New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-23
THE STRUGGLE IN ALABAMA
POSSIBLY THE DAYS OF FRAUD ARE
NUMBERED.

THE DEMOCRATIC MAssEs-THE TYRANNY OF
sELFCHoSEN RING-THE RESULT
IN AUGUST A pREsAGE OF THE
ELECTION IN NOVEMBER
rFRox STAFF CORRESPONDENT or The rBBUSK]
Birmingham, Ala. Sept. 22.-Tie political co.,
ditions which make Alabama to-day extremely
doubtful State, and which point to the success next
November, for the first time In over twenty years. Of
an ant-DemOcrauc electoral ticket apparently
Of sudden growth. yet they the inevitable result
OF tendencies and methods in state politics long
pursued without suspicion OF their disorganizing
and disruptIng effect Alabama is State with
100000 Inhabitants, and a voting population OF
perhaps 100000. But 1t is not too much to say
that for the last tn years the whole political power
OF the has been gradually concentrated
In the hands Of the $4,000 white voters who live In
the fifteen sixteen counties OF the socalled Black
Belt.
Their progress to complete control in State politics
was an easy and natural one. Years ago. when the
negro vote a genuine to Democratic
cess the whole strength OF the party organization
in the State turned to its subjugation Of the
black counties, first by force and then by the easier
and more effective methods Of fraud. The small
minoriucs Of white Democrats there. Installed at
last In local power not slow in discovering the
vast increase in party strength and representation
which could be gotten out OF a fraudulent mnnipula-
ton OF the black county voting lists BY increasing
each year the full strength of the voting popula-
ton the vote returned cast for Democratic candi-
dates the black counties gradually gained In Demo-
cratic conventions disproportionate strength that
the fifteen or sixteen negro counties, with not
than quarter OF the total population have for years
had great power in the Democratic organiza-
oil Nfty xxhfta Of fho
state Out Of the concentration of this extraordinary
political power In the Black Belt counties the
Montgomery Ring which until this year has been the
unchallcnged fountain head Of all authority In the
Democratic organization and in the State, debating
every party nomination. from that Of Representative
In Con gress Governor to that OF county sheriff or
probate Judge.
So far-rcachIng and Onerous q political machine
could not fail arouse bitter jealousies and deter
mined opposition. Its rule, however, though becom-
ing yearly arrogant and oppressive, was never
seriously disputed until the Govemorshncampaip Of
1890. In that the ring candidate Thomas
G. Jones, railroad lawyer of Montgomery. was OPP
posed by Reuben F. Kolb. the State Commissioner OF
Agriculture. Kolb defeated after spirited fight
for the nomlnaOn by the vote OF the black counties,
inflated at the primaries by the usual methods He
acauiesced in the result and went on the stump for
his successful opponent, with the understanding that
he should have the nomination at the expiration OF
JOneS'S term IN the interval Naptaili hop DeSauc
an active member OF the state Farmers Alliance and
took prominent part In the work Of discussion and
organization.
Early this year, six months In advance OF the
convention Governor Jones announced that he would
be a candidate for n second term. Captain koio ac-
cepted the Issue thus made By the Montgomery
Ring which had plainly resolved on Furnishing him
for his activity In the Alliance movement and his
attitude OF political independence. Another canvass
within the party was begun, which lasted Tor nve
months and extended into every voting precinct IN
the State BY frauds at the primaries In the oiacR
counties and the OF the State machinery to seat
the contesng delegates from counties carried by
Kolb the Jones managers obtained small majority
again in the convention. Seeing no chance OF fair
treatment at the hands Of the ring, Captain koo
declined to enter the regular convention, and the
delegates chosen In his Interest from majority oi
the white counties OF the State met In hall OF tner
own and gave him the nomination, which they con-
sdered be had really won in the Democratic primary
elections. Each convention sent delegates to Chlcago'
the Kolb men opposing Mr.. Ceveland's candidacy
and the regular delegation giving it a halfhearted
support The regular delegates were seated, and their
yotes-1s out OF the 22-made Mr.. Cleveland's nomi'
nation possible the first ballot.
Returning home in July, both sides went to work
in earnest to carry the State. To all appearances
the odds were wholly in favor OF the Jones ticket.
Behind 1t was the formidable power Of the State
r,,,hlossIv all opposton Every newspaper in the
State was pledged 10 the regular Democracy, ana
almost every lawyer at Its service on the
stump All the election machinery was In the con-
troll Of the Jones managers who dictated the choice
Of inspectors in every county subdivision Inc hoao
forces were led by the candidate himsef, a frank
and eheery talker and man OF easy and engaging
manners but handicapped by the lack OF means and
OF organizing skill. Associated with him were r. l.
Bowman a young lawyer OF Birmingham, VINO soon
developed. a brilliant stumplng and managerial ca
pacity. and T. c. Manning, youthful Third party
orator Of some reputation. who had been prousht
into prominence by being chosen to nominate General
Weaver before the Omaha Convention. Inc o'a'"
Farmers Alliance came openly TO Captain Koios
support AS did fraction OF the Peoples party
The Republicans OF the State put no ticket In the
field and left themselves free to vote ior either
Kolb or Jones In the white counties, however, tho
Republican vote generally gravitated to the Mold
side.
without n campaign fund.- without newspapers, and
with scarcely half "A dozen efficient public speakers
NJ, tba stump the Kolb canvass had TO face thou
sand difficulties 1t was carried on courageously,
however, and developed everywhere an uheApec'o"
strength. The methods which had built up tho
Montgomery machine had left jealousies and pittef-
ness all over the State, and In every county Amos.
there were Democrats who saw that the ume III"
come for their revenge.
The vote cast In August was undoubtedly IL s"'p''e
tn The leaders on both sides. The Jones's managers
had endeavorcd to anticipate their losses In North
Alabama and other white sections OF the STATE oy
arranging for largely swollen fictitious plurates IN
the BLACK Belt But even the extraordinary irauas
committed there fell short OF balancing It's losses sI
tained elsewhere, and the hnai p'urh"'y Vi io'ooo
onnounced for Jones was obtained only By throwing
, ad,t,onal ballot boxes and other manpalatons,
a,,ar the first count had been footed up. The ma
,oritv for Jones tabulated in Montgomery as omcia
,ouo ten days after the election was between 10000
ord II 600 since then by order OF various county
Judges. boxes thrown out In several whlte couhues
rov. b.cn opened and canvasscd, reducing Joness
a a,o.,tv nv something like 1000 so that unless