The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-05-07
4 CARD TO THE POPULISTS
AND SOME COMMENTS THEREON BY
CONGRESSMAN HARRY
SKINNER.


CONGRESSMAN HARRY
SKINNER.
The Attitude of Certain Members OF the
state Committee stated and EH Explained
An Appeal to Acquiescc In the Opinion
Of the Majority.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., April %, &c.
1t is apparent from sensational
newspaper reports and the numer-
Gus letters have received, from all
sections of the State, that erroneous
and conflicting statements have
gone out to the public about the ac-
ton of the Populist State Executive
committee, which assembled in the
city of Raleigh, on the 10th inst.
To correct these erroneous state
ments beg 20 hand for publication
q paper drawn up and signed at the
time by five members of the commit
tee.
To the Populists Of North Carolina:
AS members of your Central and
State Executive committee which
convened in Raleigh, on the 10th of
April, 1896, we desire TO make for
your information the following state
ment:
| That at O'Clock p. III. the COM
mittee held q conference with visit
ing representative Populists-somc
tons Of the State, from which it was
evident from tho consensus of opin-
ion there expressed that the Popu-
lists of North Carolina are opposed
to corporation on the electoral tick
ct, but are in favor of cooperation
with the Republican party N State
and local tickets-the Governor he
:. ing conceded to the Populists. This
opinion was based upon the belief
that the general results would mean
more for silver than a straight fight,
which in the opinion of the subscri-
bers, would mean either the surren.
J der or loss of the results of 1894, oil
a complete Republican victory, which
we deprecated.
3, At night, in room As, in the Park
hotel, there was held an executive
: meeting of tho committee, practi
> cally in sentiment as expressed, the
e committee standing nine to eigh,
: against cooperation upon any terms
t that did not pledge the Republican:
r to vote for the principles of tho
e Populist Party, and not to vote TO,
: any man for any Office, who would
vote for a single standard. The
subscribing members of your com
: mittee contended for what they
h knew was the concensus of opinion
' of the afternoon conference, ant
d what we believe to be the Populis
r sentiment of the State. We wer,
:, over-ruled by majority of the com
mittee, and as this is a matter o
; grave Importance, to the Populis
g Party, we deem it proper in justice
to ourselves and the people, and 70
r the purpose Of securing harmony il
t our ranks, to make the simple state
# ment and to refer the matter of co
b operation to each county and dis
trict and to the Populist State con
> vention for its final determination.
Vi tSigped HARRY SKINNER,
$ CYRUS THOMPSON,
e j. Y. HAMRICK,
81 THEO, WHITE,
r, j. Il. PARKER.
81 Raleigh, N. c., April II, 1896.
el 1t will be seen from this pape
e that the signers thereof, regarde,
8 the authority of the committee onl
n recommendatory, to the county, dis
II trlct and State conventions, to whicl
e all Of our differences should be re
e ferred for final settlement within tn
organization.
r. 1t will be observed further, tina
is the committee were unanimou
5. against cooperation with the Re
e phblicans unless the Governor shout,
IS be conceded to the Populists, and
&c MAJ ority of the committee wer
- against it with this concessions; un
- less the Republicans should agree t
k support an electoral ticket pledge
J. to vote for a free silver candidat
lie for President. A minority OF tn
9 committee thought the latter unreas
y enable and was equivalent to layin
'e down conditions which the Republi
- cans at this time could aud woui
=. not accept.
1t is proper to state in justice t
N the majority of the committee tina
l. no formal yea and nay vote wa
IS taken upon my proposition for th
u reason that in our deliberations "
IL never reached a point for practices
II results, but the situation was full
IN canvassed, each member taking
Id position, so that the status of th
st committee was known to all, an
Se upon this basis it was embraced i
y, the above statement.
y Every patriotic Populist in tb
&c State must be impressed that as a
q. organization We are passing throug
es q serious crisis that threatens IL
be disintegration of our party and /.
is such periods, it is always safe TO !,
&c the people from township to Sta
conventions, settle the policy Of
~, party as We can always trust the
NC to act both wisely and with patrio
ism. l am constrained to impre
al upon these respective conventions
act strictly within the letter of Il
Ms organizatiOn-the minority aeau,e
il cling to the will of the majority