The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-24

Ter has opposed the proposition and has
been trying to organize the populists
against it,
The Greenvile Reflector dominates
Col. j. Bryan Grimes for Secretary of
State. After citing that Pitt has not
been represented on the State ticket in
good many years, the Reflector says
Of Col. Grimes:
MIR. Grimes is in every way qualified
to fill the position with highest credit
Ills fitness can nowhere be disputed
and aside from this he is farmer
Thoroughly identified With all that tends
to rplift and advance agricultural IN
terests.
AS a gentleman there is nothing too
complimentary that could be said of him.
and The Reflector takes pleasure in pre-
sentipg his name for the nomination."
The Populists will hold a national con
vention. The time and place are soon to
he decided, says the Washington Post of
yesterday Senator Butler, of North
Carolina, the chairman Of the Peoples
Party has sent out Il letter to each of
the national committeeman OF that or
gani2ation asking them number of
questions. the answers to which VIII de-
termine the plans and purposes of the
Populist party.
~ long }@o as the spring of 1898 the
Pcpulists decided to hold their conven-
ton in advance of all parties in 1900
continues the Post This was a conces-
sion to the middle-of-the-roao or radical
faction of the party, and was proposed
for the purpose of compelling the Demo-
Gratis to nominate Bryan after the
Pop1liSts has first named him. The
-of-the-roaders, however, went off
anyway and selected Wharton Barker
and lgnatius Donnelly as their candi-
dates for President ana Vice President,
50 that the impelled agreement may moi
he considered any longer binding Sena-
tor Butler refers to this matter in his
letter, which is as follows:
Sir: AS you know, the national COM
mEttee at its last meeting at Omaha, in
June, 1898, passed a resolution known as
the Omaha agreement, to the effect that
cur national convention should be held
at least one month before the old party
conventions We're held.
THE Republican National Committee
has just held a meeting and fixed June
18th as the time for tneir next national
convention. The Democratic committee
has been called to meet February 22nd
to fix a date for their convention They
viii probably hold their convention
week or two before or a week or two
after the Republican convention.
i write now to get the consensus of
opinion of our National Committee on the
following points:
First. Shall I cali meeting of the
National Committee to fix the time of
onr next national convention?
Second. If yes, what time ard place
do You favor for the committee meet
ing?
hrd. Or shall take the vote of the
National Committee as to the time of
holding the next national convention by
referendum vote?
Fourth. If you favor the referendum
vote. what date do you favor for the ma
tional convention?
Fifth. Shall / invite the Silver Re
publican National Convention to meet at
the sane time and place with us?
Il submit the fifth question because
notice that at the recent meeting of the
National Executive Committee of the
Silver Republican party there was
strong sentiment expressed in favor of
holding their convention at the same time
and place as ours, with the view OF
agreeing on the same national ticket
Senator Butler expects that the conn
mitteemen to whom this letter has been
addressed VII reply promptly. and that
within the next two weeks he will be
able to decide definitely what course to
pursue. Senator Allen of Nebraska, who
is a member of the coTnrnitte. is decidedly
IN favor of its meeting in WASHINGTON
some time IN February next 1T will he
good thing he told the Post reporter
for us to get together and talk over the
situation. | do not know, of course.
whether a majority Of the members of
the committee will agree with me. They
may decide that a vote can be taken by
mail. and thus avoid the expense of
journey to this or some other city,
"V'ill the Populist convention be held
first?"
'sThat is one of the questions to be
decided. / do not think it makes much |
difference now, for it is we'll settled that
Bryan is to be named by the Democrats |
and by the Populists. Wherever or
whenever the convention is held. it will
be a large and representative gathering, |
equally as large. believe. as the one
which we held in st. Louis in 1896. 1t |
is a mistake to believe that the Populist |
party is disntegrating. We may have
lest some votes i'm the East, but i'm the
West we are still well organized and
strong. We made a good fight in Ne
braska last fall, but that contest was not
a circumstance to the one we will make |
next year. We will carry Nebraska i'm
1900 by $4,000 majority without any
Doubt"
Senator Allen saws that there has been
10 talk in his political circles as to the
Vice Presidential candidate on the Popu- |
list ticket with Bryan.
Amos ]. Cummings, writing about the
present Congress, says:
Congress is now entering a maelstrom
of events. Currents and colnter-currents |
are multiplying and struggling with un
fury. An epoch is on such as
this nation has never before experienced |
Like the XXXIXth Congress, this Con-
gress will be distinguished from all its
and become historical.
1T is a Congress replete with oppor-
tumities. and one of great possibility and
Champ Clark may fiji |