The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-28
POPS WILL GUST HIM
DIR. CYRUS THOMPSON THE FAY-
ORITE FOR A LEADER.
CAN UNITE ALL FACTIONS IN THE PARTY
Buffers Followers Have Come to the Conclusion
That He is Working for Selfish Ends
Caucasian no Longer Read
by the Populists.


Attempt 10 disguise 1t as Butler may,
all y not serene and lovely in the Popu-
ast camp.
There Rugs and heartburn
ings, discussions and jealousies among
the leaders. Then there is an open revolt
and mutiny against negroism and boss
rule among the honest rank and file.
Many men there be in the Populist
party in North Carolina who are per-
fectly honest-honest as the men in any
party-who are seeking the right that
they may do it; men who are governed
by their own conscience and sense o..
right, rather than by Butler, Skinner or
any other individual in the party.
These men, though they have never
given their freedom of speech into any
mans keeping, are slow to find fault,
but once their mind is made up that there
is something rotten in Denmark" they
speak out in open meeting and care not
If the whole world hears them. These
men are getting mighty tired Of negro
rule and Buffers negrO-trading policy.
They are kicking over the traces every
where and demanding that he be de-
posed as leader of the party.
And the man whom they propose to
put in his place is DR.. Cyrus Thompson,
Secretary of State. He is said to be a
man-and the only man-who can bring
all elements Of the party together. He is
Objectionable to neither the Butterflies
nor the Skinnerites. Then, of course, he
likes himself, Ohio Wilson likes him and
Hal Aver likes hin-and that is all the
party.
So far has this talk Of supplanting But
Ter with Thompson gone, and SO thor
oughly was it privately discussed among
the Populists who We're here attending
the Minority and Majority conferences
last week, that it may be put down as
practically settled programme, and if
Butler is wise he will bow his head
gracefully and submit to the inevitable.
Whether Thompson succeeds him or not,
certainly his leadership is at an end.
His party has lost confidence in him; his
lieutenants are deserving him. Ohio
Wilson's fate has taught them lesson.
"Who will be the leader Of your party
IN the next campaign" i asked Ohio
yesterday.
"Oh, / have no idea" he replied. 'sI'm
not candidate for the position"
will it be ButlerY"
Hes not even leader now. That is prov
ed by the fact that the circulation OF his
paper has dropped off from $4,000 to as
many hundred"
Mr.. John A. Sims, chief clerk in the
Auditors department, and a member of
the POpulist State Executive committee,
is another prominent Populist who is not
in full and complete accord with the
negro trading Senator.
II have heard that you are opposed to
Senator Butler as leader of the POpulist
party; Is there any truth in the report"'
asked Mr.. Sims.
81 endorse Senator Buffers course in
the United States Senate so far" ne
said. "and will continue to do so as long
as he advocates what believe to be to
the interest Of the people. But when he
or any one else assumes the role Of a
dictator, looking only to his own selfish
interests and ignoring altogether the
wishes and suggestions OF members OF
his ewn party, then, Of course, l shall
oppose him.
II believe it necessary for the success
Of the Pop1rlist party, especially in North
Carolina, in order to unite the different
factions, that we agree upon some other
conservative man as our leader"
"Who do you favor for that position,
Mr.. Sims? Are you for DR.. Thompson
AS to who the leader shall be I pre-
fer the people to make a selection, and
on this matter I'll be heard later. Since
Won have spoken Of DR.. Thompson,
though, will say that l consider him
one of the most conservative, as well as
one Of the ablest men in any party in the
State"