The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-24
CHAIRMAN BUFFERS PROGRAMME
CRITICIZED.

We publish to-day two "eonndehtiai
letters that throw a flood OF light up
on the movements of the Populist par
~ The first is a letter from Senator
Butler sent out to the faithful asking
their views upon certain phases OF CO.
operation for 1896. So careful is char
man Butler that his inquiry should
NOT be known to the rank and file that
he does not trust his own correspon-
dents but requests them to write your
answer on this sheet of paper ana re-
turn it to me"
1t is to be presumed that most oil
those addressed sent their answers
ION this sheet of paper" as requested
but Mr.. NJ. J.. Wood, chose not only TO
keep the copy of the chairman letter.
but to send a copy of it with his reply
to a number of the faithful, ana re-
ouested them to give him Wood their
views on two matters:
/. as the Peoples party to be ~
rooted and controlled by the people
belonging to the party or by the state
Executive Committees"
,. s.Will it submit to be led into ana
become part and parcel OF the he
publican party?"
Who is Mr.. Wood? will be the nat'r-
Al inquiry Of those who read has pam
words to Chairman Butler. In lo9o'
Mr.. NJ. L. Wood, a prominent Alliance
man who had been a delegate 10 the
oeaIa meeting of the National Alliance,
was elected as the Democratic holnl-
nee from BERTHE county. Tall and com
handing in stature, holding views
then regarded as far in advance OF
many Alliance Democrats, ne soon
came TO be recognized as the Leader
of tbe more radical followers of (then
state Senator) Marion Butler. After
wards Mr. Wood was spoken OF fof
congressional honors, and has from
the organization of the Peoples party
held a prominent place in its councils.
He is still strong Populist, ana IS
still i'm favor of fusion, is seems, II the
people are given hand in fixing the
terms. and the Peoples party IS not
to .sbe led into and become part ana
parcel of the Republican party
MIR. Wood points out that Chairman
Butler proceeds upon the superstition
that the Republicans are to have the
Governor as well as the United States
Senator. and that advice is asked only
unon the subject of fusion on the cleo
toraI ticket. In the course Of his let
ter Mr.. Wood talks straight from the
shoulder. and shows that some Popu-
lists are FESTIVE under the rule of what
Mr.. Lindsey called '.the inner circle
and what Mr. Wood calls THE auto
cratic rule of the committee" This
Is not strange. Ii would be strange if
free men did not resent the machine
rule which brushes out individual
thought and action in the Populist par
~ The white men of North Carolina
never have tolerated boss rule.
Whenever they have suspicion that
some few men are carrying them III
their pockets, they have ever been
ready to rebel. Mr.. Wood and Mr..
Lindsey see that the ''autocratIc rule
of Chairman Butler who is permitted
10 "sjt in the marble halls and decor
ated wall of flames proud temple =
so puffed up with past successes that
he holds committee meetings with
himself and then directs his followers
to chip IL and carry out his orders.
They have done so up to this point,
hui now that his course, as Mr.. Wood
puts it, turns over the State govern
meat. horse foot and dragons to the
Republicans party there will be many
protests If manhood yet remains a
rnong the Populists.
The letter Of Mr. Lindsey, proposing
cooperation, and the letter Of Mr.
Wood criticfzing Chairman Butler for
irving to put the Populists, to quote
ar. Wood, Into the bowels OF the Re
publican party are too important
utterances. upon the threshold Of the
campaign of 1896. They were among
the earliest to join the Populists par
to and have been among it's strongest
champions. II begins to look like there
are some men IN the Populist party
who will not submit TO be led into
and become a part and parcel Of the
Republican party.