The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-01
BOLT TO BRYAN
GROOTS FREE SILVER CONVEN-
TION AT COLUMBUS Is VERY
Low COMEDY
LESS THAN A DOZEN THERE
More Reporters Present Than Dele
gates to Hear the Chairmans
ApOtheOsfs Of the Cause
of I6 to L.
CANDIDATES AND PLATFORM

CAND1DA1ES AND RLAIEUhM
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 31-"The Pro-
gressive Democratic party" was organ
lied here today. The attendance was so
small that many doubted up to p. IN.
whether any attempt would be made to
hold a state convention. The week fol-
lowing the recent Democratic state con-
vention, a conference was held at Cleve-
land protesting against the present Demo-
cratic state platform in ignoring Bryan,
free silver and other issues, and in not
reafiirming either of the national plat
forms on which Bryan made his cam
paign for president. At that conference a
call was issued for a state convention of
Bryan Democrats and others opposed
to both the Democratic and the Repub-
lican 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 papers. Less than
a dozen responded to the call and today
attended the christening of the new party.
George A. Groot, who called the con-
ference at Cleveland and presided over It
on July II, was both temporary and per-
manent chairman today and was made
chairman of the state committee of the
new party. His name was presented 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 accept 1t. The convention was
held in his room at the Great Southern
hotel, and in that small room he did his
keynote speech of a half hour in length.
Those who met with Chairman GroOt
We're: J. w Lindsay of Delaware; DR.
Abner L. Davis, of Findlay; Bernard
Hubart of Toledo; Richard Ingles, OF
Youngstown; r. B. Connell, of Colum-
bus; George w. Moore of Greenville, and
II. NJ. Huber of New Richmond.
REPORTERS IN THE MAJORITY.
The reporters, who were perched on and
about the bed outnumbered the delegates
two to one. A few spectators stood at
the open door. TIE total attendance did
not exceed thirty, while the forms of a
state convention was carried But between
tho hours of and p. m. A delegation
from the Hooking Valley, headed by
Henry Leonard, of Logan, and consist
ing of Hiram Tanning, w. p. Bates,
George Guthrie and two gentlemen from
New Lexington reported tonight that
they had come TO the city today to al
tend the convention, and on being unab
to find it they went to the races.
1t is doubtful If there ever was more
amusement at a convention than in The
promoters of the movement did not dis
guise their disappointmen mt over the sma
attendance, and enjoyed the participation
of the reporters, who used the chairman's
bed in the absence Of chairs and who
were allowed to take part in the procee1-
ings with suggestions. At the conclu-
sion Of the proceedings the reporters, who
were in the majority, were given a vo e
of thanks, and they returned the compli-
ment to the minority.
The assembly hall in the hotel had been
engaged for the occasion. but when the
hour of o'clock arrived the delegates
and reporters took the elevator for
Chairman Groot's room the reporters
sugge sting that the Populist conference
last night kept cool on the fire escape
and that the convention today might &c
held in the elevator"
Bernard Hubert called the convention
tor order and at once announced George
o. Groot as temporary chairman and Dr.
Abner L. Davis as temporary secretary
Order was restored at once, when GroOt
was introduced.
At the conclusion of his address Chair
man Groot was enthusiastically applaud
ed. The temporary organization was
made permanent and other routine busi-
ness was transacted with dispatch. 1t
was announced that the platform sent
out from Cleveland on July II in cir
culars and published at the time in ths
papers had already been adopted on tho
referendum system by many subscribing
to the same.
BRYAN THEIR HERO.
The features Of the platform were the
following:
The laudation OF Bryan and the reaf-
flrmation of the Kansas City platform.
Planks were also inserted calling for the
public ownership of all public utilities;
that all money, of whatever kind, shall
be issued by the government, without
the Intervention of banks; that the mon
ey trust the parent Of all trusts" shall
be destroyed, for without a money aris-
tocracy there can be no Imperialism"
The destruction of all trusts is demand
ed. Such Democrats as approve a gold
standard and who supported Mckinley
for president are invited henceforth to
affiliate with the Republican party.
The following ticket was nominated:
Governor-Dr. Rudolph Reemling.
Lieutenant Governor-Henry c. Cor
dory.
Supreme Judge-Rial NJ Smith.
State Treasurer. C.. Shepard.
Attorney Generals. L. Clark.
Clerk of Supreme Court-Charles Bon
Member of the Board of Public Works
The only one Of the nominees In at
tendance at the convention was DR..
CcnneI, who lives IN Columbus.
A PROGRESSIVE" PARTY.
It was decided to call the new organi-
zation THE Progressive Democratic Par
ty."
Other names proposed were:
1.-The Bryan Democratic Party" "The
Independent Party and "The Reform
Party"
Harmony prevailed throughout the pro-
ceedings till 1t came to the selection of
a name. ]. w. Lindsay, who met with
three other Populists in the state con-
ference last night, wanted to call the
organization 1.-The Independent Party"
so as to include all who were opposed
to Hannaism." He insisted that the DEM
ocratic state convention in Ohio had
veered around into Hanna's lines"
DR.. Reemlin, who heads the ticket, has
been a lifelong Democrat and a radical
free silver man. He IS president Of the
Btmetallic League of Hamilton County,
and entertained Bryan during the cam
paign last year.
1t is customary for conventions always
IN Ohio to authorize their state commit
tees to fill vacancies. but this was not
done today. After Chairman Groot and
others left tonight, DR.. Reemeiin posi-
lively declined the nomination for gov
ernor, and it was reported that others
would not accept.