The sun., 1908-02-02
POPULISTS SPLIT OVER BRYAN
STRONG "MIDROAD" FACTION
WILL HAVE NONE OF HIM,

while Tom watson and TIhbIes Are Firm
Against a Third Party Ticket-Tak
OF a BOlt at the 81. Louis Convention II
the Bryan Men Have Their way.
OMAHA. Feb. William ]. Bryan is not
having an easy time Of it corralling the
Populist vote. Already there is q split in
that party, one wing Of which will ngnt
BRYAN or any other Democrat to the end oil
the campaign, while the other wing has de-
oided to support Bryan, provided the light
sort OF man is named on the ticket and the
right" sort OF platform is written.
The wing which will fight Bryan or a
fusion with any party is formidable in name
at least, since II has behind IL the regular
partv organization and is headed by the
national chairman. j. W. Ferriss OF Illinois.
Opposed to Ferriss and supporting Bryan
are Tom Watson OF Georgia and Thomas II.
Tibbles Of Omaha.
Watson has expressed himself in letters to
Western Populists that he will oppose. both
with his personal influence and through his
newspapers. any attempt at third party
nomination this year only on condition that
BRYAN, OF some other man a. acceptable,
shall be at the head Of the Democratic ticket;
that the second place shall be given to
some strong man. and that tho platform
be modelled 10 a certain extent on past
platforms. He will not support platform
which takes many steps backward.
Thomas H. Tibbles. WatsOn's running
mate four years ago, agrees with Watson and
will continue TO do everything that he can to
bring about complete support OF Bryan by
the Populists. Tibbles is better known
nv l. WafanU
or any other Populist leader, and his counsel
is having a great influence.
But Tibbles also insists that no back
ward steps be taken when the Democrauc
. latform is being written and when the
running mate OF the Presidential nominee
Chairman Ferriss Of the PopuIist national
committee, supported by the midroad
Populists, is determined that a third party
nomination shall be made. no matter who
the Democratic nominee Is and in spite OF
apy platform upon which he may stand.
The Watson and Tibbles people believe
they can muster enough delegates at the
st. Louis convention TO prevent separate
ticket from being placed in the held. and
II they are successful 1t is believed the
Ferries men, or midroaders. will bolt
the convention and nominate man OF
their own. Il will do all ] can to keep
down hoetilities and prevent an open night
as much as possible. writes FerTiss, but
You know how Populists are: They will
tear themselves to pieces rather than go
into another fusion deal.
II the midroaders control the st. Louis
convention and place In nomination a third
party ticket the Watson -Tibblee Populists
will not bolt the convention. but will simply
refuse 70 support the ticket. Wherever the
Watson -Tibbles Pops can control the
State committee machinery IL will be their
policy TO put forward as Presidential cleo
tors the same men selected by the Demo-
Gratis, thus bringing about practical fusion
in those States.
All OF which means that while Bryan.
should he be nominated will receive .
great many Populist votes, yet he will not
By any means get the entire vote OF the
party.