The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-05
BUTLER MEN IN COUNCIL.
IT Is BELIEVED THAT AN INOEPENO-
ENT CONVENTION WILL EHELt.

Opp osi:ion Manife,ted to the Moy. m emit
Butler Makes sp sech-Tour Hours De
voted to Speaking and Receiving Re
ports from the V.rious Counties
| COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. 1.-WhetheI
or not to put out an independent ticket
and to call State convention was the
subject of the hottest kind of a discus.
sion in the big conference of the Butler
leaders last night. The conference was
held in the dining room of the Hotel
Jerome and there were thirty or forty
men present, supposed to represent a
large number of the counties of the
State. Senator Butler headed the list
of those present. From Edgefeld were
Major arwile, w. r. Harmon, Geo. B.
Lake and several others. Next In i'm
portance were District Attorney w
Perry Murphy, Revenue Collector
Townes, Deputy Collector A. H. Jen-
kins of Greenville; Raiding Deputy
L. w. G. Blalock Of Newberry, Thos.W
Woodward OF Fairfield, Mayor Dargan
and G. s. Nettles of Darlington, Deputy
Collector Hal Richardson, M. z. Trib.
Die and B. F. Whitner of Anderson, e
G. Page, A. J. Fisher, J. NJ. Robinson
aud w. Landlord of Spartanburg, W.
H. Hunt, Jr., D. L. Schumpert of New.
berry, Tnos. B. Butler of Union; John
Dunnovant, w. r. Christie and A. M
Aiken of Chester. NJ. o. Dantzler OF
st. Matthews, John E. Allen OF Barn.
we'll, John May of Yorkville, Rev. l.
d. Bass of Florence. Geo. S. Mower of
Newberry, Capt. John G. Capers of
Rjch.and. A. E. G)nza ales, N. &. Con.
zales of Richland, B. F. Perry OF
Greenville. Amosg the other news,
paper men on hand were J. Wilson
Gibhes, W. w. Ball of the Journal and
A. Kohn Of the News and Courier.
The conference was 10 session until
o'clock this morning, and when it
adjourned it was stated that a resolu.
tion had been passed not to give any
thing to the newspapers. Certain news.
paper men were not dependent on what
was to be given them. 1t is known
that chairman and secretary were
elected and that a series of resolutions
were introduced. These resolutions
precipitated a discussion lasting for
hours. 1t is not known what they
contained, but from the windows of
the dining room of the hotel could be
heard the discussion In progress.
The longest and hottest discussion
was, as stated, on the question OF call.
ing a convention ana putting out a
ticket from Governor down. There
seemed to have been strong opposition
to this course, but the men against it
were evidently In the minority, be-
cause when speech in favor Of a con
vention was made the cheering and ap-
plause was loud and hearty. ALI the
indication point to ticket. It is
known that three men are being con-
sidered for the nomination for Govern
or. The name of Judge Hudson Is
among the Dumber. The opposition to
him is that he is too old to make q fight
During the discussion many bitter
things were said about the Tillmanites
and the majority of the speakers urged
a fight no matter whether they were
defeated or not. Ole man said that he
was in favor of beginning the tight now
and passing resolutions after ward. He
said hebslieved in going at the business
with rush and making a practical
fight. Another said that the conference
ought not to attempt to commit those
present to any course. He was In favor
of req uesting the people to meet at
their respective county seats and decid-
ing whether they were In favor Of an
Independent movement. If they were
then convention could be called and a
ticket put out. Until this was done he
was against the passage of the resoiu-
tions calling a convention.
Senator Butler made speech during
the evening. Among other speakers
were Captain Capers. Some man want
ed the resolutions read by sections and
adopted that way, but Captain Capers
was opposed to this and wanted the re-
solutions adopted as whole. Another
man took the ground that the passage
and publication OF the resolutions
would lose votes to the movement. A
great talk was heard about "the Demo.
cracv," and the conference seemed to
consider that 1t was the only gathering
of Democrats In the State. National
Democracy played an important part
In the talk.
Reports were made from the different
counties of the State and about the pros.
poets of winning. Some Of those pre-
sent took the position that 1t would be
better to make the fight only in counties
where there was chance of winning
and leave the others alone. There was
much talk about the small vote cast at
the recent primary and August kohn
of the News and,Courier arose and said
that he had sent bis paper tabulated
statement of the vote by counties. The
total In sthe State was about $1,000, a
falling off of manv thousand from two
years ago. Mr.. kohn did not express
any opinion on this light vote, but al
lowed the conference to judge of 1t it.
self. The conference gave signs Of be-
ing much impressed and believe that
In that light vote lay all the chances
of an independent movement.
One speaker, with great deal of en-
thusiasm, said that IN 1875 they had
been at first urged not to say or do any
thing but they had fought and won.
They would fight and win this time If
the "Democracy" would back them.
Captain Capers reported that he had
received many encouraging letters. He
gave the names Of some Of those from
whom the letters had been received.
AT the same time he reported that there
was some opposition to the movement
among men who were expected to be its
friends. In one Instance father and
a son expressed directly opposite views
on the matter.
After the conference had adjourned a
member said that the resolutions which
had caused 80 much debate had been
passed and he talked confidently of win
Ling. There Is little doubt from every
thing that the Rsformers, and those
Conservatives who believe in standing
to the rack, will have to fight an indie
pendent movement of the worse sort
and will have tc fight ticket COM
posed of strong men. 1t is understood