The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-08-06
News and Observer


deriving rcaso IS for the action Of the
Populist conven,ion?' | have been
here a week, have attended The SEES
sions of the convention, have talked
freely to men Of all shades OF opinions
from all sections, and think that | have
fathomed the spirit Of the men who
composed the convention. When |
reached here Monday night the i'm
preston was general that Bryan and
Sewall would be endorsed, and that
the silver forces would present an I'M
broken front to the enemy. This was
what nearly all the prominent leaders
of the party desired. General Weaver
and General Fields, the Populist nom
inees for President aud Vice President
in 1892, were already on the ground
and were anxious for their party 10
come up to the just expectations OF the
friends of silver by plain and une-
quivoCal endorsement. In this position
they had the co operation o! Senator'S
Allen, PETER, Kyle, Stewart and Jones
every Populist Senator except But
ler-and nearly all the strong men in
the party in the West. But when the
delegations from Texas, los strong,
arrived, bearing "middle of-the-road'
banners, it became apparent that the
wisdom of the leaders would be met
by the defiance of those aspiring 20
push aside the old leaders and take the
reinS in their own hands. Tie Geor
gia, Louisiana and Mississippi delega
tons ioined forces with the Texans to
demand a straight ticket, and at least
half Of the North Carol.nians, led by
Ramsey, and Kesler, we've ia full &C
cord with the spirit Of making nOmina-
tons. All this time, while he had
said nothing, Butler was supposed to
stand in with them, though there were
those who believed he was willing to
90 with the other leaders in endorsing
the whole ticket. He soon saw what
was clear, that neither ct the divisions
acre strong enough 10 control, and he
set himself to eltectlng such d COM
promise as would permit the Bryan
hosts to name their tavorite for Presl-
dent, and permit the nlddle-o the
road men to take the Vice Presidency.
Taubeneck, chairman Of the National
Executive committee, joined Butler in
this plan and they began to bring ar
gumcnt and persuasion TO convert
enough delegates to bring it 10 pass.
Aud they were successful. Butler is
being praised and blamed as the au-
thor of the plan. 1t was born out of
the necessities of the situation. Butler
saw what other leaders might have
seen, and what newspaper men, saw.
1t may truly be said that the: policy
pursued prevented bolt. Either the
endorsement of Bryan and Sewall, or
the nomination Of straight ticket
would have resulted in an open bolt.
The nomination of Watson prevented
a bolt in the convention, though it
! caused much dissatisfaction from both
elements. 1t may defeat silver. 1t
certainly opens door for trades and
deals which INSCRIPTIONS men might
enter TO kill the cause in the house OF
its friends.
There were three Wings that caused
the convention TO refuse an endorse
ment of Sewall. They were these, as
l gathered from talking with many
delegates:
I. Party pride. The Populist party
now has an organization in most oil
the States, and in half of them they
poll large vote. They have all the
machinery and paraphernalia that be
longs to the older parties, and party
spirit and pride that is characterized
by the zeal of new converts. In many
sections the local leaders have come
into conflict with leaders of other par
ties, prejudice and bad feeling have
followed, ! and bitterness on both sides
has resulted. Some of these strong
party men have grown SO bitter that
they have the feeling of a Mlssourian
with whom talked: "If the choice
were presented to me of going back to
the Democrats or voting for Mckinley,
| would vote for Mckinley. The Dem
ocrats have abused me and berated me
until I'll be id if I'll ever have any
thing more to do with them" l ven.
tured to suggest that Mckinley's cleo.
ton would fasten the gold standard
upon the country, and that his party
was organized as protest against such
legislation. He said he didn't care -
he'd rather have gold than see the
Democratic party win even if that
party would carry out every Populis
demand. He was an extreme type O
the party bug, about whom we have
heard SO much in the last half dozer
years. do not write to criticize this
party bug. There are, perhaps, a.
strong and unreasonable partisans ir
other parties; and l pity any man 0
any other perty who cannot rise above
the prejudice that controlled his &C
ton. A North Carolina Populis,, who
opposed endorsing Sewall, pu, 1t or
this ground: "Our party is young
Its success has been wonderful-lr
fact, unprecedented We believe il
has a great future We believe it ha:
done more to bring silver to the from
tnan any other party, and that there
is necessity for its existence. We can
not let 1t die. The endorsement o
Bryan and Sewall would disorganizs
and demoralize the Populis, party
whereas the election of Bryan and :
Populst would give silver without des
troylng our party. We are willing to
support the Democratic nominee fol
President without conditions or agree.
ments. We know he is true man
the ablest and honestest exponent ir