The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-11-03

arolina would never accept you as
their leader.
Beginning your life as a democrat,
you We're weighed in the balance and
found wanting by the democrats of
North Carolina. The populists then
accepted you, honored you, trusted
you, and relied upon you as their
chiefest champion of their creed I'M
til they found you had betrayed and
deserted them.
The one obscure spot in your record
is the date of your enlistment under
the republican standard. After dill
gent search and research 1 have not
been able to learn when or how you
got into the republican party. Be
that as it may, let me assure you,
Mr.. Butler, lin all kindness, the re-
publicans of North Carolina are as
firm and determined today as they
were in 1906 against your methods,
your suggestions and your dictation
in matters political.
Whether justly or unjustly I need
not pause now to determine-the peo-
pie of North arolina have long ago
registered a verdict or reputation of
your political record. The political
party boom or faction which wears
the brand Of Butlerism cannot win SO
long as the truth of recent history
shall remain fresh in the minds of
living men.
1 am writing bluntly but frankly,
and with all kindness. 1 have long
ago thought that if you had aban-
doned politics in North arolina when
you abandoned your home in this
state, and stuck to your law practice
in Washington, it would have been
infinitely better for the party if not
more profitable to you. This is the
sentiment of those who wish to be
fair and just to you. 1t is a source
of regret to the friends of Mr.. More
head that you have attached yourself
to his boom. 1t can be of little ser
vice to you, while it has crippled
this young man and handicapped
him with a burden he cannot carry
to victory. AS a politician you stand
discredited and repudiated, not be-
case of the convictions you profess,
but because Of the parties you have
betrayed and the principles you have
deserted in the past.
You have tried all parties and to
none have you remained true. Dur
ing your short career in the republi-
can party We find you in one cam
paign lining up and fighting for those
you are now pleased to term the
ring bosses,' and in the next cam
pagn we find You assuming leader
ship in the ranks of the insurgents.
If the Almighty hates a gutter, 1
tremble to contemplate his final judg-
ment against you. You are a born
gutter. You have yuite every party
and every faction and every friend
you ever had. and now let me to be-
seech you to quit Mr.. Morehead and
the republican party of North Caro-
lima.
1t is due you that I should tell you
further that the people, and particu-
larry the republicans of North Caro-
lima. look with suspicion upon any
political movement with which you
are identified. 1t is believed by the
people that for years you have main
| tanned luxurious offices in Washing
ton, not for the legitimate practice Of
the law, but largely for the barter of
political or party patronage. 1t is
further believed, and the people so
| regard you, as an office broker, a pat
ronage vender. a trickster in politics,
wire puller, a political tramp with
| out a job. This is the reputation YOU
enjoy in this meek of the woods -
| and I am honest enough to tell you
| the simple truth,
Surely it is not necessary to remind
you again that the republicans Of this
country and this state will never sub
| NIT TO your leadership. You know
this. And you know. too, and the
people know that you have in mind
some selfish design in espousing the
cause of Mr. Morehead. and that if
you cannot use him you will seek to
destroy him as you did Judge Adams.
But l ned not further PURSUE you
along this line.
II there is anything certain and
definitely fixed in the field of politics
| IL Is the celf-evident, fact that But
lerism can no longer dominate any
political party in North arolina The