The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-01-30
A LETTER,
AN ANSWER.
Chairman Butler Writes to M.
merOus Populists-. Outlining
the Position OF the State
Committee.


the Position OF the State
Committee.
As1 ASKS iss . Csseessss Il Opisiss-A. wssa A.
svss }. Ckssiar Letter Wiki 10 Its Crrsississ h.
sssss P.siIe As distressing Q.essiss CsasiSerst
We publish below two letters con-
corning which some commen, will
be found on the editorial page:
LEWISTON. n. c., Jan. Il, 1896.
Mr.. .........,N n. c.
Dear Sir:-I have received a cir
cular-letter from Senator Marion
Butler, of which the following is a
copy:
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
Dec. 80, 1896.
Mr.. n. L. WooD:
Dear Sir:-A great deal is being
said about cooperation for the next
campaign and the lines on which it
should be made. One wing of the
Republican party is understood to
claim that they want cooperation
on the State ticket, provided they
can have the candidate for Cover
nor, but that they want three cleo
toral tickets. Another wing of the
party is understood to want fusion
on the electoral; that is that one
half of the electoral ticket shall be
Republicans, and pledged to vote
for the nominee of the Republican
party, whoever he may be, and the
other half Populists. This wing is
also understood to claim that they
want the nominee for Governor.
Your State Committee is not ready
to concede the nominee for Cover
nor. But there is not SO much a
principle involved in who shall be
the nominee for Governor, as there
is with reference to the electoral
ticket. Your committee is of the
opinion that both Of these plans as
to the electoral ticket will at least
cause friction if not cause worse re-
suits to our party. To carry out
either of the above plans, every
Populist in the State would have to
cooperate with and vote for men
who were trying to elect s gOldbug
for President, or vote for electors
who would vote for a goldbug for
President. This we cannot con-
sistently do. In our opinion, if such
q line of fight were attempted, our
party not only would not grow, but
our present party ranks would be
demoralized to some extent, while
on the other hand it would have the
effect of solidifying the Democratic
party as nothing else could.
Your State Committee held a
meeting recently to discuss the ques
ton. It was the unanimous opinion
of the committee that the only way
to obviate the difficulties mentioned
above, in the way of cooperation
would be to have non-partisar
electoral ticket, like our Supreme
court ticket in our last campaign
!: and that each man on tho elect a.
ticket should be pledged not to vote
, for q gold man for President.
This would not only be consistent
but would put US in the position o.
cooperating for a great and funda
mental principle. and avoid being
successfully charged with co-operat
ing for spoils. Certainly our friends
, who claim to be against the golt
standard cannot object to such ,
line of battle against the common
|, enemy, or otherwise they would b.
! helping the goldbugs, instead o
a fighting them. Our committee want
a to know if you endorse this plan TO
q non-partisan electoral ticket
= pledged against any goldbug candi
q date for President. The committe
would also be glad of any sugges
ton you can make for better plar
Since Ihave been in Washington
have learned that there is more di
vision in the old parties onithe finan
,. cial question than l had supposed
{ and believe that there will be larg
0 accessions to the Peoples Part,
! from both the old parties. Besides
i l think that the various silver or
| carnations will endorse our cand
: date for President. Before arri,
= ing here I had not hoped that "
I could elect Peoples Party Pres
/ dent before 1900, but the situatio
grows more encouraging each da!
and if the demoralization of th
two old parties continues as it
It going on now, we will have q chanc
r to elect our candidate for PresideI
b in thenext contest.
Please consider this communicate
d confidential and give no public an
nouncement of our position on thi
matter till the time comes for US
take official action.
Please write your answer on tn
sheet of paper and return 1t to n
here. Very truly,
= MARION BUTLER,
Chm P. p. State E. Com.
70 To the above letter l have replit
4 as follows;
ls Senator Marion Butler, Charms
y Peoples Party Executive Commi
p tee, United State Senate, Washin
y ton. DC;
b Dear Sir:-I have the honor to a
:: knowledge the receipt Of your lett
y Of the 30th ult., in which y0n infor
y me that your committee were unar
= y mously Of the opinion that the
=: =: should be put in the field full ele
" torA ticket, regardless Of par
~ affiliations, but pledged to vote +
the silver candidate for PresideI
= and that while your committee
. not yet ready to coacede to the B
Il publicans the nominee for Govern<
o you intimate that you are willing
~ do 80. note your silence IS
70 nominees for Congress and the u
" ted States Senate, members Of t
General Assembly, Lieutenant-Gt
N ernor and other State officers, .
~ Justices Of the Supreme court; Ant
u further note that my advice is