The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-26
BUTLER'S STRONG TALK
SAYS CERTAIN POpuLIsTs WANTED
TO PLAY INTO HANNA's HAND
And That His Refusal to he n Party
to the scheme Causes the Crit
icism of himself.

Washington. June Ex-senator Butler
would express no opinion upon the action
OF tho Georgia populist convention In ad-
vance of the published reports of tho pro-
ceedines when told him OF tho small
attendance and of the anti-B Butler resoiu-
tons adopted by the Georgia popnlists ne
expressed no surprise and with smile
repeated his declaration that he did not
care to talk about the action of the Geor-
gia populists.
Briefly, however he did express his posi-
ton with regard to the criticisms that
have been hurled at him and at the Ma
,lonal committee of which he is chair
man.
what" asked, ARE the grievances
against your
"Thc professed grievance of the men who
are leading this movement" Senator But
Ter replied, SIS that the National commit
tee refused to put out an independent cleo
toral ticket In every state. When II be-
came evident that MIR. Sewall would not
withdraw from the democratic ticket, no
bod was more disappointed or more dis
satisfied at the failure Of MIR. Scwall TO
withdraw than were the members OF the
National committee. There were. however,
just two courses which could be pursued
by the committcc--etlhcr TO play into the
hands of the Mckinley managers by put
ting out separate electoral tickets or to
throw ourselves into the breach and do all
in our power to elect Bryan In spite OF the
embarrassing and trying conditions thrust
upon us The committee putting the wei
| fare OF the country above party naturally
chose the latter course. Those who are
now leading In the criticism OF the COM
course"
DO not the rank and file approve tho
posi,ion OF The committee" / asked.
Yes replied Senator Butler ''bu, the
mon demanding conference probably
have larger following than there are
members of our party who. II they under
stood the situation. would have Endorsed
the demand for separate electoral tickets.
| Every populist including The members OF
| tho National committee, WIS disappointed
more or less at the results OF the last
campaign. Now these men. the leaders IN
| this movement. some of whom wanted 10
SEQ Mckinley elected, take advantage of
this dissatisfaction to charge that II Is
all due to the action of tho National com
mlttee, But the masses Of che people s
party are patriotic. and therefore the fol-
| lowing of these would be leaders Will grow
less each day
Other populist leaders here are inclined
to treat the Nashville gathering as I'M
important except us conference Tho
members from the Western States, where
the party has its greatest strength. say
that the movement s attracting very little
attention.
There have been some meetings held In
Kansas said Jerry Simpson, In talking
OF It. and some delegates have been ap-
pointed. but very few OF them Will attend"
One Of the Western members told of u
meeting at Topeka, believe II was, where
two men constituted the whole thing Ono
chose the other to preside. Then the lay
member. who was not In the chair, placed
In nomination n long list OF names. the
chair asked for other nominations. and
hearing none. declared the delegates form
ally chosen. This was told as fact
to show the small interest which the con-
ference Is exciting IN tho West, OIL.