The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1896-08-21
P0puIist State Convention.

| NdIollHd TOpullSU convention, WHICH
met here yesterday, concluded its bnsi-
ness to-day and adjourned. Senator
Marion Butler was the ruling spirit o.
the convention and absolutely dictated
the nominations L. G. Caldwell mayor
of Statesville, Democrat who boltec
since the Chicago convention, was
temporary chairman, and Congressman
Harry Skinner permanent presiding
officer.
Tue platform adopted affirms the st
Louis platform, endorses the new elec
ton law and county government sys.
tenn, declares for the establishment of 9
reformatory for young criminals and
an improvement in the public schooI
system, denounces the lease of North
Carolina Railroad and the Democratic
State administration, demands the
passage of laws prohibiting gold con-
tracts af any kind, recommends a non,
partisan judiciary, denounces the re.
moval of cases by corporations from
State to federal courts, demands re.
duction in all salaries of officials, de-
mands constitutional provision pro-
hibiting the sale or lease of competing
lines of railroads and demands the pas
sage of a law prohibiting railroad COM
panies from giving and public officials
from receiving free passages.
A delegate from Craven offered a
resolution that it is the sense of the
convention that the Populist fuse with
the Republicans on the lines of 1894,
but it was, on motion of Senator But
Ter promptly tabled.
Major VIM A. Guthrie, of Durham,
and DIR. Cyrus Thomspon president of
the State Farmers Alliance, were put
in nomination for Governor. The
fight was very bitter, but resulted in a
victory for Guthrie by vote Of 797 to
321. Guthrie made a brief speech ac-
cepting the nomination.
After fight of two hours, 0. H.
Dockery, prominent Republican who
was barely defeated for the Republican
nomination for Governor was nomi-
mated for Lieutenant Governor over
Mewbourne by vote of 7S4 to 273. DR..
Cyrus Thompson, who was defeated for
the nomination for Governor, was
nominated for Secretary of State.
State Treasurer w. II. Worth was
unanimously renominated.
C. H. Mewbane, of Catawba, was
nominated for the superintendent of
public instruction and Hal. w. Aver
for State auditor. Both nominations
were made unanimous. The conven-
ton was OH the verge of nominating
L. G. Caldwell for encouragement,
when Senator Butler stepped to the
platform and Nominated Zeb Vanc
Walser the Republican candidate.
Skinner and Kitchin made bitter
speeches in opposition and demanded
that Walser, who is a Mckinley man,
announce his allegiance to Bryan and
Watson. A recess was here taken un,
til this morning.
Today the Populist State convention
started in with a fight over Walser for
Encouragement between Senator But
ler and Chairman Skinner The bat
tie grew hot, both men were furious
and came near fighting on the stage.
Butler triumphed on every vote and
the convention carried out his wishes
to the letter. Walter a. Montgomery
was renominased for tejustice of
the Supreme Court. The selection of
the other associate justice was left to
the central committee. The Walser mat
ter was also left to the central com
mittee. A central committee of six
was named by Butler, and Hal Aver,
the young man who edits Buffers
newspaper, was elected State chair
man. Col. Harry Skinner and capt.
Buck Kitchen denounced in unmeasur-
ed terms the "boss rule" in the party
and fought Butler unavailingly until
the curtain fell on the convention,
which cheered Butler, who had
strong hold on affairs throughout.
The Populists, under the guidance of
Butler, declined the Democratic pro-
position for fusion electoral ticket
and made counter-proposition for
fusion also on State and congressional
tickets. The chairman of the Demo-
cratic committee paid no attention to
this proposition and has published q
letter n v hich he says if the Mckinley
electors are chosen In North Caro- it