The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-07
THE TWO VIEWS HELD
SENATOR ATWATER SAYS BUT
LER Is STRONGER THAN EVER.
GOVERNOR RUSSELL GETS A ROAST
Some Of the Members Declined His Invitation
and Said Tney Wanted Nothing to Do With
aMan Who Surrendered to The Corpo.
rations at Critical Moment.

Iat0nS al a IrlUCai WolHcit'
There was much talk yesterday about
the action of the Populist Executive
Committee. There is little room to
doubt that the ma jorty of the committee
was not in accord with Senator Buffers
plan of holding the convention on the
24th of May-just a day prior to the
time for holding the Democratic State
convention. All those members in favor
of fusion with the Republicans were
hostile to that proposition, fearing that
something might come out of it 10 pre-
vent the support of negroes and gold
bugs, to whom they are welded. Others
opDosed it on the ground that ii was
not good party policy.
While there is no denial of the facts
printed in the News and Observer. there
was much difference rs to the conclusion
drawn.
IF you think it was a Waterloo for
Butler. You are mistaken" said a man
who voted for the date fixed. 1t shows,
as to Butler, that he cannot control the
committee. but nothing else He got
the chief thing he wanted-a resolution
that no action looking to nominations
for office shall he taken until after the
State convention. That ties the hands
OF all those who have already been get
ting ready for fusion deals in some coun
ties. Some of the Republican-Populists
wanted the convention postponed until
June. so as TO hold it about the same
time the Republicans should meet. IT.
would be as correct to say that they
were annihi,ated aS to say that Buffers
goose was cooked.
Senator John w. Atwater, Of Chat
ham, scouts the idea that Butler was
downcd.
.You can say for me- said Mr.. At
water, that Senator Butler was not
set down ON by a vote of 16 to 4. At
the present time Senator Butler holds
a warmer spot in the hearts of every
Populist in North Carolina than he ever
has before. The rank and file are all
with him."
/ asked Mr.. Atwater what was the
outlook and he was, as ever, ready
with his answer.
You see.' said the Populist from
Chatham, .since the silver Democrats
got religion at Chicago, they've been
regenerated and we wish to be with
them.
There will be a proposition made to
the Democrats and it viii be a fair
one for cooperation, but we don't think
they'll accept
rs it such that they cannot acceptw
! asked.
oh. no." he continued, mot that ex-
actly but we don't want them to get
too good hold ON the Legislature and
we amt going to do it, either. The
proposition will be fair one, TO meet
on equal ground, unite on silver in Con
ola VIII all
the way down to the county officers
Mr.. Atwater says such is Senator But
ler's wish. He says it is his wish and
he believes the proposition will be made
by their State convention in good faith
Mr.. Maury Ward. of Duplin, for
mer member Of the Legislature. was not
inclined to talk much about the action
.'But,er has the confidence of the party"
he said.
Oyster Commissioner Theophus
White, of Hartford says the proceedings
published in the News and Observer
were as correct as if they had been
copied from the secretary's record. Mr..
White said he couldn't understand in
the Legislature Of 1895 and 1897, how
the News and Observer got everything
that happened. and how it gets the
doings of secret caucuses and conven-
tons, '.but you always do it," he added.
Another member of the committee
Joined several of his friends on the
streets yesterday morning and as he
came up his salutation was Did you
ever know Ohio to keep as quiet in his
life as he did last night?'
'.He knows he's dead" came from
one of the crowd, and then they all
laughed.
Ohio is put down by his associates as a
Republican-Populist.
/ asked an influential Populist, who
knows how the cat is going to jump as
well as the next one, what was the feel
ing of the Populists in the meeting.
"A majority of members Of the COM
mttee, said he. are in favor of con-
tinued Republican fusion. Most of them
have Offices they are afraid they will
lose if there is any change of plan.
One of them told me that he could keep
in the receipt of his good salary if he
could get the solid negro vote and Il
third of the Populist vote in his county,
and he did not propose to give that mp
for silver or any other principle OF the
party. While Il majority Of the Execu-
tive Committee was in favor of Republi-
so Populists here report that the voters
in their counties are sick of it, and are
anxious for union of forces Of the adj
vocates of free silver, as on the electoral
ticket of 1896. If that can be secured,
it will please nine-tenths of our voters"
/ asked him what was the meaning of
calling the convention just week be-
fore the Democratic convention.
He said: THAT is plain. 1t is the
purpose of the Populists to make an Of
fer to the Democrats to join forces.
elect nine silver men to Congress, and to
cooperate to turn out every gold bug
in the State and put silver men in their
places. SO far as many are concerned.
the proposition will be made i'll good
faith. with the hope that it will be ac-
cepted. Others. who are OF heart oppcs-
cd to joint fight of the silver forces,
will seek to make the proposition to the
Democrats so unfair and hedged about
with such stipulations that the Demo