People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-07-09
NATIONAL REFORM EDITORS
A Butler Defender Finds Hard Times
Every One Condemns Fusion.

A Butler Defender Finds Hard Times
Every One Condemns Fusion.
Nashville, Tenn, July 3.-National
Reform Press Association met here yes
terday and after call of the roll which
showed Texas represented by upwards
of so editors, the body Informally dis
cussed the question of the hour and the
future of Populism. A dozen states
were represented and Wisconsin sent
Editor Schilling of Milwaukee, who
sprung the sensation of the hour by
few minutes speech defending Chair
man Butler
1t was a sensation and for such hot
day turned an informal talk into a siz-
zling, heated debate.
Editor Schilling wanted to know
what were the charges against Butler.
A dozen were on the floor in minute
and the chair finally recognized Milton
Park, he of the Southern Mercury and
stalwart fighter of old.
Mr.. Park fred so many questions and
Buzz Saw Morgan filed so many char
ges to be read that the meeting conclu-
ded to adjourn-it was the many
against one-Butler was no more a
name to inspire attention or even pas
sing curiosity. To defend him excited
all the antagonism in the nature of
those standard bearers who had carried
the banner of Populism through many
heated campaigns and who had no lon
ger anything but supreme indifference
and in many cases contempt for the
national chairman.
Editor Vincent, Of the Non -CoNfor-
mist was partly defender of Butler,
but he early gave up the fight seeing
that all were of one mind--anti-fusion
to the marrow.
The press meeting adjourned to meet
Monday with the Conference, when
routine business will be set aside and
the future of the party discussed.
A ROYAL BANQUET.
Saturday, the reform press editors
accompanied by the ladies of their
party and under the leadership of the
doughty Mcdowell visited the Nash
vile Centennial Exposition. 1t was
hot, sizzling hot day, and many Texas
editor found navigation most difficult
and staid in the shade. The thermom-
eter lowered around the 1902 mark but
the crowd did" the Exposition in the
conventional manner, The buildings,
of which no accurate description could
be attempted, filed with all that art
science, and enterprise can gather to-
gether and arrange into pleasing
effects were thoroughly inspected.
Promptly at noon, the forces were
gathered together and in an open piazza
of The Casino sat down to a royal
banquet, rendered the reform editors
by the Centennial directors.
1t was banquet to be remembered
and the cordially of the Exposition
management which had been empha-
sized by all Nashville on the day pre-
vious made the scene one worthy of
mention. Seated at half circle table
with jolly Milton Park as toast-master
at the head, Abe Stein berger on his
Immediate right and Harry Tracy on
his left, there were scattered all down
the line, ''the boys" from all parts of
the country.
General Coxey at a table with the
ladies sat behind Park, next to Stein
berger, editor Baskin, of the Nashville
American and one of the hosts, a bold
thinker and clever entertainer, direct
ly facing Steinberger, Buzz Saw Nor
gan was in reaching distance of Park.
1t was an accidental combination of
heavy weights and to one who had
read after all of them, the moment
seemed suspicious. Polk, the ''origi-
naP Greenbacker, formerly publisher
of the Indianapolis Sun, little ways
off, faced Vincent of the Non-Confor-
mist. Motsinger of the Referendum
and HARRISON of the Vincennes Qnd.)
National Era were near the foot of the
table.
The same square determined jaw
could be seen on every facial had a
quiet, pleasant smile for his next neigh
Dor but there was in the air, the very
spirit of revolution.
A conversation sprung up with Brad
ley, the state chairman of Texas. It
had the same ring, a determined steady
conclusion now and forever must be
stamped out. If there were fusion apol-
ogists they were conspicuous by their
absence. death to fusion uncon-
sciously found its way into all CONVEX
sation.
The banquet wound up by several
toasts and responses. Saturday night,
nearly 80 of the press party left for
Ruskin Tenn, where they will remain
until Monday.
Nashville, Tenn, July 5.-The first
day of the National Conference has
sclosed. Peace and harmonious action
is Ginguished the day until just at dusk