The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-04-30
CARD TO THE PUBLIC.
A Birds Eye View of the Situation
AS We See 1t.

A Birds Eye View of the Situation
AS We See 1t.
Being honestly in favor of co-opera ton
with Republicans throughout the State of
North Carolina in the ensuing election,
upon honorable and equal terL1s, which
would do no injury to the Populist party,
and being fully convinced that this is the
prevailing sentiment of POpulists in North
Carolina. and especially in Vance county,
our home, and believing also that the
rank and file of our former ally. the Re-
publican party, is anxious to cooperate
with us on some honorable basis; and
Judging from the recent tone of the Cdu-
casidn-that Senator Butler, our Chair
man, for some cause was not In favor or
such action, and was using his influence to
prevent the same rather than to effect it;
and after full consultation with the POpu-
lists of our county, we went to Washington
City to see Chairman Butler. and had a
conference lasting two hours with him on
the situation; and he agreed with us that
the only course to pursue vas to call to-
gether the State Executive Committee and
also to make the call sufficiently general.
so that Populists from all over the State
would come in order to ascertain the true
wishes Of the party; believing that they
would be controlled by the sentiment ar
rived at by such conference as this would
be. But imagine our surprise when we
read the Chairman's cali, inviting no one
to attend the meeting except the Executive
Committee; apparently afraid to contend
with the sentiment of the honest rank aud
file of the party. Our understanding be-
fore going to Washington, and as recent
events have proven. that the said Chair
man virtually controlled the sentiments
and actions of the majority of the Commit
tee; and this was the reason we were anX-
ious that the call should be general. How
ever, our people were extremely anxious
over the situation. and about seventy five
leading Populists from all parts of the
State met the Committee. Every district.
and ma jority of the counties, being rep
resented at the meeting by leading Popu-
lists, and with only three exceptions it de-
VelOped that our party wanted cO-Opera-
ton on State and county matters. on the
same lines as in 1891, but were demanding
Free Silver Electoral Ticket, otherwise
/, this time it had developed who were OPP
posed to cooperation on any terms. We
went to Senator Butler and personally re-
queSted that he should not appoint these
on the Conference Committee, naming the
parties. He promised that he ao0uld not do
so. And what surprise to us when we
learned who they were when appointed.
DR.. Cutching who had seemed ali along
opposed to cooperation, his right b0,oer, 5.
Ohio Wilson, and himself, (SenatOr But
ler), constituting majority; the other two
being in favor of cooperation. We also
found that some of the State Executive
Committee were actually consulting and
advising with legal advisers as to the man
ner in which proposition could be framed
so that the Republican Committee could
not and would not accede to it. Our
Chairman also, we found, had been writ
ing private letters to his friends in order
to effect his purpose, we suppose, and
oI-o ILL, Dat
all these efforts the Committee, as we are
informed, stood s to 9.
Now, under these conditions. what are
true POpuliStS and the POpuliSt party to
do? Shall we remain perfectly quiet and
not move III the matter, and suffer our
selves to be annihilated? Would not such
| course be political suicide? Shall we
without resistance be led by Senator But
Ter back into the Democratic party? Why,
the Democratic press as we'll as prominent
Democrats over the State are already eX-
tOlling his greatness as a statesman for his
gigantic efforts so to do. Will we submit?
No! II Mr.. Senator Butler, Chairman,
our voices against tive will not follow.
We believe the rank and lie of both par
ties can get together on fair and Satisfac-
tory terms.
We want the Governor. OF course we
want the Governor! but at the same time,
we Call llldSlllc tlldl IL Will destroy tne
POpulist party to fail iii that; for there
are other things of more Importance to our
people than the GovernOrShip Of the State
We iced additional legislation in our
State and counties which would inure
more to our benefit than half dozen
Governors. We want laws that will all
solutely help the workingman and his
! family. Millions of dollars may be saved
to us in our State, by the enactment of
such laws. The rank and file of the Re-
publican party need these laws and desire
them just as much as we do, and they are
not really caring so much about the Gov
ernOr; but it is the relief from their state
cessity for any one to contend that coop
Grafton must be destroyed for the sake of
} a GovernOrShip.
The Populists and Republicans were
! full of promises and full of works in the
year 1894, and did they not keep those
pledges and pass every law promised us!
We believe we can safely rely on them to
| repeat their actions of faith in another
Legislature, and believe. this is the best
| opportunity the masses have ever had to
obtain what they need in legislation.
We have been assured that we can get
! the Republicans to make State platform
| along such lines, or we can get the Cover.
! nor. Now, we would rather have the
| laws than to have the Governor, because
! we need them worse. but would be glad
| to have both; and not being willing to
| further follow Chairman Butler on his
| doom hill easy road into the Democratic
| party. (believing him to be headed in thai
| direction) and being willing to trust the
| rank and file of our party.
| Therefore, in view of the facts above sci
forth, being members of the County Exec
utive Committee of Vance County, N. c.
we have decided to make a call and sug
| gest that each County Executive Commit
tee shall come together and elect one OF
more true and tried Populists from each
county. which county shall be entitled te
only one vote;-no Delegate to be elected
who does not stand on the Omaha plat
form. and has been working for no other
! with proper credentials. We expect to
| admit no other kind-for the purpose of a
conference with Republicans at their State
meeting in Raleigh on May IS. 1896. at P