The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-04

venton commenced business A pre-
liminary caucus was held at the Ma
tional hotel, at which the committees
for the convention were agreed upon
Ex-senator George W Hanna Of
Clay Center was elected temporary
chairman Of the convention. and will
also be the permanent chairman
There was no change in the senti-
ment Of the delegates today regarding
the antifusion idea. The convention
viii be almost certain this afternoon
to nominate full POpulist ticket The
nalk of leaving the Office of governor
and railroad commissioners blank has
largely subsided-
f. c. Fowler. secretary Of the state
committee says that the reason for
the slim attendance is the fact that
The railroad companies entered into a
conspiracy 10 suppress the information
bout the rate, OF one fare plus SO
cents which was made for the conven-
lion
Many Of the delegates" said Mr.
Fowler were required to pay the
Fourth OF July rate Of a fare and
third Some agents claimed they had
received no instructions to sell tickets
at the rate Of one fare plus so cents.
The result was that a good many of
our delegates did not feel like paying
the 1are necessary to come
Another leading delegate said that
the reason Of the small attendance was
the fact that the farmers are very
busy just now, and arranged to send
enly one delegate from a county. that
enc delegate to cast the fun vote Of
the county
Calkins' orchestra OF L pieces opened
the ceremonies at 1915 by playing a
medley Of national airs. The Populists
were not very enthusiastic and did not
stand up when the Star 6pangled Ban
ner was played as did the delegates at
the Republican and Democratic eonven-
fions.
Chairman W J. Babb called the con-
vention to order at 1920 and Ensign
Ernest f Omann Of the Topeka Saliva
tion Army led in prayer. There were IS
delegates in the hall when the conven-
tion was called to order A bout % straq-
giers came in late. but during the morn
ing session the total number of people
3n the hall. Including delegates. specta-
tors, orchestra and newspaper. men did
not much exceed 1Oas
DR.. BOrah nominated George W. Han
ma Of Clay Center for temporary chair
man and he was unanimously elected.
Ex-senator Hanna said:
This may well be an honor to pre-
side over a POpulist convention I he
lieve this is one OF the most important
meetings ever held In the state (Ap-
plause.) ] have been POpuist from
the beginning I voted for Mr.. WilIitts
ard voted for every PopuIist candidate
since with one exception. Some say we
don't need Peoples party because the
Republicans have enacted nearly all the
laws the Populists advocated. But that
IS due to the influence of the Populist
party Within two years we will have
more long haired Populists in New York
than We ever had in Kansas. If Jerrv
Simpson were alive he would stiI he =
Popuiist We see some buttons being
worn calling for 2 cents a mile. we
don't need cents q mile fare. who
pays the cents mile C"The farm
err shouted one deiezats1 5 mo . oon-
tinued Mr. Hanna, tits the business
man that pays the 2 cents a mile. The
farmer pays the freight tariffs What
we want is lower freight tariffs. -
When Mr.. Hanna closed his speech
f. c Fowler Of Topeka was elected tenn
poFary secretary He read the call of
the convention.
It was moved that committees on