People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-11-12
Butler as a Critic.


In a recent issue of his paper, The
Caucasian, Senator Butler devotes
about three columns to the Ohio cam
paign, mostly in criticism of.the Popu-
lists who are taking part in the cam
paign in that state, among whom he
includes the editor of this paper. The
editorial is published under the head
of "Some Facts About the Ohio Cam
paign," but would have been more to
the point had it been entitled ''Some
Lies About the Ohio Campaign" We
have felt rather inclined, in the inter
est of harmony, to say as little about
Butler and his methods as the circum-
stances would admit, but as Butler
now runs up the black flag of journal
istic piracy, we are willing to clear our
decks for war. Butler recently wrote
to friend. we are told, that unless he
and his crowd moved forward the men
who called the Nashville conference
would secure control of the Peoples
party. With the end in view to pre-
vent this Mr.. Butler has evidently de-
termined to open up a personal fight on
those who are endeavoring to carry
out the action of the Nashville Confer
ence. Had the editorials in question
been written and published by other
than coward and falsifer they would
constitute libel, but Butler-like the
writer masks himself behind insinua-
tions and innuendoes. He starts out
by citing the lying charges of the Dem
ocratic press and seeks to give force to
those charges by quoting letters from
so-c2lled prominent Populists whose
names are not given.
These most prominent Populists,"
according to quotations from their let
tiers as published by Butler, think
there is something wrong in the Ohio
situation because Morgan Steinberger
snd others, are doing what they can to
assist true Populism in extricating
itself from the fusion wreck of last
year caused by Butler and his CO.
workers. These men want to know
who is paying the expenses. We
might reply that it is none of their
business, but to Rootbe the troub ed
minds of these poor devils who are fir
ing at us from the brush without dis
closing their identity, we will tell
them. So far as Morgan is concerned
his expenses are being paid by the
Ohio Populists at points where he
speaks, just as they have always been
paid in former campaigns. But even
if this were not true Morgan is able to
paw his own expenses in the campaign,
ard rather than see the cause of Popu-
lism go down would willingly do so
Of one thing we can assure Mr.. But
Ter and the men who join him in his
uncallsd for attack upon us : that is
the National Committee of the Peoples
Party is not contributing one cent to
the Popu ist campaign in Ohio not
even a word of encouragement has
been written in behalf OF the Populist
ticket, nominated by regular Pops
list convention, on Populist platform.
Neither are the Ohio Populists re
ceiving any of the $1,000 which Bryan
placed in the hands of Senator Allen
ostensibly to aid the cause of silver in
the Peoples Party, but really to aid
the cause of fusion with the Democrat
ic party.
To the charge of assisting the Ohio
Populists along true Populist lines we
plead guilty and we ask when did it
become crime, or breach of loyalty
to the Peoples Party, to do so.
To the chargs that Coxey's nomina-
ton WE tecured BY corrupt m ass W.
reply that it is q falsehood, and Butler
stands convicted az falsiGsr unless he
offers some proof in support of it.
We did send out slips containing
truthful report of the Ohio conven-
ton. In our capacity IS Official editor
of the National Reform Preas Associa.
ton, and az Secretary of the National
Organization Committee, we not only
felt it our privilege but our duty to DO
SO. We sent these out to the member
of the National Organization Commit
tee and to many Populist papers, to
the end of ofsetting the malicious lies
sent out by the Democratic p-ess and
the hireling rensGades employed by
the Dsmocr attic machine. We did this
over our own signature, open and
above board, and are glad that we id
so.
But why does Butler criticiSe us? He
admits that there was nothing else TO
the Populists to do, after being sDub
bed by the Democratic state convention
but to put out straight ticket Then
he takes Democratic statements and
concludes that Coxey's nomination was
bought.
Butler evidently sees his star waning
and is acting like child. His charges
are an insult to every true Populist in
Ohio. At the time of the convention
here the situation was critical Why
was not Butler on the ground, aa Ma
tional Chairman. to help save the cause
of Populism Why was not one word
of advice received from him
Is he PLAYING into the hands of the
Democratic party
We recommend to his prayerful con
sideration the old sdage that lone
who lives in glass house should throw
no stones"
Mr.. Butler owes his position in the
United Sta tea Senate to the aid of Re
publican votes secured in consideration
of assistance in the election of Pritch-