The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-03
Watson and Bryan Men Fight
In The Convention
BOLT IS EXPECTED SOON
Temporary Chairman Jacob S. Coxey
is Still Handling the Convention
and Organization Will Be
Deferred Some Time.

st. Louis April 2.-The Nebraska del
egation which is trying to procure a post
ponement of the populist national con-
vention in the interest of w. ]. Bryan
made no progress today. and neither did
the convention. except as to speeches.
After two sessions were held. at the con-
clusion of which permanent organization
had not been accomplished the convention
adjourned until tomorrow. Admirers of
Bryan will continue their efforts to have
the convention postponed until after the
national democratic convention in Denver
on July Z
The first contest came at the afternoon
session. A. NJ Walling of Nebraska Wig
orously protested the manner in which
members of the committee on credentials
were chosen. He said no man had any
right to serve on that committee or hold a
scat in the convention unless he could
show proper credentials. Mr.. Walling
averred that there were many delegates
self-appointed having no credentials from
any state or organization. His protests
were fruitless and he was voted down.
But the Nebraska delegates are deter
! mined. and they say they will bolt if the
convention attempts to place a ticket in
the field at this time. Mr.. Walling To-
night said
Nebraska is in earnest about this mat
ter, and we shall bolt If the convention
attempts to nominate Thomas E. Watson
or anyone else. We are not alone, for
we have assurances that Minnesota, Geor-
gia and possibly Michigan and Kansas
will walk out when we do"
Proceedings Begin.
The convention came to order shortly
before II o'clock, about 800 delegates be-
ing present. Afte. an invocation by the
Rev. Thomas Nsssswoftf Is iS,iiana the
formal proceedings were begun by James
II. Ferris of Joliet, the chairman of the
| national committee.
j Following the address of Mr. Ferris,
Jacob S. coxey of Ohio was named as
temporary chairman Of the convention.
After making the chair he made an adj
dress covering the leading economical
questions of the day, paying particular
attention to the national currency.
| Chairman Coxey devoted much time to
the advocacy of the issue on non-interest
! bearing bonds as a means of acquiring
public utilities.
! Immediately at the conclusion of the
chairmans address debate arose on
! the manner of appointing members of
the various committees. 1t was finally
decided that each state should select one
! member of each committee and th1I the
i chairman should have the right to ap-
! point four delegates-at-large on each
committee, except the committee on Gre
! dentials.
| The sole business of the afternoon ses-
| sion consisted of the adoption of the re-
| port of the committee on credentials.
Nebraska Fights.
! As soon as Chairman CoXey had called
| the convention to order. following ihe
| recess. he directed the secretary to read
list of members of the credentials COM
/ mittee. Before this could be done A. NJ.
! Waling of Nebraska demanded II know
| where the secretary obtained the list. He
was informed that each state ha tur-
nshed the name of its committeeman.
! Waling then asked Chairman CoXey It
! the names presented were those o. dele
! gates sent by properly held state con-
! ventions He insisted that if they nal
! not presented proper credentials they
! were incompetent to act as members of
! the national committee on credentials.
! When he had finished speaking the con-
| vention was in an uproar. half dozen
'N'+N'
! as many more raising their VOICES ana
! points of order.
'.I am of the opinion that tn question
! is one for the credentials committee
alone" ruled the chair.
/ The Watson men gave a shout Of de-
/ light at this ruling in their favor but
Wallng was still full of fight
There are men here as delegates. lie
/ declared, who are self-appointed. They
were never sent by any state corNeniioA
and we have right to know WHY they
+ should be given votes in po@"lSt con-
venton."
In the committee room waiting renew
! ed his fight claiming that PennST Narll,
! New Jersey, South Dakota and California
were not entitled to represe 1laucn IN
the national convention because no state
/ convention had been held The Watson
men completely dominated m commit
| tee. however and voted Neo aska down
| steadily and consistently. The commit
| tee reported to the convention that tl@
list of delegates as held by The chair
i man was correct and the report WIS
adopted Nebraska did not Noif, nor did
ii present a minority report
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