The herald., 1897-02-23
BUTLER'S REMOVAL ASKED
By the Ex.president of the Re-
form Editors
FREE SILVER AND NO FUSION
The Populist Watchword for the Next
Campaign
As Vandervoort Failed Of Reelection the Mid.
dle.of- the r oaders Do Not Seem
to Dominate
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 22.-The Re-
form Press association met in conven-
ton in this city today, about 800 dele
gates being present. Among those in
attendance were Paul Vandervoort Of
Omaha, president of the association;
Jacob S. Coxey Of Ohio, Hon. Frank
Burkett of Mississippi, and Cyclone"
Davis of Texas. National committee
man George r. Washburn Of Massachu-
setts is also present. but took no part in
the proceedings.
The appointment Of committees and
the reading of reports consumed the
forenoon and the feature of the after
noon was the election of Frank Burkett
of Mississippi as president for the en-
suing year. The middle-of- the-road
element gave hearty support to Presi-
dent Vandervoort, an uncompromising
anti-fusionist, and the meeting is de-
cidedly of the middle of-the-road COM
plexion, as shown by the proceedings
today.
President vandervoort delivered a
sensational address, denouncing both
Republican and Democratic parties In
scathing terms and declaring emphati-
cally against fusion with the Democ-
racy. He said the Populists should de-
clare for free silver coinage at a ratio
of 151a to 1, oppose the retirement of the
banks of the power to issue money and
agitate for national constitutional
convention in 1900.
Hon. Frank Burkett of Mississippi was
unanimously elected president of the as
sociation for the ensuing year. The con-
vention at p. m. adjourned.
Tonight the delegates were enter
hotel.
When the afternoon session was
called to order there were fully seventy
five editors and dozen or so others came
in before adjournment. A heated dis
cussion that extended throughout the
session was precipitated by the resoiu-
ton to form a new association distinct
and entirely separate form the National
Reform Press association.
j. Edgerton of Nebraska made a mo-
tion to defer action until tomorrow or
at least until some word could be heard
from the Memphis convention as to its
Intentions Grand Master Workman
Sovereign took decided stand for i'm
mediate action. The Memphis conven-
ton, he said, had been irregularly called.
The Kansas City gathering was in fact
the real convention and there was moth
ing to Justify delay.
After warm debate in which Wander
voort was severely arraigned. ad-
journment until tomorrow was taken
without action
THE OTHER FELLOWS.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Feb 22.-The
PopuliSt editors who refused to recog-
nize the authority of Paul Vandervoort
in calling a meeting Of the National Re
form Press association at Memphis, met
in the Ashland today. in response to a
call issued by Arthur Roselle, secretary
treasurer of the National association
and chairman of the Missouri state Peo-
pies party committee, for the purpose of
organizing and perpetuating the real
Peoples Press association"
Chairman Roselle made q brief ad-
dress, declaring the National Reform
Press association had declined in men,
bership until not more than 50 of the
1900 Populist editors in the country claim
any connection with the organization.
This decline. he said, was due to this
rule or ruin policy of President Van
dervoort. Committees were appointed
and a recess until o'clock taken. Actual
attendance at the morning session forty.
WHAT BUTLER THINKS.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Ex-senator
Butler, chairman of the national Peo-
pies party committee. was asked today
what he thought would be the outcome
of the two meetings of the reformers-
one at Kansas City and the other al
Memphis, now in session, which repre-
sent two different factions of the Peo-
ple's party. He said that If the Popullst
editors who have gone to Kansas City
had gone to Memphis, there would no.
| be the slightest doubt about the true
Populists controlling the Memphis oon-
vention. He thought, however, thai
| feated for reelection, and said that If 9
| true Populist was elected president, and
man who did not represent either ol
| the extreme factions in the party, he
| felt sure that both elements would come
| together and have but one organization
| He said there were a number Of mer
| upon whom the elements could unite
but that he thought everything consid
cred, Senator PETER was the best an.
most available man for the position. H.
| said Senator PETER owned one of thu
most influential papers in Kansas ant
would give his personal attention afte
| the 4th of March to editing this journal
the Topeka Advocate. He added: "Mr
Peffer's election would certainly be a.
ceptable to the western Populists, an;
every southern Populist, except the few
who wanted Mckinley elected in tn
last election, would be perfectly salts
fed with him."