The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-05
only A FEW OF
THE POPS APPEAR
THEIR CONVENTION SLIM
.xn CANDIDATES, AS A RULE, ARE
BIT SHY.

UviIIisms of Indiana Seems Anxious
IN Get on the Ticket, but Allen
and watson Are Not So Ambitious.
Ton. watson Evidently Has De-
LINED the Nomination He
Thought They Might Want Hearst.
Springfield, ILL.,, July 4.-The 500 or
6oo delegates that were expected to at
tend the Populist National Convention
in this city to-day did not put in an
appearance. and when the convention
was called to order this afternoon
there were fewer than 200 delegates in
the hall. There were hundreds of
amply seats in the large state arsenal,
where the convention was held. Only
twenty-three states were represented
in the convention.
The convention was called to order
by Vice Chairman J. H. Edmiston of
Nebraska, and the call for the con-
vention was read by 10 A. Parker of
Kentucky national secretary. Congress
man ]. H. Weller of Iowa was made
temporary chairman and Charles Q.
DeFrance of Nebraska temporary sec
rotary.
After the temporary organization
had been perfected the convention
listened to addresses by ex-senator
William V. Allen of Nebraska and
Rev. A. E. Nelson of st. Louis. After
the appointment of the various COM
mittees the convention took a recess
until evening. ]. H. Edmiston was
chosen chairman of the Committee on
Resolutions.
Three for President.
Only three names are mentioned now
in connection with the nomination for
President-William V. Allen of Nebras-
ka; Samuel w. Williams of Indiana
and Thomas E. Watson of Georgia
Former Senator Allen refuses to en-
ter into a scramble for the nomination
and practically said tonight that he
would not accept the honor if there was
going to be any contest over it. He
wants the nomination to come to him
unanimously
Mr.. Watson is in similar state of
mind regarding the head of the ticket
and has written a letter to the effect
that he does not want to be the stand
ard bearer for the Populsts this year
Mr. Williams of Indiana is leaving
nothing undone to capture the nomi-
nation, and his friends say tonight
that if he cannot get first place on the
ticket he is willing to take second 1t
is generally understood that a large
number of delegates favor the Indiana
man for vice president
1t is understood that former Senator
Allen will have more to say about the
pla tform than any other individual
DELEGATE The Sanfjt1nnt f9NnrC the
adoption of the Omaha platform of
1892, with planks for postal savings
and initiative and referendum.
Has Letter from watson.
1t was learned to-day that Thomas
E. Watson of Georgia has written a
letter to John ]. Holiday of the
Fourth Georgia district, who is a del
egate to the convention, which may re-
suit in Watson's. name not being pre-
scented to the convention. Holiday adj
mits that he has letter from Watson,
but declines to make it public at this
time or discuss it. When asked if the
letter was a declination of the nomi-
nation for President, Mr.. Holiday re-
piled that Watson was not seeking the
honor and he did not know whether
Watsons name would go before the
convention or not.
1t is known that Watson is a friend
OF William r. Hearst and it is said
he favored postponement of the
Populist Convention until after the
st. Louis Convention had been held,
and if Hearst was ignored by the
Democrats. then Watson favored TAX
ing up Hearst. Mr.. Holiday said to-
day that Watson was an admirer of
Hearst, but he believed he would be
true to the teachings of Populism.
AS soon as Holiday received the
Watson letter he held a conference
with the Indiana delegate who are
booming Judge Williams of that state
for President. and after the confer
ence was over Holiday said that if
Watson's name was not presented to
the convention the Southern delegates
would support Williams. Watson's let
ter has cast considerable gloom over
the delegates, as many fear he is go
ing to desert the party and they feel
that with Senator Marion Butler out
and with 10 A. Parker going to retire
from active work in the party there is
little use to continue the fight.