The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-03
Takes a Hand in the Populist
Newspaper War.
DENOUNCES Mr.. BUTLER
SAYS SKINNER rs A SINNER, BUT
NOT SO BAD AS BUTLER.
FUSION ~lrH COL oRuGs WRONG
And Butler, Ohio Wilson, Hal Aver,
Harry Skinner and the Boilers Are
Said TO be Tarred With the
Same Stick.

To the Editor: 1t is amusing 10 one
who has associated with the So-oalled
Populist leaders and known Icy close con-
tact with them, aftes the last conyen-
ton, the afsp'rSng uuoalve that moves
then, in all their thoughts and actions, to
hear the high sounding epltsless slip froan
the ligss Of such fellows as Marion Butler
Had Aver, Ohio Wilson, Fountain Lloyd
and Gampaaay, such EXPANSIONS as "rlS-
cal" escoun,irel." sold out, gone
over 90 the enemy, Republican, ''trai-
tor" and 50 On.
All this denuncian1on, threats, eClacts,
abuse. and resolutams issued by Butter,
Aver and Company against Sl1alner and
O,mgaaly, lis intended To deceive and mis-
lead somebody. Especially is it intend
I'd 10 nassleaSi, blilldfold and hold the
honest rank and file Of the Popullst party
in is organization and under the con-
troll II the machine,
We do not endorse SINNERS move in
the election Of PT@tchard nor do we en-
iorse The policy Of Butler They have
both done wrong. but ~ she two, Butler
is the biggest sinner.
Skinner wanted % cooperate with the
gold bug wing Of the Republican party,
Bntler wanted TO cooperate with the so
called silver wing Of the Republican par
n. warch never had any existence in the
State, except in Butler imag alaT1oGl, and
never viii.
Skinner in the selection Of his politi-
cal cooperation exercised mere political
wisdom and common sense than But
Ter.
Skinner seized the substance; Butler
reached after THE shadow. Skinner
meant business: Butler meant 10 m.slead
and deceive somebody, TO play double
and then TO squeeze out at the big end of
the horn, and say, Il bold you so"
SINNERS course was natural, as ma
t1rraa as water flowing down a stream;
Buffers policy was unnatlIral, as unna-
tnral as water flowing up a stream over
the mountains.
SINNERS conduct was absolutely and
unconslitiOuly reasonable and consistent;
and Buffers policy was unrea somable and
inconsistent from start to finish.
Skinner was standing on a solid foun-
tfatfon, and fighting from behind breast
works; Butler was standing ON sinking
sands and giving with adj his strength
the Populistic mailing sign of distress.
Skinner as good general had survey
ed and scrutinized lthe ground upon which
the battle was to be fought and had
seventy pieces of heavy artillery I'm posi-
ton before the battle begun; Butler relied
upon his lieutenant generals, OHIO and
Hal who convinced him that the Lines of
battle had been well ordered, and that
he had at least sixty guns IN position
of heavier calibre and longer range, with
four times the amount OF amrnunltgon
to the gun as Skinner had, and by the
way Skinner furnished gunneTts for SIX
teen of Buffers heaviest .caunons and
they dropped each a dynamite bomb"
in Buffers camp every fire.
The lines being thus drawn, the bait
tie opened i'm dead earnest.
In twenty four hours, Butaer's ammun-
ition was exhausted, his gums all dis
mounted, himself left wounded on the
field, and both his lieutenant generals,
Ohio and Hal, located GIN their uncar-
peted offices upon a salary of two thou-
sand dollars each for services rendered
their chief, on the deserted field of bat
tie.
And thus ended the first real test of
Buffers generalsIip. He is badly
wounded and may die. He showed courage
if not Judgment After he received his
wound. he called for his promised re-
serves I'M the rear rank of THE Republi-
can party, supposed Ito be silverltes, but
they answered im tones below q whisper
dispatch at once one of your trrIsty
generals to the camp of the Democrats
and notify them, that if they viii sur
render to you, and make your cause their
cause, we will at once come from under
cover, upon the other condition, how
ever, that one of our number be chosen
as United States Senator instead of our
caucus nominee"
His trmsted general, 0tl1o, returned
from the Democratic camp and reported
being able TO give neither the sign nor
pass word of "a Democrat, nor the door
guard nor grip of q silyerate, they refused
to recognize him as a friend, therefore,
their communication was yea, yea, may,
nay.
This was the fight of Buffers life. He
came into his present Senatorshlp unex-
pectedly. This was fight for four years
hence. This is one time in his Life when
the balance of power did not balance, nor
serve his purpose. He was between the
unper and lower mill stones. He never
intended that Populist or a Democrat
should be elected 10 the Senate
He never intended to name his man
until he was sure of his election, and
he never did.
He never intended Thompson should be
elected That would have ended his
hopes in 1900 He did, however, intend
If possible to rally his forces ON nhomp-
son. and then transfer them to any Re
publican in the State who could draw
Republicans enough from Pritchard to
secure his election or to bring about
a deadlock
He succeeded in misleading Major
Guthrie, a good and true man, lie de-
ceived Thompson, if Thompson ever be-
heyed he desired at heart his election.
He deceived all his followers in and
ont of the legislature, if they ever be
laeved lie really wanted to elect a Popu-
dist to the United States Senate
The election Of a Populist would have
defeated him four years hence, and no
man knew that so well as Butler.
i