The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-02

in my room and solicited NO one to visit
me. / did not approach at amy time any
member of the majority caucus. / did
not want to take any advantage of Sena-
tor Butler in amy way. On the contrary,
he sent for each member of the minority
faction and used persuasion, threats and
the offer of patronage 10 induce them to
abandon their obligations TO their consti-
tuents. In addition he, with others of the
majority faction visited the headquarters
of the minority at the Branson House,
making a speech to them of one hour in
the most cruel, threatening and tyuamnical
manner, finally telling them THAT he
would grind them to a power If they fur
tlher resisted his power On the day of
the first ballot for Senator, Senator
Prftchard and Mr.. Skinner remained at
the Park Hotel Senator Butler goes to
a sick members room who had made
pledges to support Senator Prdtdhard and
20 DR.. Reed Parker, causes him 10 go to
the Senate chamber at the peril OF hAs
life and Stands over him during the ses-
sion and directs Mr.. Parker 90 vote so
as to prevent an election on that ballot
On the second and final ballot Dr. Parker
Legislature but he paired as he desired
TO do so, voting for Senator Pritchard
However, Butler was so unfair that in
violation of legislative precedent the pair
was ignored and the vote OF the pair was
counted against Pritchard while DIR. Par
ker sick in hts room expected that his
vote would be recorded for Pritdhard.
Another aspect of Senator Buffers
brazenly inconsistent method i'm this Sen
atorial contest was the public declaration
by him that no self-respeeting Populist
would accept Republican patronage. 1t
developed that he and Senator Pritchard
had a disagreement In regard to patron
age and that he wanted to secure one Of
two things either the election of O Re
publican that would give patronage as he
demanded or else bring about deadlock,
preventing an election so that he (But-
ler) might hold the balance Of power in
the Senate making him the despot of that
body and dictate Federal patronage not
only in North Carolina, but elsewhere,
and force himself to the front through
that method to recognition ON some Pres
idemtiall ticket in 1890
In the thickest OF the fight during the
campaign he is found going to THE min
ority with the offers or patronage even
to the extent OF making one member of
the minority the sole distributor OF all the
patronage, but State and Federal, in the
First District. Fa&ling he still fingers
in Raleigh continuing the fight with the
humiliating purpose Of trying to control
a part OF the State patronage.
From the foregoing statement, which
&c Off 1Alx md 1ha
full understanding OF tine responsibility it
involyes 6t must be apparent to ALL unpre-
judiced people without regard to party
or politics THAT Senator Budler's oppos3-
tion to Senator Prtdhard's election was a
desperate and INSCRIPTIONS ahtempt to
bring it about i'm way that would throw
the responsibility upon some one else.
If it is imposed by preconcert as a res
pOnsibilIty, / am willing to assume 1T. Tt
was Terrible responsibility for me to
refuse ITO vote for Cleveland, and thus
lead MIR. Butler out of the Democratic
party. Time has justified the wisdom
and patriotism of my actions and time
viii again demonstrate that / ann right.
First. From the beginning, have hon
oraIbly and openly supported Senator
Prtchard, coupled with my personal
knowledge and his open declaration for
silver and financial reform as the best
policy to advance the cause of silver and
financial reform.
Secondly. Because OF the conditions sur
rounding the campaigns OF 1894 and 1896
The Peoples party of North Carolina
was obligated by contract both ex-
pressed and implied to re-elect the caucus
nominee OF the Republican party to the
Senate in 1897, provided always he should
make satisfactory free silver and finan-
cill deliverance, which he has done even
to the extent of satisfying Senator But
Der.
Thirdly. Because no Democrat, Popu-
list or Republican can so well serve dur
ing the coming four years all the varied
interests OF North Carolina and at the
same time do so much effective service
to wind up in triumph financial reform
in 1900. | here and do now believe that
the best policy is to hold the Republican
party to their contract TO bring prosperity |
and not to throw amy distractions in its |
way, so THAT no excuse can he given for
failure.
] make th6s statement as a PopuliSt |
and want it distinctly understood that