The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-16


and the conditions that now prevail con
cerning 1t.
The actual facts are as follows:
The first caucus of the members Of the
Peoples party was held in the Senate
on Tuesday evening, Jan. 9th. At this
meeting arrangements were made for the
cooperative organization of the Senate
and House.
The following resolution was offered
10y Senator Ttley, of Wake, and adopt
ed:
Whereas. The highestSinterests OF the
Peoples party and the success Of our
principles at this time demand our uni-
ted effort Of its representatives, and
Whereas, We are to make ourselves
felt in the present General Assembly of
North Carolina In proportion as we stand
together, therefore
Resolved, BY the Peoples party mem
bers of the General Assembly IN caucus
assembled that we abide by the decision
of the majority in all our deliberations.
After that, the State chairman gave an
informal report of the work of the cam
paign. Following this report, Congress
man Harry skinner addressed the eau
Gus for nearly two hours, setting forth
his views on the Senatorial question, and
advocating the reelection OF Senator
Pritchard.
The next caucus was on Wednesday
evening, January 9Th AT this meeting,
Senator Butler made short statement
bearing indirectly on the Senatorial
question, but not advocating or opposing
any body, for the Senatorship. He was
followed by Congressman Skinner who
spoke two hours or more, making in the
main the same speech he made the night
before. The caucus> then adjourned
The third caucus was held on Thurs
day evening, January 7th. BY special
invitation Senator Butler formally ad-
dressed the body setting forth his rea-
sons for believing that the interests OF
the country generally and of the Peoples
party demanded the election OF a straight
silver man and an opponent OF corpor-
ate monopoly to succeed Senator Pritch-
/ ard. He spoke about one hour and
quarter He was followed by Congress
| man Skinner who spoke at least two
hours, making substantially the very
same speech be had made on the two pre-
ceeding evenings.
The fourth caucus was held on Friday
evening, Jan. 8. On the evening before
Capt. A. s. Peace had been invited to
address the Friday evening caucus. He
was asked if thirty minutes would be
sufficient for what he had to say. He
said he would not like to be confined
to less than three quarters OF anhour.
A motion was made and carried to ac-
cord him forty-fye minutes time, and
after that, that ten minutes be allowed
to any member OF the State central COM
mittee who might desire 10 speak.
Representative Parker. OF Perquimans,
understood the motion as applying to
members of the caucus. 1t was explain
ed to him by the caucus chairman that
the motion applied only to members OF
the State Central committee, and not to
members of the caucus. After that, the
motion that f0rty-fve minutes be given
TO Capt. Peace, and ten minutes to other
members of the Central Committee was
unanimously adopted.
Capt. Peace addressed the caucus for
ty-fve minutes advocating the re-elee-
tion OF Senator Pritchard on the ground
that 1t would be such course as would
as,in his opinion, insure cooperation be-
tween Populists and Republicans here
after. He was followed by DR.. Cyrus
Thompson who spoke less than ten min
ntes, appealing for harmony and unity
in any action that might be taken. Hon.
$. Otho Wilson spoke for few minutes,
urging unity and he was followed by the
chairman Of the State committee who
stated that the terms OF cooperation a.
greed upon by the Populist and Repub-
lican State committees carried no obliga-
ton Of POpulists to vote for a Republi-
can and no obligation of Republicans
to vote for Populist for Senator Each
side was perfectly free to do as they
choose.
The proceedings OF the caucus up to this
time clearly developed the fact that there
were differences Of opinion among the
Peoples party members Of the Legisla-
ture on the Senatorial question.
The caucus had, for several evenings
exercised patience in listening to speech
es from men not members Of the body,
and at this Friday evening caucus, clear
ed the Senate chamber OF everybody but
legislative members of the caucus.
Let it be specially remembered here
by those interested in the proceedings OF
the caucus that AT THE FIRST
MEETING a resolution was adopted
declaring that THE PEOPLES PARTY
MEMBERS OF THE GHN ERAL AS
SEMBLY WOULD ABIDE BY THE
DECISION OF THE MAJORITY IN
ALL DELIBERATIONS.
After the Senate chamber had been
cleared OF all parties and individuals ex-
cept legislative members OF the caucus,
on Friday evening, Senator Noye, OF
Pitt. offered the following resolution:
WHEREAS, GREAT ANXIETY is
ABROAD AMONG pOPULISTS AS
To WHO SHALL BE SENATOR,
AND REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING
Us TO ENDORSE SENATOR
PRITCHARD FOR THAT POSITION,
RDSOLVED, THAT 1T IS THE
DIFFERENTIATION OF THIS CAU-:
Gus NEVER TO ENDORSE SENA-
TOR pRITCHARD FOR THE UNIS
TED STATES SENATE
AS soon as this resolution was offered;
motion was made TO adjourn. This mos
tion was voted down.
Then some one moved that the selection