The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-22
BETRAYING HIS PARTY
POPULIST CONVENTION OF Der
TIE DECLINED TO FUSE WITH
RADICALS.
BUT FUSION HAS BEEN ARRANGED
The POpliist Chairman of BERTHE County Caught
with The "TooI" on his Person TO Bur-
gIarize his Party and Let
the Negro in.

the Negro in.
Persons who visited the galleries Of
| the House of Representatives in the SEES
| sion of 1891 we're struck with the com
| manding form and presence and bear
ing eoquence of Mr.. NJ. L. Wood, of
BERTHE county, who was a member of that
body. Mr.. Woods main topic of oratory
was the Ocala platform with occasional
forays into the question of Republican
plutocracy and fostering of trusts.
Well, Mr.. Wood has attended another
Legislature in North Carolina. 1t was
the session of 1897. He was not II
member. He was here as herder for
the Republi ans-hearding enough Popu-
list votes to elect a gold-bug and
monopolist Republican as United States
Senator. 1t was then stated that Mr.
Wood was to be made n revenue de-
putty marshal or collector, or something
else for this treachery to the Ocala plat
form and his former oratory.
Time found the truth of this assertion
Mr.. Wood is now a Division deputy
United States collector under Carl e.
been supposed that the duties of that
office were to take brands of distillers
and to look after violation of the revenue
and to collect and look after revenue
taxes generally. In this we seem to be
in error Wood, like John Brady, seems
to be in office for other purposes, and
these are to assist the Republican ma
chine in carrying the State for the gold
bugs. Mr. NJ. ]. Raynor is chairman of
the Populist Executive committee III
BERTHE county. On the 18th day of Au-
gust 1890, Mr.. NJ. l.. Wood wrote and
mailed to Mr.. NJ. J. RaynOr, the follow
ing letter: a.
"Windsor, n. c., Sept -, 1893.
"M ]. Raynor, Esq, Powellsville, n. c.:
Dear Sir and Bro: / think it would
be wise to have your committee meet not
later than the 9th inst, and see If
terms of some kind cannot be made with
the Republicans. / think if we will yield
the Legislature to them this year, they
will give it to MS two years from now
when n United States Senator is to be
elected. This we will need at that time.
Democratic money is at work here to
prevent FUSION and | fear it will have
its effect if you do not agree on some
terms. Their primaries are to be held
soon, and if they do not agree on some
terms of fusion, we will be left in the
middle of the road, and this means the
Democrats will go in. | fear this will
be the end Of our voting. OF course you
can use your own Judgment. | merely
offer this as a suggestion. But rs the
Republican convention is to meet soon
and put out a straight ticket. Besides,
next first Monday is the time to select
poll-holders and registrars. 1t is abso-
lutely necessary to have names from
each township to keep the books, etc, so
you must see the Importance of quick
action.
Hoping you are well, / am,
Sincerely your friend,
IN. l.. WOOD"
Mr.. NJ. J. Raynor received this letter
on the 18th day of August. Now Mr.,
Raynor it seems, was in n neighboring
town doing some trading, Judging from
the following memoranda on the envelope
in which the letter was enclosed;
Matches, Tob., Cotton, Peach Jars. "
Here he lost the letter, and this accounts
for me having it in print. Mr.. Raynor
can get it by calling here for it. The
envelope also contains other cabalistic
signs, which we interpret to mean vote
taken on some question: and as the total
is AS. and that is the number Of Popu-
list votes in BERTHE county Populist
convention, we conclude that the vote
was taken in such convention and
BRO" Raynor was keeping tab" A.
reference to the Windsor Ledger also
shows us that this was the vote taken
in the late county convention of the
Populst party on putting out a straight
ticket. Upon the question, Shall we
name a straight ticket?" the vote was:
Yes, 2715; No. 2012. Yet, strange to say.
the convention only named botty
worm-eaten ticket; naming sheriff, clerk
and two commissioners. Another paper
of interest was found in the envelope.
and of course had been in Mr.. Raynor's
possession. 1t was as follows:
$40 the Populist Executive Committee.
I'VE will give you the following Of
ficers: Sheriff, clerk of court or county
commissioners We retain the other Of
fees for the Republicans. This is the
best and all we will do.
Respectfully.
REP. co. COM"
''S-30-1S9S."
The hieroglyphics are not difficult of
deciphering. They show the dickering
traffic and trading Of the Populist lead
ers with the negro party in BERTHE county.
These are documents make interesting
reading to those men who left the Demo
cratic party with pure motives.