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

4
| Populist faction, that we accept the dis
claimer sent us Saturday night, and ia
| reply would say, we would agree To CIV
operate with the majority faction upon
all matters of general legislation, bat
subject TO our return we demand that
each member Of the caucus be left entire
ly free upon the Senatorial question, as
his conscience tells him is the most honor
able course to pursue; and that we ask
the appointment Of conference commit
tee, to act with like committee APP
pointed who will report to this confer
ence Wednesday night some agreement
! to he accepted or rjctd
There was period Of silence whca this
| resolution was read. / is simple truth
to say that Il feeling of Indignation began
to spread among the members OF the eau
Gus.
In the meantime, however, the caucus
| acceded to the request contained in the
last communication from the minority.
and appointed a conference committee
| the members of which were Senator +. T.
Clark, and Representatives l.. r. White
ner and w. X. Dixon. The conference
committee on the part of the minority
| was composed Of Dr. %. Reid Parker
j. E. Bryan and G. C. Pagan.
But the feeling Of Indignation grew
| apace, and q deep seated suspicion arose
that the minority were not acting, and
| did not intend to act, in good faith with
| the caucus. Reason for such suspicion
appeared on the preceding Sunday morn
| ing in report of a conference OF some
members of the minority held in room II
or the Branson House on Saturday night.
This conference was overheard by u
i Senate member of the majority, who's,
| room adioined No. II, and thus the
| causes of the action began to appear and
become clear That report was as fo.-
lows:
| Last night the minority that left the
Populist caucus on Friday night held
conference. While in conference DR..
| 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 ii seemed
as though his suggestion, hooking to a re-
cancellation and harmony, were well re-
ceiyed and agreed TO. DR.. 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 ieers at the doc
tors efforts. The cause of these jecrs
| VIII appeaf iaLer on.
| 1t was agreed by the minority that
| they would return thanks to the majority
Tor the apologies offered them for the
rude trtaetment' received on Friday
| night, and to congratulate the majority
on its good sense in discovering It's wrong.
etc.
| IL was further agreed that the minor
| lty 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
| 10 receive and enjoy the price they have
| been offered for their present course.
1T was, moreover, said that a reply
| 70 the regular caucus resolution of invi-
tation to the minority to come back could
and might be sent, embodying a PROPOSE
ton to return provided the caucus would
| agree not to bind the minority on the
Senatorial question. This reply is said
| to have been 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
cumstances, caucus with the majority in
| the matter OF arranging for and filling
| these offices.
| 1T was further suggested, understood
and agreed that the Republicans were
willing to concede the Senatorship to the
Populists, but that Popuhst Senator
should not be elected unless the minority
| should name him.
| "A member of the conference, during its
| session, had sense enough to exlaim:
| II what we have said and done here to-
night is ever found out, we are runined'
| Ordinarily, full evidence can not be
| given to statements appearing In oppos-
| ton political papers, and not a great deal
| OF Importance was attached to the above
| report, though it was known by few
| Populists to be absolutely true in the
| sense that the facts stated were discussed
| by at least part OF the minority mem
| bers.
The conference committee were unable
| to bring the factions any nearer together
/ and the direct result was the following
| communication sent to the minority fac
| ton BY the caucus:
| Raleigh, Jan. II, 1897.
| To the Hon. T, +. McCaskey, Chair
| man
| THE undersigned committee on the part
of the Populist party in reply to your
communication beg leave 10 submit the
| following: Your reason published for leav-
ing the Populist caucus was bad and un-
fair treatment by the majority. A dis
| clalmer has been made, on the part of the
| majority of any intention of such treat
ment which disclaimer has been ac-
cepted by you as satisfactory.
AS fellow Populists we extend the
| right-hand of fellowship aud invite the
return Of such as are willing to be gov
| erned by the action of the P9pulist eau
| Gus upon all matters.
| 'lfle terms You indicate as a condition
| 70 your return to our caucus are without
party precendent and if accepted by any
| organization would Ice fatal to the same.
! The Senatorial question being OF vital
! Importance to our party not only in this
| State, but nationally, we feel that we
4 g ta1V MA FNa1 Iyr II