The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-11-29
WHAT OF THE FUTURE I?
OPINIONS or LEADING p0PuLiSTS As
TO BEST METHODS OF ADVANCING
sEfoRMS.
An Opinion From Minnesots and One
From Massach asetts.

rom hhbsAEAus~oS
The CAUCASIAN desires TO publish
from tins TO time the opinions OF
Popnlist Chairmen and committee
meu, and also the opinions of high
privates" from the ranks Of the par
~ 81 to the beet method OF advan
cling the great economic REFORM for
which the Peoples Party stands.
We publish this week q letter TO
Chairman Butler from Mr. Austin, q
mem Der of the National mitsee
of NJ nnesota, and au interview from
Mr.. WashourD, Treasurer OF the Ma
t.onal Committee
NIB. AUsTIN's LETTER.
ST. PAUL, MINI, Nov. Is h, 1900.
Sena or Marlon Butler, Washington,
d. G.
Dear S,r:-wlth the experience of
1896 and 1900 before "a [ am con.
gluced that fusion upon N.toral
ticket, through the MEDIUM OF Ma
,ional convention. is no longer prac
,ical EOr d. sieable.
Fusion is only applicable to local
CONDITIONS and circnmsfauces. The
e ,ited States is too large t. hold the
party under obligations to FUSE with
he same clement Ia all localities.
Had the Popui'sFs 1T Sioux Falls
nomlnsted q candidate Of 'hoir owu
for norh President aud Y se Presi
dent, Mr.. NJ K nl.y won d have re-
ceived fewer electoral votes than
has uow to his credit.
Win \ ticker Of our own Wa ecu 4
Rave left the three great parties t
their respective fates IN such states
~ Pennsylvania and M.ssiss ppI
Oar vote cuts no figure In ihos
ates, but in such states as Nebras'
ks, Colorado a I'd K .nsss unton Of
strength I'D have been secured on
the anti NJ, K inley electors 10 q ia
bett-r advan age than Was Obtained
10 the recent camnaipn. Without
our endorsement Mr.. Bryan wOult
have p"led m aeh stronger vote IN
such states as New j srsey, ID slawsr:-
Maryland, Connecticut aud Nv
York. With an independent ti"ke
of our own in the f Id Mr.. MeK'u
ley would have poIled a much small
r. vo, q in SIuth Dakota. K .nsss ant
Nebrask. In the east, Dame crat
voted against Mr.. Bcyau because b.
vas a Ponul,st IN the wesr, Popu
SITS vote against Me-. Bryan becaus,
hs was a Democrat. Ia see king L
unite our forces We have weaken. {
them. L ks two drowning mn tn
parties have held each hers hand
while siuk'ne. By cue fusion on tb'
National ticket We have driven a.
contrary interests into one solid bod
Al d tber-hJ greatly augmented tne,
hghtirg pow,r. aud have a, the sam
/ mo destroyed our own b st ener
gies in the various localities through
out tho United S ates.
Democracy>is tbs natural friend o
the PopuistJ in the WIS. and north
wts', stranger in the east, and
natural enemy In the south. There
fore, The Populists must be left fire.
to &C ut themselves 10 local condl
tions as they fad hem, to fuse o
cooperate 10 their respective local.
ties with any friendly force the.
may fl nd at hand
have no faith in our liking TO
he so-callrd M diie-of-,he R "a
Pupulist party Tue motives an
leaders they have had in the PAT
outs them ont of consideration.
plead for the great Peoples Part
tnat has come out of two great na
tional campaigns with clean hand
aud nutarnishel honor. Tue par,
tried the experiment, fought btavely
made great patriotic sacr hc IS, dis
charged 4 heroic duty. aud Is nos
free fr m ell obligations. Grea
credit is also due to the Democrat
party that fought with Us. Individ
uals IN both the fusion parties mad
mistakes. ltis only natural taa
such should have been the case
Sound judgment must properly die
tate that no censure be made upo.
either party as Whole because 0
the unavo dsole mistakes of q feV
of the individual members. Expe
sience mas brought wisdom. To
wisest thing to d, now is that eacl
party shall loose its hold upon tn
other aud with mutual good wishe
strike out for the shore.
True reform must come through
Congress-, the several state legisla
lures, and the judiciary. In tryip,
to elect executives, we havo decrsas
ed the number Of both Democrat
and Populists in Ssnates and House
of Representatives, national ant
sta'a.
| can conceive Of no circums stan
ces which would jus ify any Other
than an alb ,olutely independent &C
ton IN the next presidential CAIN
paign. / believe members OF the
party sh ,uld be LETT free, and, In
fact, Q. couraged, to fuse or Cooper
ate with amy friendly element, OF
use any other hon ,rable methods
in lUc. mpaigns, that will bring
them victory. Especially should
this te their priv llese on Legislative.
and judicial candidates. Wherever
except Onally great men, with un
usually strong personal and politl-
cal qua!iiicatlons-for example.
Governor John Lind of Minnesuts
are available for state or lesser
local positions, co operation with
anoth r party for their eis ction
mt st continue to be advisable and
could In no way be Injurious win. r.
I'll 9 party otherwise keeps itself in
dependent. But in all such cas- 6
the party In that particular iocal.-
~ should be deemed the sole Judge
vi the situation and in no wire sue
j CT TO censure by the National or
ganizatiOn because OF local met mods
applied. lfsuch a course il adop-
ted at once. / believe The mum Der o.
Populists in legislative halls will
increase rapidly This policy night
tn row the election Of the next pres.
ident into the House OF Representa-.
tives, but by that time we would
have enough men in that b dy to
take care Of 1t. Better risk 1t there