The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-19

Girard, Kan. April 1S-A committee
of the National Reform Press associa-
ton, in accordance with a resolution
adopted at the recent convention at
Memphis, have decided to wage a war
on Marion Butler as chairman of the
Pcpulist national committee and also
attempt a reorganization of the Popu-
list party.
In accordance with this decision. the
committee issued a call for national
convention TO be held at Nashville,
Tenn, on July next, the represene'9
ton to be one delegate for every 20
middle -the-road votes cast at the re-
cent 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 s.
Coxey and Frank Bearkitt. all of whom
participated in the conference here.
The preamble and resolution accom-
panying the call for a national con-
vention recite q resolution adopted at
the recent meeting in Memphis of the
middle wing of the Reform
Press association, calling upon National
Chairman Butler TO bring together the
Populist national committee at a date
of considering the advisability of call
ing a national delegate conference of
the Peoples party not later than July
next. 1t is recited. further. that the
committee appointed q Memphis. after
communicating with Chairman Butler,
failed to secure from him an affirm
alive response. TheTeupon the commit
tee addressed a letter of inquiry to the
individual members of the national
POM fCf 90 n
opinion as to the advisability of calling
such a conference. A majority of those
responding. about 80 in all. it is stated,
answered in the affirmative and the
meeting has here resulted.
Upon assembling here. they state.
they again called upon Chairman But
Ter to call a national convention and
then they received a positive refusal.
Thereupon the committee. felt in duty
bound to issue its call for convention
at Nashville. The call states that
recognizing the existence of honest
differences among members of the Pop
Ulist party ii is necessary that ma
tional conference should be held. with
view to retaking our political bearings
and determining with certainty where
we are at
The call reviews some of the recent
differences between the two wings of
the party, but asserts that these diff
ferences are not SO wide but that the
party may again be brought together
in harmony. as, il is asserted the great
majority of the Populists still believe
in the declarations of the Omaha and
st. Louis platforms. The necessity of
avoiding fusion with one of the old
parties in one section of the country
and with the other old party in another
section is urged at considerable length.
and it is also stated that fusion on
those lines is too absurd to admit of
argument
The future usefulness and the very
life of the party. it is declared. de-
pend upon the coming together of the
rank and file of the party in a spirit
of patriotic fraternity for the formation
of definite plan of action.
The various county and state COM
mittees of the Peoples party are urged
to see that the Populists, with others of
their respective districts, are given
just and proper representation in the
convention.