The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-14

ton: that had no authority to discuss
the question Of Congressional or State
fusion with him; that he then sug-
eested to me an informal discussion,
that we might see what our respec-
tive views as individuals were on that
subject; that we did discuss the mat
ter in an expressly informal way, ana
in the course of the discussion, Sena-
tor Butler made out memorandum
in pencil, unsigned by any one, which
he handed to me as his own view OF the
subject, and which is a copy of the
proposition contained in your reply of
August 18th. | at once told him that
| could not recommend such an ar
rangement, and ] did not think our
committee would accept it. This was
only a memorandum of Mr.. Buffers
individual views-as / understood
not in any way submitted to me as a
proposition, and ] so treated it, as |
felt obliged to do, out of respect for the
nature of the communication, and be-
cause my purpose was to treat what
Senator Butler said to me exactly rs
is was said, without attempting to OBJ
tain undue advantages, or putting
either of us in a false position. Had
understood it to have been submitted
to me as a proposition, l would have,
as a matter of course, submitted il
OF my committee. But | did not sub
nit the memorandum to the commit
tee, or make its contents known, for
the sole reason that | accept it as
Senator Buffers individual views.
/ again, on the afternoon of August
10th. had consultation with Senator
Butler. No mention whatever in this
conversation was made of the memo
radum, but / received foramly
from Senator Butler his answer to our
resolution of July 31st. 1T was as fol-
lows: That he>did not think electoral
fusion, alone, was practicable, and that
he would not recommend it TO his com
mittee, and. in his opinion, his com
mittee would not accept a proposition
for electoral fusion without co-opel'a-
ton in Congressional and State mat
tiers. And / could say as much to my
committee.
This answer OF the chairman of the
Executive committee of the Peoples
party | accurately placed before our
STATE Executive comEittee at their
session at o'clock p. M, August 10th,
when a resolution of The committee
was passed. which | had the honor to
present to the chairman of your com
mittee on August 18th, 1896.
On August 18TH. hearing shat Soma
tor Butler had stated that he bad sub
mitted to me proposition in writing
for our committee. / did, on that day,
call upon him and explained to him
the position as above stated, and told
him that no proposition had been sub
mitted TO me, as / understood, but that
ii he so considered the memorandum,
I should of course receive it and an
swer it as soon as practicable. | have
said so much, that my position may be
fully known, and that your committee
may be assured that / have treated all
communications between us with pro-
per courtesy and respect.
In further answer to your communi-
cation / would respectfully say, that
the Executive committee of the Demo
cratic party made this proposition for
electoral fusion in perfect good faith,
and we still express the hope that our
inability TO come TO any satisfactory
arrangement, TO the extent and in the
manner you propose. will not be al
lowed to stand in the way of some
just arrangement by which Dir. Bryan,
the nominee OF thte Democratic, Popu-
list and Silver parties, shall receive
the united support of these organiza-
ticket for BRYAN, may result in Mr.
McKinley's receiving the entire cleo
toIal vote Of North Carolina. al
though he receives many thousand
less of the popular votes at the polls,
than may be received by Mr.. Bryan.
1t may he that the loss Of the electoral
vote of North Carolina win result in
the lection of Mckinley and the fixing
Of Inc gold standard upon the people
for four more wears. IT was to avoid
the possibility Of such q result that the
Democratic Executive committee made
it's proposition of July 31st for cleo
toral fusion, presented it in a more de-
finite shape at its meeting on the
10th of August, and Row again presses
it's acceptance upon you.
There is also a warm and sincere
desire on the part Of the Democratic
party that the prospect OF the imam
cial reform legislation, demanded in
the Chicago platform and reiterated
in the National platform of the Peo-
ule's PARTY in the event of the election
Of Bryan, shall not fail because of the
want Of majority for silver in the
National House of representatives,
and to that end, every effort on the
part of all parties believing in silver
should be directed TO the de1eaU OF golu
standard candidates in every Congress
sional district in the State. And, if
at any time before the election, in amy
Congressional district, there should be
running for Congress two silver cam
didates, the representatives of our re-
spective parties, and the division of the
silver vote thus brought about, would
make probable the election of gold
standard candidate, I believe it would
become our duty in some honorable
wav to so meet thesituation as to
prevent this result.
Now, assuming your communication
to be in effect a proposition for fusion
| in the manner and to the extent lndl-
| Gated therein, / beg to say that the
| Democratic Executive committee have
taken no action on such proposition,
| and I feel sure that such propositlon
| would not meet with the APPROVAL of the
| oarnmifeeeor the voters it represents.