The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-01-19

d A. |. u:
II was not my intention 10 cav
anything special about our Mem
phis session. but there seems 20
be some Misunderstanding about
it. even among our referm pa
pers, TO warrant q few words n
this time.
First, then, there was no per-
sonal antagonism that / know OF
between DR.. Macune and my
self. Previous to the Memphis
session he had no warmer friend
or admirer than myself. When
ever attacked I defended him,
since ! first met him at 81. Louis
three years ago.
Second, there was no differ
ence in policy Of Alliance work
up to date of that session that |
am aware of. When we los,
our president, he wired me to
come to Washington at once. l
had work planned out for few
weeks, so wrote him of my
plan, and showed my confidence
in him by authorizing him to act
for me until my arrival. He cor
daily approved of my plans,
Il
During my stay in Washington |
consulted with him freely and
con6dentially; indeed, author
lied him as chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee to make my
| appointments for me, giving
preference to the Southern States,
where he was much better ac-
qusinted than l was. We both
agreed in the opinion that the
| Alliance should be a non parti-
san organization. We also
agreed that it was our duty 10
support the political party that
adopted our demands. SO that
SO far as ! know there was no
difference in policy or methods
between US. / asked no one to
support me. There was no fgh,
made on me that | knew Of.
The brother who nominated DIR.
Macune stated that if he were
elected president would be elect
ed vice-president by acclamation,
When the doctors friends be-
came very earnest in their can
vass for him, and when he stated
it was a case of life or death for
him, l requested that my name
be withdrawn. My friends would
not consent. They took the po-
sition that DR.. Macune, from the
South, had held the office for
three years, followed by brother
Jones for one year, then brother
Polk three years, all from the
South; that it was now only jus,
and in the interest of the order
that the honor should 60 to the
North, particularly as the claim
had been made in the North tha,
the N. F. & I. u. was a South
ern Alliance. The contest was
not made on sectional lines, for
although the vote was by ballot,
l feel sure / am correct in saying
that the delegates from the fol-
lowing Southern States voted for
me, viz: Virginia, Georgia,
| North Carolina and Missouri,
while the following Northern
States would have supported DIR.
Macune: Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Illinois, Iowa and California.
There is no reason for saying
that our political affiliations made
any difference, for we were both
avowed Peoples party men, and
whilst l think it is true that all
| the Democratic delegates were
supporters of the doctor, 1t il
also true that such stalwart Peo.
pies party men as brothers West,
Jamison, Mcdowell, Gardner
Tracy, Robinson and Cole were
also. 1t is ridiculous to say tina
"Gideon's Band" had anything
to do with my election, as it il
generally understood that th'
doctor is a prominent member o
the Band, while l am not, ana
never had any connection with it
directly or indirectly, and knew
nothing of it except from here
: say.
II l think it is unfair to clair
that the executive committee O