# Revolt of the Tar Heels ## Metadata * Author: [James M. Beeby](https://www.amazon.comundefined) * ASIN: B002BA4USU * Reference: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BA4USU * [Kindle link](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU) ## Highlights On January 22, 1894, Butler wrote Richmond Pearson, "If those who are opposed to the election methods of the Democratic Party in North Carolina and disgusted with the Democratic hypocrisy and incompetency at Washington do not concentrate their thought to redeem North Carolina to the people this year they will be guilty of folly that will be little less than a crime." According to Butler, cooperation was mutually beneficial to both parties because without it there was no chance for ballot reform, and without ballot reform no other active reform was possible." — location: [1114](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1114) ^ref-12719 --- The rank and file of the Populist and Republican parties seemed to engage in local cooperation without the sanction of their respective executive committees.The rank and file of the parties in many ways drove the deliberations of the state leadership. Party activists reasoned that only a well-organized cooperative movement between the GOP and People's Party had any chance of defeating the machine rule of the Democratic Party, especially in counties where Democrats controlled the election machinery. In April 1894, Thomas Settle sent a letter to Republicans throughout North Carolina about the nature of relations between Republicans and Populists and asked if the two parties should cooperate in the election of members of Congress, the state senate, and the lower house. Finally, Settle wanted to know if such cooperation was desirable from a Republican standpoint. Settle received scores of replies to these questions. R. P. Hughes wrote Settle that the rank-and-file Populists in his county favored cooperation with Republicans and therefore "the ball should be put in motion or can early a date as possible." — location: [1121](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1121) ^ref-14942 --- Demos." A prominent African American politician and editor of the Raleigh Gazette, James H. Young, wrote Settle that the political situation now looked favorable. He also informed Settle, "The feeling between the Republicans and Populists is good and friendly and in fact they are both inclined to fusion." Young expressed his opinion, "I favor this fusion heartily hoping thereby to defeat the Democrats."27 — location: [1128](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1128) ^ref-13941 --- The Populist Party held numerous rallies during the early summer months. At a "great rally" in Edgecombe — location: [1133](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1133) ^ref-33928 --- County two thousand people attended a day of speeches by newly converted Populist William Buck Kitchin and Populist stalwart Harry Skinner. According to James B. Lloyd, Edgecombe County was thoroughly organized with five clubs "and their influence will surely be effective." Lloyd informed Thompson, "We mean business this year and we are determined to have our rights." — location: [1134](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1134) ^ref-47202 --- Democratic Wilmington Messenger noted that the GOP appointed a committee to confer with Populists on the issue of cooperation. According to the paper, this Republican committee met with the Populists for several hours to agree on a cooperation package. The Republican committee suggested to the Populists that they nominate Judges William Faircloth and David Furches for the state supreme court ticket.33 — location: [1156](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1156) ^ref-40369 --- These members were Harry Skinner, Cyrus Thompson, Captain A. S. Peace, Marion Butler, and recent converts W. H. Kitchin (from the Democratic Party) and William A. Guthrie (from the GOP). — location: [1175](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1175) ^ref-33402 --- Attention now turned toward the Republican state convention scheduled for August 30, 1894. Throughout — location: [1203](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1203) ^ref-58201 --- the preceding eight months several key Republicans corresponded with Butler on the question of cooperation, and inmany localities the rank and file of the two parties engaged in cooperation. But these maneuvers might come to naught if state chairman J. B. Eaves remained in control of the GOP and dominated the convention in the same way as in 1892. — location: [1203](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1203) ^ref-43694 --- Although the convention endorsed a protective tariff, it favored the free… — location: [1207](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1207) ^ref-45198 --- Most importantly, the platform favored the abolition of the county government system and major reforms to… — location: [1207](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1207) ^ref-29730 --- The cooperation agreement between Populists and Republicans was not fusion. Each party kept its organization intact and separate. Cooperation occurred in different ways throughout North Carolina. In some cases the two parties jointly selected local and county candidates, while in other areas one party nominated a partial ticket and waited for the other party to fill out the remainder of the ticket. In some places one party merely ratified the choices of the other party; and in others, where the two parties could not reach an agreement, each party ran its own candidate. Finally, in certain areas where cooperation between Populists and Republicans… — location: [1212](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1212) ^ref-30209 --- Many white Populistsrefused to back the African American congressional candidate Henry Cheatham in the majority-black Second District and, instead,… — location: [1221](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1221) ^ref-34428 --- Spears refused to back down even when the Third Congressional District executive committee under the leadership of African American A. R. Middleton, and later the state… — location: [1225](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1225) ^ref-17779 --- Problems seemed to arise in the Fourth Congressional District over the presence of an African American, James H. Young, on the Wake County ticket. Populists threatened not to vote for Young and thereby throw the entire cooperation ticket in the Fourth District into jeopardy. As a result, the cooperationists met in Raleigh on October 19 to straighten out tensions between the GOP and Populists. According to the News and Observer, prominent Populists and Republicans tried to iron out their difficulties. J.C.L. Harris reminded the… — location: [1228](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1228) ^ref-24727 --- account of race." Populist William Strowd then took the stage and stated that he was for "co-operation from start to finish." Strowd also told the audience he would vote for Young and, indeed, for any African American "whenever it is necessary to do it to save both the white… — location: [1231](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1231) ^ref-7879 --- Democratic Wilmington Messenger that, amazingly, the paper published, Russell accused Democrats of out-right fraud. He stated, "The fact is the Democracy will carry everything. They couldn't though if they would have elections. They don't do that. They just name their man and put him in office. They won't count the votes.… — location: [1249](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1249) ^ref-58660 --- Hoyt explained, "He (Spears) was asked to withdraw in favor of Thompson by the district Congressional Committee, and their action was endorsed by the state executive committee." Spears ran as a candidate, Hoyt believed, because the Republican congressional convention nominated him a week before the Republican state convention and the Populist state convention adopted the cooperation movement. — location: [1473](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1473) ^ref-20061 --- Why Butler favored Pritchard is difficult to ascertain. Perhaps it was because Pritchard had fewer political enemies within the GOP than J. J. Mott and Oliver Dockery, — location: [1675](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1675) ^ref-36519 --- At this juncture Butler and the powerful business magnate Benjamin Duke, the owner of the Duke Tobacco, became associates. Simply put, Butler needed money for his paper and Duke, a known Republican supporter, hoped he could use his money to influence Populists in the state legislature. Populist rhetoric in the 1894 campaign promised to end the power of the industrialists in the United States, and Duke no doubt hoped that by closely aligning himself with the Populist leader in the state, Populists would spare his business from any reform legislation. — location: [1686](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1686) ^ref-3911 --- John Fowler introduced a bill to reduce the legal rate of interest to 6 percent. Despite the opposition of Democrats and their stalling tactics, it eventually passed into law. — location: [1696](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1696) ^ref-11179 --- In addition, there was no secret ballot. A voter had to hand his ballot to the judge (a Democrat), who then placed it in the ballot box. It was up to the judge to be honest in casting the vote. The election law was clearly unfair and designed to reinforce Democratic hegemony by making it very difficult for African Americans to vote. For over twenty years the law worked as Democrats envisioned. Even in African American or Republican districts the justices of — location: [1721](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1721) ^ref-18910 --- However, Populists and Republicans did not open up local government to complete local control because they feared the repercussions of such laws in majority-black districts. In order to prevent so-called Negro domination in the east, Populists urged the creation of additional commissioners. As a result, the law called for two additional — location: [1755](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1755) ^ref-52565 --- commissioners appointed by the district's superior court judge if five electors petitioned for the additions on the basis that the "business of the county" would be "improperly managed" if such appointments were not made. Each petition had to be supported by two hundred voters, at least one hundred of whom must be freeholders. The two new commissioners could not belong to the parry with a majority of the commission. In other words, both Populists and Republicans hoped to prevent all-black county commissioners in majority-black counties.' — location: [1757](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1757) ^ref-61142 --- It is also worth noting that the white Republican leadership and the white rank-and-file Republicans also opposed African American social equality and favored a very limited amount of African American office-holding. Populists exhibited no more — location: [1804](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1804) ^ref-16214 --- "Co-operation last year was for principles on state issues. The coming fight is a Presidential one, and we must co-operate for principle on National issues."'4 — location: [1943](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=1943) ^ref-29168 --- Eventually, a compromise plan pushed by Butler emerged. Bryan would receive the nomination but the Democrats' vice presidential candidate, Arthur Sewall of Maine, would not. Butler hoped that this would save — location: [2095](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2095) ^ref-2825 --- year. The major dispute was between those Populists led by Butler who favored cooperation with Democrats and those Populists led by Harry Skinner who favored fusion with Democrats on the — location: [2133](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2133) ^ref-33850 --- James Lloyd of Tarboro, — location: [2146](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2146) ^ref-23446 --- After Guthrie's nomination, Butler sought to cement his hold on the convention. He personally nominated Republican Oliver H. Dockery, the "Old War Horse of Pee Dee," for lieutenant governor and called him "one of the most magnificent — location: [2152](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2152) ^ref-37442 --- faced the very real fact that the rank and file of their party was enacting cooperation despite the clear disapproval of their leader at the recent state convention. By September as many as fifty-three counties (60 percent of the counties of North Carolina) had adopted Populist-Republican cooperation, with most located in the eastern section of the state and in the lower Piedmont. — location: [2190](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2190) ^ref-19223 --- did favor such cooperation were mere office-hunters without true Populist-silver principles. On October i6, he wrote to Butler that Populist-Republican cooperation "has not only left me stranded as a candidate for governor; but has turned over substantially our party organizations to the Republicans." As a result, Guthrie began to move toward the Democratic Party. On October 27, he pleaded with Populists to vote the Democratic ticket. This came at the worst possible moment for the Populist — location: [2237](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2237) ^ref-33977 --- Populist-Republican forces swept the state. Bryan carried North Carolina by about 19,000 votes, and Populists increased their U.S. — location: [2255](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2255) ^ref-8573 --- The Populists/Republicans out-numbered Democrats 43 to 7 in the state senate and 93 to — location: [2261](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2261) ^ref-59407 --- system that has prevailed in our state for so many years." Russell also received congratulations from one of the leading industrialists of North Carolina, Benjamin Duke. Duke invited Russell to spend a week in New York. In turn, Russell invited Duke and his father to come and visit Wilmington, — location: [2280](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2280) ^ref-26029 --- Butler declared himself against the re-selection of Republican senator Jeter C. Pritchard to a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate. — location: [2313](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2313) ^ref-57753 --- Skinner argued that their policy for cooperationin 1896 would have brought a resounding success for Populists, and that now "Skinner and Thompson are the leading Populists in the state and we should confer together with our known friends both as to future policy of our party and as to the immediate action of the election of United States Senator." In addition, Skinner warned Thompson that he did not want the Populist Party to "be dominated any further by the desires caprices or ambitions of any one man." — location: [2331](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2331) ^ref-32592 --- Harry Skinner led the "maverick" Populists in their refusal to support Butler's position against Republican Pritchard for the U.S. Senate. Skinner argued that the senator must be a Republican of that parry's choice. — location: [2354](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2354) ^ref-19860 --- He argued, "Without Republican assistance no populist can have been elected to any state office, Congress or local office save an excepting two counties. Every man elected to the Legislature by Republican assistance was charged that if elected that he would vote for Pritchard." — location: [2417](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2417) ^ref-9112 --- William E. Fountain, — location: [2475](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=2475) ^ref-54361 --- Whitakers Rattler, August 6, 1892. Unfortunately, only a single copy of this local Populist paper survives. — location: [3584](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=3584) ^ref-2065 --- Oliver Dockery to M. B., August to, 1896, MBP, SHC; — location: [3798](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=3798) ^ref-60028 --- Collins and Goodwin. Bibliographical Sketches of the Members of the General Assembly of North Carolina, 1895. Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, 1895. — location: [4114](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=4114) ^ref-46465 --- Mangum, D. C. Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Legislature of North Carolina, Session 1897. Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, Printers and Binders, 1897. — location: [4119](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=4119) ^ref-65119 --- Contested Election Case of Oliver H. Dockery vs. John D. Bellamy from the Sixth Congressional District of'the State of North Carolina, 1899. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899. — location: [4173](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B002BA4USU&location=4173) ^ref-50705 ---