The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-22
CHAIRMAN SIMMONS
To CHAIRMAN BUTLER
Declines to Treat With the
Sham Republican Ticket
A DESERVED ROAST
Given to Political Tricksters Who
Carry Out Republican Orders.
POPUllST CONVENTION ON AMENDMENT 7
It Did Specifically Declare That The Amend
ment Was Not Party Issue and There
fore no Issue is Presented.

lore no ISSUE is TTeScntcu'
Chairman Simmons wrote a letter
to Chairman Butler yesterday thar
shows that the Democrats have no in
tention of letting the Republican,
Populist machine change the issue of
this campaign.
The issue is White Supremacy vs..
Negro Rule. The Republicans know
that upon this issue they can make
no headway because nine-tenths Of
the members of their party are ne
oroes. They have therefore arranged
with the Populist leaders to act as the
the fire for them. In consideration of
Republican support of Senator Butler,
the Populist machine has agreed 10
take the lead and try to get up a hot
fight between white men, and thereby
let the Republicans restore negro rule
and then vote for Butler for the Sen
ate. TO the accomplishment of this
secret fusion. by which the Populists
get Butler and the Republicans get
negro rule, Butler addressed the fo.
lowing letter day or two ago to Mr..
Simmons. Democratic Chairman:
Raleigh, n. c.. April 20, 1900.
Hon. F. NJ. Simmons. Chairman of the
Democratic State Executive Commits
tee. Raleigh, \. C.:
Sir: The candidates of the People
Party for Governor, and the candi-
dates for other State offices. and the
candidate of the Peoples Party for
United States Senator. desire Il joint
discussion with the candidates of the
Democratic party for said positions
respectively. in order that the voters
of the State, who must, in next All
gust. cast their ballots in approval or
diSapproval of the proposed Constitti-
tional Amendment. the Election Law,
and other issues in the State may hear
the facts and arguments that can be
presented by both sides, and render
their verdict accordingly. If your
committee and the candidates OF your
party will agree to such joint discus
sion, | will be glad to confer with yoI
at once. with a view to arranging =
series of appointments to begin imme-
diately after the close of the list OF
appointments for your candidates al
ready announced, extending TO and
including May Sth, 1900.
Very respectfully,
(Signed.) MARION BUTLER.
Chairman Peoples Party State Execu-
tive Committee.
TO this letter Mr. Simmons made
the following reply:
Raleigh, n. G., April 81, 1900
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman Peo-
pies Party State Executive Commit
tee, Raleigh, North Carolina:
Sir: | received this morning your
letter of the Goth inst, in which Won
suggest a joint debate between the
candidates of the Democratic party
for State Offices. and the candidates
of the Peoples Party for like posi-
tions.
The question to be presented to the
people for their approval in August
and around which all other questions
center. is the adoption of the Consti-
tutional Amendment. The Peoples
Party in its late State conventions
while urging objections to the amend
ment, declared concerning it, I'VE do
not make it a party question" and
expressly said that it must be deter
mined by the Judgment and consci-
ence of each individual voter" In
your letter you ASH for joint debate
upon the amendment, thereby diSclOS-
ing purpose on the part of the or
ganlzation of your party TO commit
your party to a position which it has
expressly refused to take in its State
convention. This attempt TO raise an
issue not made by your convention Is
manifestly the result of secret I'M
derstanding with the Republican par
ty and in line with the action of your
party organization since 1894 which
has been employed to foster schemes
of cooperation with the Republican
party and to prevent the individual
voter of the Peoples party from par
cipitating in the naming of candidates
or debating its policy. 1t is a matter
of common knowledge in North Caro-
lima that there is perfect under
standing between the leaders and the
Federal office-holding element of the
Peoples party and the Republican
party. and in pursuance of this under
standing they have secured the nomi-
nation of a State ticket and askel
for a Joint debate in order to divide
and divert the attention of the white
people while their Republican allies
are engaged in their schemes of at
, tempting to again fasten negro rule
on the State. Later on, by these same