The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23
SENATOR .BUTLER'S DENIAL.
North Carolina PouIists Not Pledged
to Mr.. MckinIey.

to Mr. Mckinley.
Senator Butler emphatically denies the
truth Of the recently published statement
by former Representative Harry skinner
Of North Carolina and others to the effect
that the Populists Of North CaCrolina are
for Mckinley for President and that the
Senator himself IS not sincerely in favor
Of Mr.. Bryan
I will not condescend to dignity Mr.
skinner by making a reply to his charge, %
said Senator Butler He made similar
charges in the Peoples Party State Con-
vention, which not only he but every
delegate in the convention knew were un-
true and the result was that he was hissed
off the rostrum. He was so completely
repudiated in the convention This only
purpose in being there seeming to be to
make an attack upon me) that every mo-
tion he made was unanimously voted down.
l did not dignity him at the cOnventisI by
rising to reply to or by noticing a single
thing that he said. The convention itself
took care Of him"
Referring to a statement in the same
article by the former Republican Repre-
sentative. John Nichols. in which lie says
that many POpulists who attended the
State convention told Nichols they were
for Mckinley. Senator Butler said there
was not the least grcrud for such state
ments, and that if made at all which he
doubts, they are untrue. The Senator
also denied the statement attributed to
Nichols that many POpulists would vote
for Mckinley in exchange for Republicans
voting the Populist State ticket. He said
that there would doubtless be reciprocity
in regard to local matters
As an example OF the probable local
reciprocity Senator Butler said that the
POpulists are strongly opposed to the pro-
posed suffrage amendment to the State
constitution ard that though many Re
publicans are also opposed to IL his party
would probably make it an object TO the
Republicans to vote against the amend
ment by supporting some Of the latter's
county officers. He was certain that the
amendment would be defeated, and said
that Cyrus Thompson, the Populist nomi-
nee for Governor. must have been mis-
quoted as saying that he did not think So
In the newspaper article to which the
Senator's attention Vas called the follow
ing statement was attributed to Mr
Thompson. 4 judge by our convention.
and gave as a reason for not endorsing the
Democratic nominees for electors that no
one knows who the Democrats will nomi-
nate for President They might nominate
Cleveland, and If so, we would be com
mitted to him"
Senator Butler said that this was one
reason why the Populist State convention
had not endorsed the Democratic nominees
for Presidential electors, but that there
was another and better reason The plan
followed last year was for the Democrats
to nominate their own electors. and for the
Populists to nominate theirs and afterward
a compromise was effected whereby both
parties endorsed a certain number of the
electors Of each. This. he said, was done
in a number of States, and even in Senator
Jones own state, which had a large Demo-
cratic majority, three Populist electors
were endorsed in 1895. In North Carolina
there were six Democratic and five Popu-
list electors endorsed by both parties
This. said Senator Butler explains why
the Populist convention did not endorse the
Democratic electors. A compromise viii
doubtless be effected this year. as it was
last Under any circumstances the Popu-
lists would be foolish to think of throwing
aside their own electors entirely and en-
dOrsing Democrats" The Senator said
that the reason given by Mr.. Thompson
was also a good enc and that while his
party was willing to endorse Bryan electors
it was not willing to send men to the con-
vention who were instructed 10 endorse any
man who might be nominated by the Demo
Gratis.