Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-18
BRYAN AND BUTLER
Ticket the North Carolina Senator is Play
ing For.
Looking Forward to 1OOO-Why the
POpulists VIII Not
Fuse.

The statement of Senator Marion Butler
of North Carolina to the effect that Bryan
could not receive the votes Of the populist
party in 1900 unless he should be the can
didate and nominee OF that party rather
than of the democracy, has been the SUBJ
ject of much comment among the silver
men who have been looking forward to
the next presidential campaign for a con-
tinuance Of their fight for the free coinage
Of the white metal through fusion Of
democrats, populists and silver republi-
cans.
With n Large Amount of Salt.
Mr.. Buffers words are being taken
with large amount of salt, and it is said
that the North Carolina Senator has been
forced to come out with that declaration as
a matter of self-protection, in view of the
attack made upon him by the late vice
presidential candidate of his party, Mr..
Watson.
During the last days of the campaign Mr..
Watson made most OF the popullStS have
a very tired feeling because of the belief
that he was ready to place his personal am
bition above the principles for which the
populists had been contending and which
had been incorporated in the democratic
platform and were advocated in SO decided
a manner by Bryan. They We're ready to
cover Watson with abuse for his course
a kicker, and election day drew near
they felt less and less patience with his
constant prating over his grievances.
A Change of View.
But after the election was over there
came 4 change in the dreams of the popu-
lists. They had been supporting Butler,
who was holding out to them the chance to
win a great victory If they would keep
quiet and stand as a solid voting column
in the interest of Bryan. When they lost
the election they began to turn their at
tention to the whole subject from an en-
tirely different direction. Although their
party had received liberal recognition from
the democrats in all fusion arrangements,
many of them began to take the side of
Tom Watson in his middle-of-the-roadt ten
dencies, and a good deal of criticism of
Senator Butler found expression among
leaders of his party throughout the coun-
try. 1t was this condition that confronted
Mr.. Butler and which, it Is said. he sought
to meet in order to pacify the resentment
expressed against him that he Issued his
manifesto.
Mr.. Buffers Ambition.
Mr.. Buffers ambition IL more than state
wide. He has achieved the highest honor
that the Ole north state can bestow upon
him. He is too sh1ewd a politician not to
realize that the country is not yet prepared
to elect a President from a southern state.
but he believes, it is said, that the vice
presidency might go there, while the first
place on the ticket would be filed by 8
man from one of the central west and per-
haps doubtful states. Mr.! Butler Is ap-
plying that art, which he understands
well, the art Of keeping ones self in the
front of the column, and what better way
could there be to do 1t than to announce
to the country that his party is star
of the first magnitude, looming up In the
Sc nth and west, and rising ito point where
it may guide its nemoers to victory in
1900.
What He is Playing For.
Silver democrats profess to believe that
Mr.. Butler wants 10 solidify the rank and
file Of his party behind his banners. being
careful not to allow Tom Watson to take d
place ahead of him in the confidence of his
party. And all this 1t is believed by many
democrats is being done with a view to
lifting Butler on the national fusion ticket
in 1850. Bryan and Butler and to be able
then to have this straight ticket indorsed
by both populsts and democrats If the
populists should spring their convention
ahead of the depocrats and nominate Bry-
an and Butler many politicians say that
the chances would be very largely in favor
of it's Endorsement by the democracy If gen
eral conditions do not change in four years