The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-27

EVEN THE
DEMOCRATS
Weak Manner in Which the
PopuIiSt Party Surrendered.
DELEGATES HARDLY KNEW
That a PopuIist Convention
Was Held in Enid.

Guthrie, 0. T., April 2s.-Dense and op-
pressive. perhaps ominous. silence marks
the Populist centers in Oklahoma this
week, in respect to the gossamery fig
IRE cut by Populism at Enid Tuesday
and Wednesday. The weak. unprotesting
front presented by the Populists aston
ished even the Democrats. who were per-
mitted TO do the swallowing act without
effort
The members Of the Democratic con-
! vendon scarcely knew that another con-
vention had been held. And this was
not surprising. as the other convention
/ was microscopical In fact, only the re-
I porters who went to work and hunted it
ND, knew that the Populist branch of the
fusion tree was present. The Enid Eagle
gives an account of the Populist end Of
the convention and its habby collapse.
X saws;
For WAYS that are dark and tricks
that are vain. the Oklahoma Democrat
ic politician in This year OF cur Lord 1902
IS very smooth. For months there has
been well developed plan on tho part of
the Democracy to swallow the PopuIist
party OF the territory. That plan culnli-
mated Tuesday 1T the Democratic terri
tcriai convention. The engulfnent is COM
plete. and those Populists who went into
tile Democratic convention on the terms
proposed are now safely landed in the
Democratic party. A few months ago the |
territorial committee met at Cashion and /
accepted the resignation of Chairman
Bray OF this city Todd Of Lincoln county /
was chosen chairman by the seven mem /
bers present. Later there was a confer /
ence of the Democratic and Populist ter /
ritoriai committees, and the demand of 1
the Populists that they have equal rep
rosentation was agreed to Believing
that This privilege would be accorded
them, fifteen counties of the territory
sent delegates TO Enid. When they APP
preached the leading Democratic poll
ticians on the eve of the convention. |
the delegates present We're informed
that if they wished to participate in
the nomination they must do so as
Democrats. The territorial chairman,
Todd, had come as a delegate from his
own county 10 the convention, and was
honored with place on the credentials
committee. I'm his address 20 the terri
toria1 convention of his party he said
that his remarks would necessarily be
cut short. as he was needed at the Demo
cratic convention As d matter Of fact
the Populist convention was not graced
with his august presence more than If
teen minutes. Bob Nen, the Populist /
candidate in 1900 against Congressman |
flynn, had quietly slid into the Demo
ratio camp and was made permanent / s
hartman of the convention. Not a half. I
iozen Of the Popuiists knew this, and
hey were easily taken in by the assur-
ince Of the Democrats that the Pops had I
'een recognized by the selection If Mr.. I
\eff as permanent chairman. UnIer the fc
esolution adopted by the Democratic a
committee, which We're conveniently mis- .
'laced and did not come - light until {
fier the adjournment Of the CONVEX a
ion, the Populists who entered the Dem v
cratic convention on the night of April
? abandoned their name and principles p
nd went over body and breeches into t
ne Democratic camp. The Pop party in a
oklahoma has petered out.