The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-10
SKINNER PLAYS MUM
Works the Silent Contempt
Racket on Senator Butler,
81 REGARD THE HARMONY
"OF THE pOpULIST P'FRTY
ABOVE MIR. BUTLER"
SAID HARRY,
WITH A Pl0Us UPLIFTING OF THE EYES
Mr.. Skinner Believes the Rank and File Of Pop
uIsts will do Anything The Leaders Say
ModeslIy Declares that he has Made
the Best Representation Of The
First Since the War.

Congressman Harry Skinner came TO
town Yesterday. ION professional bust
ness" he said. and, while waiting for
the business. Father Abbott and Mr..
Isaac Meekins, the latter the Republican
candidate for Solicitor in the First Dis
trict, sat with Mr.. Skinner to keep him
company. Mr.. Skinner smiled blnndly
as he said professional business" and
the reporter really did not have the heart
TO ask him whether ii was in his pro
fesson as lawyer or politician. Beside
it was unnecessary.
Mr.. Skinner was shown the recent trib-
ute paid him, in the columns of the
Caucasian Ivy Senator Butler. For a
moment the Congressman showed lit
tie touch Of the raw. but it soon dis
appeared behind the usual mask; not
however,until he had said with n bit
of contempt: Il am perfectly willing
for Mr.. Butler to have his opinion. !
regard the harmony of the Populist party
as above Mr. Butler and | can't say any
thing aainst Mr. Butler that would not
hurt the Ponulist party"
The Congressman put just the faintest
little emphasis on the Mr." to accen-
tuate his avoidance of the more lofty title
of Senntor. lie did not mind it's be
ing inferred also that he could SAY
things an he would Mr. SINNERS
paternal solicitude for the Popuist arty
was most touching. ''The Populist party
as 4 whole will act without reference
toAIr Butler or Mr.. Skinner" he de-
clared with sublime self-depreciation in
his tones. 1t was evident that Mr.. Skin
ner had suffered n return Of the hot
habit in his talk and conversation was
changed. Has not fusion between Pop
ulists and Republicans been arranged al
ready? Not to my knowledge" he re-
piled. ''Will it be shortly?" The Con
gresham sweetly disclaimed the gift of
prophecy. Really he could not tell. He
made no attempt to conceal. however,
that fusion was nightly to his liking.
He even limited that 50 much might be in
ferred from his record. He was asked il
the populist leaders could deliver the
goods TO the Republican party. '"The
overwhelming vote Of the party will GO
together" said he, ION the lines the
party maps OUT His attention was
called to the fact that the convention
had met and therefore there was no
means by which the party could express
it's wishes. He said the committee could
arrange it. Evidently from Mr. Skin
ners point of view the wishes of the
party was only a beautiful expheuism.
Mr.. Skinner did not think there was
any doubt about his being renominateG
when the Populist convention meets al
Edentonon the 25th. ION what issue
do you propose to fight the campaign
after your nomination." Then Mr..
SINNERS modesty breathed out in all its
pristine freshness. "On the issue that
have made the best Congressman since
the war;" That was almost too much
for Father Abbotts stoicism. He got
up and walked to the door to see whether
anybody was listening. Mr.. Skinner
talked freely about himself and seemed
moderately familiar with his subject.
His vote inCongress had favored every
thing in the Populst and Democratic
platforms. Thinking maybe it had fa-
vored everything under the sun he was
asked whether his vote had bestowed
any tokens of esteem on the Republican
platform also. Only in the matter of pro
lection he replied The Congressman
seemed well content with nls feat of
standing on one platform and voting for
two sothers.