The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-10
A Conference Indicating the
Presence of Scoundrels.
"RulNEO IF FOUND our"
Said One of the Participants of
the Conference
APPEALS FOR REUNION JEERso
The Minority of Populists Working a
Scheme TO Enjoy the Price
of Their Perfidy and
Dishonor.

Last night the minority that left the
Populist caucus on Friday night held a
conference. While in conference DIR.
Cyrus Thompson appeared before them
and plead for a return Of the minority
to the regular caucus He was listened
to with apparent respect and it seemed
as though his suggestion, looking to re-
Cancellation and harmony, were well re-
ceiyed and agreed to. DIR. Thompson,
after his speech, left the conference, and
could not have been twenty steps distant
before the minority was speaking in de-
rision of and INDUCING in jeers at the doc
tors efforts. The cause of these jeers
will appear later on.
1t was agreed by the minority that they
would return thanks to the majority for
the apologies offered them for the rude
treatment" received on Friday night, and
TO congratulate the majority on it's good
sense in discovering its wrong, etc.
1t was further agreed that the minority
would invite the majority to caucus with
them; the intent OF this apparently being
some scheme to place the majority under
obligations to the minority, in order that
the minority might have power to carry
out plans which would permit them to re-
ceiye and enjoy the price they have been
offered for their present course.
1t was, moreover, said that reply
to the regular caucus resolution of inv:-
tation to the minority to come back could
and might be sent. embodying PROPOSE
ton to return provided the caucus would
agree not to bind the minority on he
Senatorial question. This reply is III
to have formulated by Pritchard himself
1t was stated in the conference that
there were TWO HUNDRED GOOD
OFFICES, STATE AND NATIONAL,
in North Carolina, that were at the COM
mand of the minority under certain con-
ditions, and it was practically agreed
that the minority would, under no cir
cumstanccs, caucus with the majority in
the matter Of arranging for and filing
these offices.
1t was further suggested, understood
and agreed that the Republicans were
willing to concede the Senatorship TO the
Popuists but that a Populst Senator
should not be elected unless the minority
should name him.
A member of the conference, during its
session, had sense enough to exclaim:
Il
night is ever found out, we are ruined"
These are facts. / am willing TO stand
or fall by them. The people who were
engaged in these proceedings are known.
There may come time when some names
will be called.
MR. AVER INTERVIEWED.
The above statement of facts was
shown to Chairman Aver last night, and
he said: 1T seems hardly credible that
such proceedings could be had in n eau
Gus Of Populists but If it be true, in my
opinion, the actual popuists and the
Peoples party organization in the State
viii make every effort possible to brand
those concerned in the conference as
TRAITORS AND SCOUNDRELS.
And further, the State organization will
lose no time in serving notice on the
Republican party that il it has any deal
ings with men who could participate in
any such conference, it will be absolutely
impossible for anything approaching a
cooperation Of Populists and Republi-
cans to ever occur in this State again. /
make this statement on the strength Of
the assertion that the facts reported Of
this conference are true"