The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-10
THE PARADISE OF The BOSS.

1t is a matter of common talk that the
Populist party of to-day, at least the
part of it that assemblies III conventions
and arranges for negro fusion, is the
worst boss-ridden party in existence.
1t is a matter of common knowledge
that one of the slogans of Populism Il
few years ago was "down with rings
and BOSSES" The Populist for pie and the
negro will tell you to-day that the Popu-
list party can not be bossed, that it has
been true to its creed straight through.
Let us see what the record says. The
Populist national convention which met
at Omaha on July 4th, 1892, adopted
the following as a part of its platform:
40 The Peoples party desiring at the
outset to secure permanent control OF
the party organization to the people, I'M
affected by the interests of those i'll the
public service, does hereby establish this
ordinance as FUNDAMENTAL LAW
OF PARTY ORGANIZATION. No
PERSON HOLDING ANY OFFICE
OR POSITION OF PROFIT, TRUST
or ENJOYMENT under Federal or any
State or municipal government Gnclud-
ing Senators, Congressman and mem
bers of the Legislature, State and Nat
ionaD SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO SIT
OR VOTE IN ANY CONVENTION OF
THIS PARTY, and a copy of this ordi-
nance SHALL BE ANNEXED TO
EVERY CALL of any future convention
of the party"
This platform was endorsed and af-
firmed by the Populist State convention
which met in Raleigh August 1, 1892,
and has been ever since characterized
and cherished as the New Declaration
of Independencep-the instrument in
which the purest Populism stands rooted.
The Populist convention of this Con
gressional district met here day before
yesterday. 1t was presided over by
Norris, Superintendent of Public In
struction for this county. Guy Barnes,
Public Printer, and r. B. Lineberry,
member of the Board of Agriculture,
were secretaries. J. J. Rogers, Register
of Deeds; Geo. Tonnoffski, assistant
clerk; G. B. Ray, keeper of work house;
J. @. Williams, deputy register of deeds;
w. ii. Chambee and Rufus Barbee,
county commissioners; Seymour Cham
blee, assistant at work house, were mem
bers of Wakes delegation. J. ]. Jen-
kins sheriff of Chatham was nominated
for Congress-. Mitchell, of Franklin, a
strong candidate, is State Senator. Tom
linson, of Randolph, is chairman of the
board of county commissioners, etc.
Thus throughout the entire convention.
Thus we have the promise of Populism
and the performance placed side by side.
The convention of a party whose funda-
mental law as declared by its platforms
is that no office-holder shall be eligible
as a delegate was composed of fifty per
cent, conservative estimate, office
holders and was so absolutely dominated
by them as to be the laughing stock of
it's own members
But the convention was not alone
bossed by its own office-holders. The
Populist bosses took their orders in turn
from the professional bosses of the Re
publican party. Republicans in this
city openly and contemptuously said so
yesterday.
Thus party that in 1892 and "a de-
clared not one of its own offce-holders
should sit in its conventions sends few
others to-day and the whole obeys UNI
ouastioninoly the orders Of n Republican
postmaster and Republican collector
of internal revenue.