The herald., 1897-04-19
Will Wage War on Marion
Butler
MIDDLE-0F.RoAD PoPULISTS
THINK THAT THE PARTY
NEEDS REoRGANIZING
n National Convention Called TO
Determine With Certainty Just
Where They Are At
4 ssociated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Sp scial wire.
GIRARD. Kas., April 1S.-A commit
fee of the National Reform Press asso-
citation met here in accordance with
resolution adopted at the recent conven-
ton at Memphis. have decided to wage
war on Marion Butler, as chairman OF
the Populist National committee, and
also to attempt a reorganization OF the
Populist party. Inaccordance with this
decision. the committee issued call for
a national convention to be held at Nash
willie. Tenn, on July next, the rep
resentation to be one delegate for every
25o middle -of-the he-road votes cast at the
recent presidential election. This call
for a national convention bears the sig
natures of Milton Park, w. s. Morgan,
James H. Ferris, Abe Steinberger, W. F.
d. Mays, Joe Parker, James 3. Coxey
and Frank Burkett, all of whom par
ticipated in the conference here.
The preamble and resolutions before
the call recite an amendment at the
recent meeting at Memphis OF the mid
dle-of- -the-road wing OF the Reform
Press association, calling upon National
Chairman Butler to bring together the
Populist National committee at a date
mot Ia ter than May 1st for the purpose of
considering the advisability of calling
national delegate conference of the Peo-
ple'e Party not later than July 4th next.
1t is recited further that the commit
tee appointed at Memphis, after COM
municating with Chairman Butler, fail
ed to secure from him an affirmative re-
Spouse. Thereupon the committee
addressed letter of inquiry to
the individual members of the
National Populist committee. re-
queeting their opinion as to the
advisability of calling such a confer
ence. A majority of those responding,
about fifty in all, it is stated. answered
in the affirmative, and the meeting held
here resulted.
Upon assembling here, they state, they
again called upon Chairman Butler to
call national convention, and this time
received from him a positive refusal
Thereupon the committee felt in duty
bound to issue its call for convention
at Nashville.
The call states that, recognizing the
members of the Popullst party, it is ne
cessary that a national conference
should be held, with view OF retaking
our political bearings and determining
with certainty where we are at" The
call reviews some of the recent differ
ences between the two wings of the party
but asserts that these differences are
not so wide but that the party may
again be brought together in harmony
as, it is asserted, the great majority Of
the Populists still believe in the declara-
tions of the Omaha and St. Louis plat
forms. The necessity of avoiding fusion
with one of the old parties in one section
of the country and with another old
party in another section is urged at con-
siderable length, and it is also stated
that fusion on those lines is too absurd
to admit of argument" The future uee-
fulness and the very life of the party,
they declared depend upon the coming
together of the rank and file ot the party
in a spirit of patriotic fraternity for the
formation of a definite plan of action.
The various state and county commit
tees of the Peoples Party are urged to
see that the Populist voters of their re-
spective districts are given a Just and
proper representation in the conven-
tion.