Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-12

Olson. The hearty and spontaneous
applause that followed every declara-
tion OF independence of other parties
A Unit for Independent Action.
showed conclusiyely that the conven-
tion was unit on this question.
The committee on resolutions then
announced that it was ready to report
Two reports were brought in. The
majority report signed by six of the
seven members of the committee, was
read by Major Hotchkiss. z H:
Austin read a minority report.
Then came the liveliest time in the
convention. A genuine populist con-
vention never runs as smooth as re-
publican convention, for there is no
'"machine'' with skillful engineers be-
hind it to do the work of the conven-
tion, leaving the greater portion of
the delegates to serve as mere figure
heads. Populist delegates want to
know what they are doing, and insist
on being heard. The result is some
times hubbub that looks as if the
whole thing would end in a row.
Those who understand it know that it
! is only the storm that clears the at
mosphere, and are not alarmed. There
was really no material difference in
the two reports. On the question OF
independent action apd endorsing the
principles of the party as expressed
in past national platforms they were
Identical. The minority report con.
tanned few smaller planks and reso.
lutiOns that we're not found in the ma.
jority report. But there was some
personal feeling in'the matter, and il
had to be thrashed out fully. Motions
amendments and substitutes we're piled
on each other until it looked like a
A Genuine Popuiist Gathering.
hopeless tangle. But the chairman is
one not easily ratified, and he soor
Strengthened out the tangle. The ma
jority report was adopted as a whole
with the proviso that the additiona
planks in the minority report should
be acted upon in the order in which
they had been submitted. Austin in
sisted on reading his whole platform
most OF the pl nks were eli her rulei
ont as already covered by the MAJOR
ity report, or we're voted down. Two
or three of them were adopted. Afte1
nearly three hours of discussion thu
platform was completed. Those who
had expected trouble were disappoint
ed. The delegates we're too much il
earnest on the vital principles of the
party platform to allow any minor
differences to cut any figure. Eacl
one had been given a fair hearing
and AL were satisfied. The struggl,
showed that the oid-time vitality ant
earnestness still existed; the read,
and cheerful acquiescence in the re
suit proved that there were no differ
ences of opinion on the main tenets o
the party.
Having settled this question, tn
next one was: Who shall be the can
didates to stand as the representative!
of populism? 1t was felt that thi!
was no easy question to settle. 1t wa!
important that they should be men o
known ability, of unblemished charac
ter, and who had proved steady in de
votion to the principles of the party
There were many such men present
But they hesitated to take upon them
selves the burden of a campaign
The Question Of Nominations.
Most of them had made g eat sacri
fees for the party in the past, ani
each one wanted to act as private il
the ranks. Finally it was agreed
that a committee should be appointed
to look over the field and draft candi
dates. The following were selected az
such committee: E. Frankberg, z. 81
Austin, V. E. Lawson, E. E. Lommer
and F. P. Olney. The convention
then adjourned until eight o'clock il
the evening.