Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
STATE CAMPAIGNS.
Political Correspondence From Many
Cities.
WHERE CONTESTS ARE CLOSE
The Outlook in New York. Alabama and
North and south Carolina-Enect of the
Peoples Party In Michigan Opposing Flu
sion
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. o.

RALEIsH, NC. August 5, 1892
The campaign Of 1892 in North Carolins is
already memorable, presenting features abso-
lutely novel here. The chief Of these new
features are three in number, being the third
party, the split in the republican party and the
proposals for q fusion Of those parties The
third party is, Of course, the great disturbing
element and the uncertain quantity and the
prime cause of all the other complications.
The democrats, in all previous campaigns
confident of success, are this year divided, one
half being confident and the other half fearful
Of the third party. The fearful ones at one
time nearly caused panic and every assertion
made by an assertive third party man was
eagerly taken in. The policy Of the party was
quite early decided to be to make the federal
elections bill the chief issue and the changes in
1t have been rung by every speaker since the
campaign opened The democrats, having in
all the previous campaigns faced only their
veteran enemy, the republicans, cannot figure
on the result In triangular contest or in case
the third party and republicans fuse. They
want three tickets in the field, and hence the
statement by the republicans that they would
put up o state ticket was very agreeable.
NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT THIS YEAR.
In previous years no money has come into
this state from the national democratic COM
mittee, it being always assumed that North
Carolina was assuredly democratic. But under
the new rating Of 1892 the national committee
has put this state in the doubtful list. and
whereas heretofore II a matter Of little
public moment how North Carolina stood this
year the result Of the election is of much gen.
ernl interest There are reasons to hope for
outside aid, both with money and speakers
The state executive committee has begun an
early campaign. The convention was held in
I'M RI in he fall nntr
few days ago. All the speakers to be secured
are now engaged and a little later there will be
twenty five or thirty of these.
For many YEAR, joint discussion between the
gubernatorial candidates has been the custom
In this state. The democrats maintain that
in such a canvass they have gained nothing be-
cause their speakers attracted audiences which
otherwise the republicans could not have had.
The floating vote in this state has always been
very light. the Line of division between the two
great parties being sharply drawn, so that each
party made few converts II IL not vet known
whether there viii be this wear such joint dis
cussion. but not few democrats oppose it.
and think this is a favorable occasion TO do
away with the old custom which has put great
burden upon all nominees for governor. There
are n few who go further and think guberna-
torial Candidate should not be required 10 make
speeches. week after week. all over the state
Big as the majorities of the party has been in
previous years they have not, a rule, been
won by thorough organization. for an ex-secre-
tary Of the state committee said only a few DAYS
ago IN speech that only once did the commit
tee have accurate Information of the partv's
strength ten DAYS before the election So the
demand this year is for better work, and this
demand arises from an exigency.
Therefore it is that money and speakers are
needed Ii was asserted that the democrats
would be met with small audiences, as the third
party people. through their newspapers have
constantly warned their adherents not to at
tend discussions. But your correspondent
hears daily that there elarge audiences wher-
ever the democrats go. The number and quality
OF these audiences have led not q few demo-
cra1s to believe that the reports Of disaffec-
tion are magnified and that the result of the
election will be wslkover like that in Alabama
The latter election has brought joy TO the DEM
ocratic heart here and has depressed the third
party.
THE THIRD PARTY.
twill be noticed that the third party is al
ways SO termed in this state. The name sspeo-
PIES party is never used by either democrats
or republicans. The third party was born four
years ago. One day while your correspondent
was talking with the late Col Polk the latter
said: The alliance has made some requests
1t will next make some 'demands.' And so it
turned out. and from these demands sprang
the third party. Polk saw ahead. He was the
avowed himself first. Others are only now ex-
pressing themselves and some are yet silent
So much Of the work OF the third party has
been secret that even Vet il cannot bear the
light. 1t was born in the alliance and the most
persistent efforts have been made to induce all
the alliance men to enter its ranks and remain
there The claim IL made that there are so 900
alliance men In the state and that 60. 900 will go
into The new party. Mr. Mewborne one of the
executive committee Of the state alliance and
an earnest third party man, was asked how
many of his party he thought would be heard
from at the election He replied that he be-
heved Weaver would get 5000 votes. The
estimate OF some well-informed democrats is
that 20, 0cO will be far nearer the correct figure
AL this is clear proof how uncertain a quantity
the third party il. One of its great draw back
IA lack OF leadership. Really it has no leader
Polk was its very life in North Carolina The
men now at tbs head of its affairs are W. r.
Lindsey. the chairman of the state committee:
Marion Butler, president Of the state alliance,
ana Harry Skinner The latter, whose de-
mocracy had been for months more than sus-
pected. left that party only few days ago.
The people in the towns know little or moth
Ing OF the third partys strength the Latter
being only In the country. Elias Carr, the
democratic candidate for governor, assured me
that in q number Of sections the third party
men bad actually bulldozed the democrats, and
many persons do not hesitate to say that Mr..
Carr himself was scared.
BuLLpozISo A DEMOCRAT
This is something never before heard Of in
North Caroina-the bulldozing Of democrat.
One Of the reasons why the democrats and re-
publicans have 80 far found il impossible to
estimate the third partys strength il that in
sections and even in some townships II is really
strong, while In others adjoining il has no
strength AZ all After q careful look into the
matter John b. Eaves, the republican chairman.
% assured me. There is no doubt that the
great majority Of the third party is ready for
fcsion with the republicans in order to elect a
state ticket Last week DIR. Mott, who is the
head Of one wing Of the republican party, in
an address. published in the chief organ Of the
third party. openly proposed such a fusion.
and In an editorial the paper (Which is the one
formerly edited by L. J.. Polk promptly ac-
eepted It. Ii has been observed for a year that
the third party speakers and writers are far
more harsh toward democrats than toward re-
pubhcans- and that the latter have early ad-
vices of their plans. The republican papers
now openly give advice to the third party
There Is another strange feature OF the third
party. some Of its members are for the ma
uonal and state tickets and congressional tick
cts. while Others take the singular position of
supporters OF Weaver for President and Carr,
the democrat for governor. Heretofore in
North Carolina the only people who have thus
divided their vote have been some persons from
the north IL is odd that of these split-yote
third party men not n few Law claim 10 ha,,sr