Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18
MAY LOSE THE STATE.
Alabama Democrats Have a Fight
Before Them.
CAMPAIGN OPENED BY ALL PARTIES.
Some of the Elements in the Con-
test.
THE NEXT U. s. sENAToRsHIP.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

The NEXT u. s. SEN ATORSHIP.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 1S.-The state
campaign in Alabama, which will end with
the election on the first Monday in next
August has been opened by all parties. The
organized democrats have been the last to
enter the fight. In fact, 1t has been to all
appearances with a degree of reluctance
that they have gone into the great battle.
The Jeffersonian democrats or Kolbites
and the peoples party, which have prac-
tically united forces, were the first upon the
scene Of action. They are urging on the
campaign. The republicans are close behind
them and are now taking active steps to
effect an organization of their own and
promise to prove an important factor in the
contest.
The democrats. being the party that is at
present In power. find themselves on the de-
fensive. They are, in fact, as yet without
a leader. There are several very prominent
men In the party who aspire to the leader
SNIP but the contest for this honor inside
the party lines is already very heated and
promises to prove a bitter one. Gov. Jones
Is serving his second term, and according to
nor again.
The contest for the democratic nomina ton
at present lies between Congressman Oates
and Capt. Joseph F. Johnston OF Birming-
ham. 1t was generally believed until very
recently that Col Oates had the calr' on
the nomination and could secure 1t simply
for the asking. However, rumors have
been afioat that Oates had withdrawn In
favor of Johnston, who, these rumors said
would be the party nominee because he had
stronger pull with the Kolbites than
Oates.
On the heels Of these rumors came a
shower OF denials from Col Oates friends
who assert that while he has never an
nounced positively that he was a candidate
Tor the democratic gubernatorIal nominal
ton, he has always said he would not de-
cline the honor should the nomination be
rendered him. and his friends certainly have
not said that he Is down and out in favor
of any other candidate
capt. Johnston was candidate in 1880,
when a combination was effected whereby
the strength of Johnston, Crook Richard
son and Jones was combined in the demo-
cratic convention on the last named to de-
feat kolb. The combination succeeded, and
Jones was nominated and elected. Capt.
Johnston was the second strongest man In
the convention then. before the combine was
enected, kolb being the strongest but lack
Ing few votes of the number necessary
to choice. Johnston is much stronger now
than he was then, so his friends say and
they believe he will secure the nomination.
Col Oates friends are equally, II not more,
confident.
But it is one of those times in Alabama
when the democratic nomination is not
equivalent to election. The democracy is
opposed by three parties-the Kolbites, pop
ulists and republicans-who threaten to
combine their strength on Kolb and sweep
the day.
Kolbite-Populist Convention.
Chairman GOODWIN of the Jeffersonian
democrats or Kolbites and Chairman
Gather Of the peoples party have each is
sued a call for a state convention of their
respective parties to meet in Birmingham
February 8. 1894. These parties have agreed
to pool forces and unite all their strength
on Kolb for governor They will meet on
the same day and at the same place Chair
man Goodwin says Kolb and the same
ticket that ran with him last year will be
renominated.
Goodwyn's call for this convention con-
cludes as follows: I'm the selection of dele
gates every white voter, irrespective of past
party affiliations, who is in favor of a free
ballot and fair count and in favor of the
free coinage of gold and silver at the pres
emf ratio, who agrees to support its nominee
Is invited to participate in it's primaries,
conventions or mass meetings All who
favor rendering it impossible for a repeti-
ton of the great political crime of 1892 in
1894 are earnestly urged to unite with us in
this effort to rescue our beloved state from
threatened anarchy, and to restore peace
and good order
Republican Convention.
When the Jeffersonian democratic or
Kolbite committee met here to call their
state convention short time ago, Chair
man Moseley of the republicans was in con-
ference with them. 1t is alleged that he
rNrD taA1
party to Kolb. This caused a number of
prominent white republicans to hold
secret conference at Cullman a few DAYS
ago. The proposition of Moseley to turn the
party over to Kolb was denounced, and a
state convention of white republicans called
to meet at Birmingham January IL, as the
call says: ITO consider in a free, frank and
fair manner the course to be pursued by the
republican party in Alabama at the ap-
preaching state and congressional cleo
TONS
Edmund Morton Smith, secretary of the
state republican committee. is leader of this
movement against Moseley and Kolb
1t Is said that at the convention to be held
here in January the republicans will decide
to make straight-out fight of their own
ties alike, and will put out a full state re-
publican ticket and republican nominees in
all the congressional districts.
The republicans have been very much d.
year In both the state and national cam
paigns they were badly split up Moseley is
the leader Of the organized republicans but
many subordinate leaders in the party
charge him with trying to exercise a die
tatorship, and as a result there has all along
been much opposition to him as a leader.
This opposition seems to have been given
a fresh impetus by the charge that Moseley
Is trying to turn over the party to Kolb
Democrats would like very much to see tile
republicans make an independent fight for
they fear If they pool issues with the Kolb-
ties and populists. the candidates of the or
ganized democracy at the next election
would be beaten. Much depends upon the
course that the republicans will pursue.
The Kolbites and populists combined are
estimated to be very nearly as strong as
the democrats. The addition of the republi-
cans to Kolbs force would, 1t is feared by
many prominent democrats, mean his elee-
ton.
Successor to Senator Morgan.
The legislature to be elected next August
will, in November following, elect a sue
cessor to United States Senator John T.
Morgan. Until recently there was a good
deal of talk Of opposition to Morgan on ac-
count of his views on financial matters and
the fight he made against the Wilson repeal
bill in the Senate This opposition, if any
really existed has died out to all appear
ances. His election seems assured IL the