The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-10

Dosed-it is unnecessary to state here by
whom, and for what apparent purpose.
The motion to defer was defeated by
large majority, and the vote on the main
question was upon us. 1t was a critical
moment. Action was about to be taken,
resulting in complications the end of
which no man could foresee. Just at The
moment when the Speaker was ready to
put the question, l had hasty confer
ence with Mr.. Holman, the able and
patriotic representative from lredell,
who had been delegated by the caucus to
present the resolution to the House. de
readily agreed to accept the amendment
] proposed. Going forward to the Clerk S
desk to write it, | was surrounded by
members expostulating with and urging
me not to offer it, to which my reply was.
Mr.. Holman had already accepted it.
Il have not a copy of the resolution as
offered, but it was in effect about as fol-
lows:
That our Senators are
hereby instructed to vote for,
and to use all honorable means, to Sc
cure the financial reforms demanded in
the platform adopted by the Ocala meet
ing of the National Farmers Alliance
held in December, $780,
amendment proposed: Between the
words secure and the insert the words
the object of and strike out the words
demanded and insert the words
as contemplated making the resolution
read. That our Senators are
hereby instructed s. to vote for
and use all honorable means to secure
the objects of the financial reforms as con-
templated in the platform adopted by the
Ocala meeting of the National Farmers
Alliance held in December, 1890
"As amended, the resolution was put to
the House and supported by all the MEM
bers present. except the thirteen Repub-
licans, Mr.. Pritchard, their young leader,
always open and manly, taking occasion
in opposing the resolution, to defend the
National Banking system.
CWho, then, would have imagined that
he would become the great Vance's inn
mediate successorD
I'm the afternoon rumor reached me
that Governor Vance was bitterly disap-
pointed at the action of the House, and
would decline the election. / had felt that
the amendment would give such elasticity
to the resolution, as to relieve its objec-
tionable features, and hence was cha
grined at the supposed failure. | absented
myself during the afternoon, and it was
only or Charley Vance's invitation at
night that l went to the room.
THE first sight of the face so beloved
by North Carolinians, was sufficient to
convince me of the error Lit up with an
expression very different from the evil
dent depression of the morning, in his in
imicable manner he arose and came for
ward, greeting me with the remark, 1
want to give my hand to the man who
offered that amendment; that was the
best days work you ever did-at least the
best for me- His whole appearance had
changed, and his usual buoyant spirits
had returned. Continuing to discuss the
amendment, and turning to the lamented
Buck Jones, who was present, he re-
marked in that familiar drawing tone OF
voice: You know what a long-headed old
coon Jarvis is? When / showed him the
resolution as passed, he said, Is that all?'
| replied, This is the copy sent me by
Bob Furman' w n.y. he says, that's
what you have been working for all the
time Yes said /, there's nothing in
this resolution that | cannot cheerfully
endorse
Most of this is the exact language
used, and it is certainly very conclusive
that in his opinion, there was a world of
difference between tue instructions to
vote absolutely for certain measure
without qualification, and instructions to
vote for certain objects contemplated in
the measure, leaving his own judgment
to decide how best to work these out.
hn6 int
duced in the Senate, but action was de-
ferred until the following Monday. When
the amended House resolution was pre-
scented ON Monday, the original was voted
down, and the House resolution passed,
unanimously, l believe, Mr.. Turner, of
Iredell, taking occasion to define clearly
the difference between the two. Several
other Senators who. with Mr.. Turner,
would probably have opposed the original
resolution, explained their position and
voted for it as amended.
"After the first disappointment on the
part of some of the Alliance members
that the decree had not been fulfilled to
the letter, I never heard criticism made,
nor any fault found with the action
taken. Certainly no one, Allianceman,
, Populist, Republican or Democrat will
be found to say that Governor Vance
was ever faithless to the instructions as
he construed them, nor that in this he
was acting otherwise than impelled by his
own sincere convictions.
| II have spun out this narrative beyond
intended limits, but the minor details may
aid you in a fuller realization of the diff
culties of the situation. am very conf
dent that Governor Vance and those in
| Raleigh cognizant of these facts APP
proved of the action taken and felt that
fortunate solution had been reached of
Threatening and serious complications.
| 81 believe that Governor Vance's pride
was wounded at the thought that his be-
/ loved people could consider it necessary
/ to give instructions to him, who had al
ways been so true to their welfare, out
/ the conditions of the instructions were
never CALLING to his liberty of action.
| Continuous office work and an alb
sence Of several days nave prevented an
earlier compliance with your request
You can use what / have written in
whatever way will best serve yOur mr..