Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-19

HOW KoLB AND HIS FOLLOWERS HOPE To Oct
REvENoE-A POSSIBILITY OF TAKING THE
STATE FROM THE CLEVELAND ooLuxS-
LIVELY CAMPAIGNS PROBABLE IN EVERY CON-
aREssIoSAL DISTRICT.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
BrRMINGHAN, Ala. Aug. Is. 1892
The latest move on the political chess board
in Alabama is the fusion of the Kolbites and
the peoples party.
BY the kolbites is meant those who followed
r. +. kolb in his recent bolt against the regular
democratic ticket in this state and voted for
him as against Jones.
The peoples party being in its infancy in
Alabama, happily welcomes any coalition or
fusion that will strengthen il.
As has been set forth in my previous letters.
kolb Was defeated for governor, though Jones
won by only 10000 majority. The Kolb men
charged fraud and swore they would make con-
tests and that IL kolb had a square deal
he would be seated governor. The
election waf held on August I. 1t was some
days after the election, when the fact developed
that Jones was clearly and fairly elected. and
that as kolb had no reasonable grounds for a
contest such proceeding would be Of no avail.
A MEANS OF REVENGE.
The Kolb leaders then were filed with anger
at the defeat Of their ticket. They said Jones
had a majority Of over ten thousand and that be
had control of the legislature. the body before
which contest would have TO be brought, SO they
determined upon revenge for being cheated
out Of their rights" they saw fit to term it,
Their revenge, and only revenge. was to help to
carry Alabama against Cleveland and Steven
son.
More than q week ago a call was issued by p.
q. Bowman. chairman Of the Kolb committee
~ sha
yesterday to take action in the matter
outlined above. At the same time
George F. Gather, state chairman
Of the peoples party executive committee,
issued a like call for a meeting of his committee
here on the same day. The fact that both COM
date excited some suspicion. Knowing
as the people did. that the Kolbites
| and the peoples party leaders had
been afiliating much since the recent election.
The two parties had become very friendly: they
had held joint meetings at Galway during the
session Of the state alliance and had together
pronounced their condemnation OF Cleveland
| and the Jones wing Of the democracy in Ala
bama.
However, the Kolbites, having gone into the
state night as democrats, calling themselves the
"Jeffersonian democracy" they have been re-
garded as such, despite the fact that their open
afhliation with third partyites and republicans
| was known.
FUSION FOLLOWS.
The two committees met at the appointed
time and places. The morning session was
held in separate places. The meetings
| were in secret and what was done
was known to none except those present.
1t was given out when the peoples party COM
mittee had adjourned for dinner that they had
decided to put out candidates for Congress in
| every district in the state.
In the afternoon the committees met again,
but this time both were in the same hall and a
! love feast followed Perfect harmony prevailed
Both seemed to have one and the same object in
view, and that was to make war on the regular
democratic ticket.
JOINT CONVENTIONS CALLED.
The result was fusion of the two parties,
and Chairman Bowman Of the Kolbites and
Chairman Gather Of the peoples party then
promulgated and signed the following call:
The members Of the Jefersonian democracy
and the peoples party Of Alabama are requested
to meet at the court house Of their respective
counties or such other place Is NAV be desig-
mated on Saturday, September 10. 1892 in mass
| meeting or convention, for the purpose
OF expressing their indignation on ac-
count of the frauds and outrages per-
petrated in the recent state election in Ala
bama, and also to appoint ten delegates TO a
| state convention to be held in Birmingham on
Thursday. the 18th of September, 1892. to NOM
nate candidates for Congressman for the re-
| spective districts and presidential electors and
also to transact such other business as may come
before said convention.
THE apportionment Of representation will
be fixed by said convention. and the delegates
from each district respectively will nominate
the candidate for Congressman from that dis
| trict
''In counties where delegates have already
been selected their ratification by these mass
meetings or conventions will be sufficient and
meet the demands"
WHAT IT MEANS.
After the above call was issued the two COM
mittees adjourned The fusion means that
the Kolbites and peoples party men will make
| . fight to carry Alabama for Weaver and Field.
the peoples party nominees, for President and
| Vice President.
to be the purpose Of the fusion, although many
democrats believe that il is the beginning Of an
effort to deliver the state to Harrison in No
vcmber.
Chairman Moseley of the republican state
committee and several other prominent repub-
licans we're here the day the fusion was effected,
but they were not present at the meeting Of
the committee. There are many reasons
to believe that coalition be-
tween the kolbites, peoples partyites
to down Cleveland in Alabama 90 far q these
| three parties are concerned.
| Kolb, the defeated candidate for governor.
was at the joint meeting OF the two committees
and it is supposed acquiesced in their action
VIEWS OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
The republicans say they are well pleased at
the turn affairs have taken, and that Ala
bsma is sure to 60 against Cleveland. On the
other hand leading democrats assert that the
democratic party is now in better condition to
fight its enemies than ever before They argue
that heretofore the followers Of Kolb have been
claiming to be democrats, but now that they
have openly fused with the enemies of de-
mocracy they cut themselves loose from
all allegiance to the party. They de-
clare that il Is easier 70 fight
an open enemy than secret one. Democrats
argue further that in leaving the party Kolb
cannot carry thirty per cent Of his following
with him. He received many democratic votes
in the state election from men who voted
for him - . democrat, believing that
he was such and had to bolt the
party organization In order to get Justice done
him, and wise men, the party leaders say, will
not follow Kolb to vote fer Harrison or Weaver,
since he has severed relations with the de-
mocracy,. the party which they have always
f6s Kolb leaders argue sh.t the alliance win
pull togethsr regardless Of the democratic
party. They asssrt that Cleveland h their
and that fhnv aftor tsin~ in