph Reemlin
lieutenant governor, Henry c. Coz
dory; supreme judge, Rial M. Smith
state treasurer, j. c. Shepard; attol
ney general, S. L. Clark; clerk of tn
supreme court, Charles Bonsall; men
Der of the board of public works, F
B. Cornell.
DIR Reemlins who heads the ticke
has been a life long democrat an
radical free silver man. He is pres
dent of the Bi-Metalic League of Han
ilton county and entertained Brya
during the campaign last year.
1t is customary for conventions, a
ways In Ohio, to authorize their stat
committee to fill vacancies, but thi
was not done today. After Chairma
Groot and the others left tonight D,
Reemlin positively declined the nom
nation for governor and it was repor
ed that others on the ticket would nc
accept.
Special Rates to Pan-AmerIcan Exp,