The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-21
The FIGHT STILL ON
The Pcpulist Caucus Repudl-
ate the Boilers.
AN ADDRESS TO VOTERS
The Caucus Doors Closed to
the Pritchard Pops.
SKINNER TIE ARCH TRAITOR
And the Tool Through Which the
Mckinleyltes Debauched and
Attempted TO Disrupt
the PARTY.

Attempted to Disrupt
the Party.
The most largely attended Popullst eau
mcus that has yet been held was called to
order at 8 O'Clock last night by Caucus
Chairman Aawater.
Besides the members Of the Legisla-
eure, a large number of visiting Popu-
lists were present, and among the at
tendants were DIR. J. J. Mott and Col.
O. II. Dockery, Senator Butler was pre-
sent and made short talk. 1t took the
caucus but a short while to get down to
business, the members had met for pur-
pose and the purpose seemed to be in ey-
cry mans mind
The first real business done was the
passing of the following rather caustic
resolutions
s.Resolved 1st, That no one be allowed
10 sit with this caucus of the Peoples
party members OF the Legislature
who did not vote for our nominee for
u. S. Senator. DIR. Cyrus Thompson.
Resolved md, That no person be al
bowed TO attend the meetings Of this eau
Gus who did not favor and support said
nominee.
"Resolved 3rd, That we will be govern
ed by the majority rule of This caucus,
and that we viii vote in the open sessions
OF the Legislature in accordance with
\ ,D
tsrs coming before the same
After the resolutions had been passed
there was a general exchange of opin-
ion as to the course the Peoples par
ty should pursue. 1t was finally decided
to issue an address to the voters of the
Peoples party in North Carolina, and
committee, of which Senator Butler was a
member, was appointed to prepare the ad-
dress. The address was prepared, type
written, reported and adopted 1t has a
jingle in it that will catch
the ear of the people of all parties from
one end Of the State to the other. Here
1t IL:
ADDRESS TO THE VOTERS OF
THE PEOPLES PARTY OF
NORTH CAROLINA:
1t has been the purpose of both the
Democratic and Republican parties to
destroy the organic existence of the Peo-
pies party, and our life is endangered
by the too friendly touch Of either. The
majority in refusing to vote for Mr..
Pritchard has stood for the preservation
of the basic principles upon which alone
the Peoples party can live, or deserves to
live. Yet when the majority Of
the caucus would not yield to the minor
ity it is charged with attempting to de-
feat co-orepation with the Republican
party in order to give the State over into
the hands of the Democracy. We are
confronted by serious conditions. The
election of Mr.. Pritchard, the candidate
of Hanna, Sherman, and Wall Street,
to represent the silver sentiment of North
Carolina in the United States Senate dis
covers d startling crisis in the history of
the Peoples party. He could not have
been elected by Republican votes He was
elected by the votes Of those who called
themselves Populists, and at time when
they could as easily have elected Popu-
List. Populists who fail in a critical hour
to stand for Populist principles are not
the Populists in whose hands and under
whose leadership the principles of the
party can be carried to victory.
When the Peoples party last summer
refused to enter into a contract to sup
port the caucus nominee of the Republi-
can party for United States Senator'S
gardless Of his position on the finacial
question (eyen though the Governorship
might have been gotten in return for such
a pledge, they then laid their plans to Sc
cure the votes Of enough individual Popu-
list Senators and Representatives Of this
Legislature for such a Senatorial candi-
date in spite of and in defiance of the
Peoples party organization. TO accom-
plish such result it was necessary for
them to find some one or more
prominent member of the Peoples
party whom they could infiu-
ence to barter their principles and
become their agents and tool to carry out
a conspiracy to corrupt, debauch, and,
if necessary, split the Peoples party to
accomplish their purpose.
They found one of their agents in the
person of Col Harry Skinner. The allies
and satellites of this arch traitor inside
the organization played their part and by
their acts uncovered themselves to the
world yesterday and to-day The next
step in their hellish plot is already being
taken. Having disrupted the Peoples
party caucus and accomplished the elec-
ton Of gold Senator, by open and def
ant alliance with the minority, they are
studlously endeavoring by every influence
at their command to disrupt and destroy
cur organization, because they and every
corporation, monopoly, trust and com
bine, which is represented by them in
this contest, hate our principles and are
alarmed at the growth and increasing
strength of the Peoples party, which rep
resents these principles.
They have concoeted two methods for
accomplishing this result. The first was