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Marion Butler and American Populism

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Dr Hunt's book explains as well as can be explained, the complicated politics of the 1890s. Marion Butler- National Chairman of the Populists in 1890 - was a University of North Caroling graduate born in Salemburg, NC in 1863 during the Civil War. On graduation he returned to Salemburg to teach school, then publish the Caucasian newspaper from Clinton. He served in the Legislature and was instrumental in establishing "Normal" colleges to produce teachers and trying to rein in the railroads which were then under construction throughout the state. Elected by the State Senate to the U.S. Senate, he served one term and then launched a brief but controversial law career. His one important trial was before the U.S. Supreme Court trying to establish the validity of N.C. state-issued bonds issued during the Civil War. The Supreme Court waded into the mess and then had a second trial, not satisfied with their own decision.

Butler's brief Senate career supported establishment of Rural Free Delivery; purchase of a national battlefied at Moore's Creek, N.C. and providing funds for the U.S. Navy to purchase the USS Holland, its first line submarine.

He drew the ire of the News and Observer, Raleigh, N.C. newspaper which consistently challenged and dogged him. His legacy, however, was a strong Republican party presence in his home county which continues to this day.

Hunt goes into mind-boggling detail as to the difficulty of making any coalition stick together. His account of the Populist Convention of 1896 bristles with details and troubles.