Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-13
They Are to Lock Horns at the Popu-
list Committee Meeting.
THE NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR'S AIM
Looking to the Success Of the
Party in the Future.
FOR POSITION

Chairman Butler of the populist national
committee has been, 1t IS asserted. directed
to two ends-the election of Bryan and the
perpetuat:on of the peoples party. 1t is
hard to tell which purpose has been upper
most in his mind, but it Is believed by
those who are closest to him that what
ever he may be charged with by Candi-
date Watson, he has had in view one
thought, the conduct of the campaign so
that his party would come out in shape for
a greater future than ever before
The populist national committee, in ses
sion in Chicago today, will be called upon
to deal indirectly with this program which
has been laid down by the chairman of the
party. The committee Is called together to
handle the turbulent Tom Watson. who has
fought Senator Butler from beginning to
end, and whose ideas of what is best to
perpetuate the party differ from those of
the man from North Carolina. Watson be-
heves in force to accomplish his ends while
Butler uses tact and secreIiveness. The
policy of each of them will be put before
the national committee, and it may feel it
self called upon to sustain or squelch But
Ter or Watson. The committee as original
ly composed "middle-of-the-ro oad'
organizatio So was Butler to some ex-
tent, but his views since coming to Wash
ingtoD have undergone slight change,
and he no longer stands with the violent
middle of-the-rOaderS.
Watson. on the other hand, has not wav-
cred in his violent position from the day
of the st. Louis convention until now. He
has become more rabd, and the fact that
he is said to be scheduled for another and
more serious outbreak is what has called
the committee together in Chicago.
Will BE Butler Against Watson.
The meeting. therefore, will be something
OF an investigation Of the conduct of the
campaign by Senator Butler. He will have
to answer accusations by Watson. These
may not be formal, but they may be in
ferred-hinted at by Watson's friends on
the committee. If it should come to a
showdown of hands before the committee
or after, there will be given to the public
some correspondence between Watson and
Butler which will make deeply interesting
reading. They have been writing letters to
each other for weeks, and copies of the
letters have been preserved by both sides.
Buffers Hopes and Aims.
The hopes and aims of the North Carolina
Senator revealed in these letters, as
we'll as those of Watson. In his correspon
dence with other populist leaders Senator
Butler has indulged in much speculation
to the future. In his letters to Texas pop
ulistS,- protesting against fusion with re-
publicans, he has laid down the principle
that loyalty to Bryan in this campaign by
the peoples party means the perpetuation
OF that party, but that disloyalty in any
form means its extinction. He has also
taken the position that for the sake of the
party it is better that the party give way
to the demands Of the democrats in nearly
every instance. He believes in accepting a
few rebuffs, If necessary, for the effect 1t
will have in the future. He believes that a
time is coming when there will be great
er alignment of political forces in this coun-
try than ever before, and he is playing for
| position for his party. He is figuring much
as jockey does before the signal to start
| is given AS it stands now, Senator Butler
| is figuring on his animal coming in second
1t,t h,t tci
structing his horse for the future races.
| In other words, Senator Butler may be-
! lieve now that Bryan will be elected, ami is
playing the game to that end. He wants to
show Bryan that there can be no question
| of the loyalty Of his party. because he
| knows Bryan will have to recognize that
| loyalty.
Senator Butler sees ahead that If Bryan
| is elected there will be a struggle for the
| leadership between all the silver elements.
| 1t will be a contest to determine which
| can get the closest to Bryan Butler is
| figuring for himself and his party. and
| his belief is that loyalty now, and shrewd
| movements in the future, will land him
| where he wants to be.
| If Bryan is Defeated.
| Fer public consumption Senator Butler
| does not figure that Bryan will be defeat
| ed. The Senator, however, knows the un-
! certainties and vicissitudes of politics, and
| mis- wires have been laid SO as to win, he
!
| in the event of the defeat of Bryan. He
| figures that if Bryan is defeated thousands
| Of men who are now supporting Bryan
| will grow faint-hearted, and will rush tc
| the national democratic party and be &C.
| cepted with the Il told you So of the
| leaders of that party. The old democratic
| party may not become entirely disrupted
| but many of it's voters who are left may
| be disposed to look toward the people
| party as the one which stands firm, and
| which will open to them the best prospects
of success. Should the populist party not
! profit from a prospective desertion of this
| kind from the old party, there will at least
be a struggle for leadership in the future
| contests. The three elements now. fusing
| will continue along the same lines, but
| there will be going on a contest for mas
terry 1t is to this end that the populist
chairman is shaping affairs. He is amDi-
tious for himself and his party, and he is
looking forward. If the old democratic
party goes to wreck he wants his party
to get many of the pieces as possible
If it remains a power in the field he figures
that it IS short of prominent leaders, and
that his party will be able to furnish these
leaders. The democratic party, it is ad-
mitted. Is practically without leaders
Nearly all Its leaders Of the past have gone
Silver Party to BE Permanent.
The silver party is to become a perma-
nent party in the affairs of the country
That has been decided on by the present
managers and by Senators Teller, Cannon
| Dubois and other leaders who nave left
the old party. They do not expect to af-
filiate with the old party any more until
the financial question is definitely settled
| one way or the other. They do not expect
to become adjuncts of either the democratic
or populist parties. They want party OF
their own, around which they can rally
and make demands in the name of thai
party. The history of this party is full OF
interest. Launched in Washington without
an idea of doing more than forcing actor
from some of the old parties, it is to be-
come a permanent institution. The mer
who are now running it and who are the
biggest men in it were not present when il
was born. The man who presided over it.
first session and who was really the father
of it. Gen. Warner. has gone back to hi.
; | first love, the democratic party, while Tel
Ter. Cannon and others have taken from
ranks in the new party.
The leaders Of this party figure about e.
Senator Butler does. They are also ma
neuvering for the future and for the wha
is to come out of it. They hope to brinf
their party to the front in the changes til,
future may bring.
1t has been decided that the headquarter
Of the party shall remain in Washing.o d
after the campaign Is over and that SOM
of the officials connected with it will h,
stationed here to take charge Of affairs.