The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20
THE PoPULIsr CONVENTION
IL Session all Night-The skinner
Faction Whipped Ous-Busler Carries
His Piston seheme-Wh hat the Lead.
ers Say Of the FtSht-The Troops I'm
Camp - Mystic shriner~ knish hts
Templar.
Messenger Bureau.

Raleigh. ". g. May -.
The populist state convention was In
session here all night. a~djournIng at 6
O'Clock this morning. The delegates dsd
not get TO bed at all. The result was
another triumph for Senator Butter. who
defeated his o.d-time antagonist. Con-
gresham Skinner by a vote OF . to Z.
This was practically the same as In
SINNERS defeat TWO years ago. Senator
Butler told me yesterday morning, as
was stated in this correspondence. h a
he was sure OF victory. but IL did not
SO appear until I O'Clock yesterday az
iernoon, when some Of his lIeutenants
arrived.
The convention did not elect n perma-
lent chairman, Secretary of State
thompson, until after 3 O'Clock this
morning. Senator Butler was on the
stage. Harry Skinner on the floor. But
Ter literally dominated the convention.
He made the repor for the platform COM
ferring 10 Cuba, the issue of bonds and
the failure OF the railway commission
10 do its duty were a~pplauded.
Butler termed as lies the statements
that he was trying TO lead the populists
INTO the democrats party and that he
expected a place in w. J. Bryan's cab-
net.
Auditor Aver offered a resolution In
viting cooperation of all the free silver
forces in North Carolina.
Congressman Skinner offered re~oiu-
tions opposing any fusion. SINNERS sub
stitute was defeated. Butler had 6E5 and
Skinner M votes. This means the popu-
lists Will submit a proposition to the
democrats next week for cooperation.
The resolutions invite and party who
Will cooperate with the populisis to join
IN electing nine free silver and anti-mo-
nopoly congressman. six judges OF high
ability and free from partisan bias:
z W. va .nftaiFA-n 70 ~7az- a. s--l
an anti-monopoly legislature which will
oppose the 99-year lease Of the North
Carolina railway and use all lawful
means to set il aside. oppose free passes
and favor reduction OF passenger and
freight rates and telegraph and tele-
phone rates. and which will oppose gov
eminent by injunction. monopoly. etc.
The resolutions also provide for a con-
ference committee. authorized 20 confer
with any party or faction OF a party
which declares its endorsement OF the
above principles and urposes and which
faVors Cooperation with the populist
party TO carry them into effect on such
a basis as will preserve the integrity Of
the populist party, preserve TO ii not less
than its present representation in both
state and national affairs.
Cyrus Thompson was elected chairman
of the state executive committee and the
following as members of the central com
mittee: H. w. Aver. J. r. Lloyd. VI. II.
Caldwell, f. A. Moye. L. T. Garrett and
j. b. Schulken. Every man on it is in
favor of Butler save Garrett.
Senator Butler was asked this morning
at 10 o'clock his view of the status of af-
fairs. He said: II told YOU yesterday
what would be the result. / have never
fooled you. My impression of the con-
v%ention and its work are in black and
white. The facts are too plain to be mis-
understood. I told you yesterday We
would make an honorable proposition.
whipped out OF his boots, wanted to
make the adoption of the resolutions
unanimous. Our proposition is made in
good faith. If accepted, it will be car
ried out in good faith"
Skinner said: 1T was a very close and
hot fight in the convention. 1t was so
sharp that Butler had to abandon what
his newspaper in several issues had said
as to the proposition 10 the democrats.
and submit a set of resolutions which are
at least not on their face for fusion and
which are full of doubt. There was SO
much uncertainty about results that
Butler had to strike out the names of
Chairman Jones and Towne and ask the
convention to endorse his personal letter
and Bryan'S open letter. Butler got a
majority of the convention. not squarely
and openly, but in his usual manner of
indirection~ 7 have lost nothing in the
fight. / made it against odds"
Otho Wilson. SINNERS mainstay. said:
Il don't see how what was done can be
for the best interests Of the party. +
endorse the PLATFORM"
3. F. Keith, the free silver party man.
was a delegate in the convention and
says he thinks everything done is all
right, and that the defeat of Skinner IS
a complete route.
There were two negro delegates to the
populist convention.
In camp here now there are twenty-one
companies with a strength Of l. 60. There
is literally no sickness. The weather is
delightful. Two battalions of the Second
regiment began drills today. at the state
fair grounds
News comes from Statesville that there
is a case of smallpox there. 1t is iso-
la ted.
The Mystic Shrine had a glorious spe-
cial meeting here. A lot of it's members
did not get to bed at all last night. The
thirty-five candidates who passed were
from three or four states.
The grand commandery of Knights
TempIar had a street parade this after
noon here and met in regular session
tonight.
Rev. DR.. Hartley Carmichael. rector of
St. Paui's church, Richmond. will preach
the baccafaureate sermon at the Agricui-
tural and Mechanical college here Nay
10Th.
Railroad Earnings in 1897.