Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-09
Split in North Carolina on Silver
and the Tariff.
DISCUSSION THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
Populists Hard at Work on the
Farmers.
REPUBLICANS KEEPING QUIET,
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

clans in this state Is beginning to turn
from national affairs to those within tn,
commonwealth. The republicans adhere I,
the strict policy of keeping quiet. Thos,
OF them who aspire to be leaders are doin,
all they can to aid the populists, and wher
thrown with the latter always agree with
them. They also subscribe to populist news
papers and keep up with their line OF
thought.
The democrats are greatly divided on the
silver question and the tariff The re.
pUblicans all tell them that this years
financial troubles are all due to a fear that
the democrats will tinker with the tariff
and do away with protection. Some demo-
Gratis are as strongly opposed to free trade
as any republicans, while others are en-
thusiastic free traders. The latter con-
tend that legislation must be in the inter-
est or the farmers and that this great agri-
cultural section must have a showing
those who make this argument have stead
lily contended that the silver bill must be
SO arranged as to do something for the
south, which they term debtor section. q"
On the other hand, it is to be noted that
many of the manufacturers In the state
are among the most earnest opponents of
anything like free trade.
1t is really difficult to get a dozen demo-
Gratis together without the immediate be-
ginning of silver discussion or of one on
the tarln. This Is a sign that next year
there is going to be a great deal of con-
tehtlon over platforms at the congressional
conventions, and at the state convention
OF the democrats. 1t will require the adop-
ton of some earnest measures for the res
toration of silver to some sort of footing
to pacify many of these people, and the
pcpulists will try to get inside their ranks
every man who shows any dissatisfaction
with democratic measures or men.
POpuIists' Hard Work.
The populists have worked hard since last
April. Much of their work has not been
known, but they have had lecturers all
over the state to talk to the farmers. Not
content with working here in an off wear
they have sent speakers and money to Vir-
GINA, one of the speakers being their
leader, Marion Butler ex-president of the
State Farmers Alliance. 1t was Butler
who. last year. when alliance president.
attempted to capture the democratic state
convention, and who, when fooled. got out
popullst ticket and worked like a beaver
10 oefeat the democrats Had the repub-
ncans coalesced with the populists the
democrats would have been beaten by some
thousand votes This year Butler is sneak
ing everywhere in the state. Harry Skin
ner, VINO, in such a queer way, rejected
the populist nomination for governor last
year, Is aiding him. Eight lecturers have
spoken in various districts to the farmers
not upon agricultural, but political mat
ters. The alliance went into politics last
year; Clearly 1t will again take the same
step next year. There seems to be no rea-
son to think anything else.
The populists will make a fight for Com
gressmen next year in all the districts
Ihey are now establishing an organ in
the first district. They had nine or ten
newspapers in the state during the last
campaign. OF these but two or three, s1,r-
vive. Marion Butler has two papers. and
Is said to have an immense subscription
Hst' as these things go in North Carolina
he Is very bitter against Cleveland and
another part of his stock in trade is abuse
or North Carolina election laws
senator Vance, in a letter to the Meek !
lenburg alliance last July, spoke his mind
regarding silver. and declared then the
course he would take. When the state aIi
ance met in August II Endorsed him and his
views: When the Senator spoke here at |
the state fair last month he complained
that he had received no Endorsements from,
the farmers as a body. The alliance organs
now claim that the main body of the |
farmers are in that order and that bance
the senator had received the most extern /
slve Kind of Endorsement The Senator in /
his address condemned the secret feature |
OF the alliance and said the farmers could |
manage their affairs much better without
secrecy of any kind. The alliance oruans
while praising the Senator for some things
now declare that their order cannot exist
without the secret feature. They say fur
Their, that despite the secrecy MANY nor
sons who had no business in the ordar
gained entrance last year and nearly
wrecked II. They admit that the loss of
membership between May /, 1892 and the
same date this year was very heavy but
they declare that they are now gaining in
members, and that dormant alliances are
feViving. 1t must be borne in mind that
m 1854, as In lSs2. the alliance will be
factor in politics. and hence information
1t is of value.
The Colored Vote.
Years ago the negroes were all assumed
to be republicans. There was no question
as to how they would vote. There is now
some division. 1t has been difficult to as
certain how large a proportion of them
'oted with the democrats last year. Some
If the best informed persons saw about
per cent 1t is certain that a good MANY
lbstained from voting. During this entire
ear nothing has been heard from the
legro as to his political ideas or intentions.
me question Is. will two parties or three
SIX his vote next year. Last year the
emocrats asked II; 1t may be said. for the
!rst time. The negro like the alliance is
therefore, factor in politics. 1t is perhans |
God for the race that this is So
one OF the prime causes of present dis !
a tiSltSNiou the democrats in North
'arolina is the long retention of republi- I
ans In office. They do not look at tenures ,
y date of commission or at the civil serv- :
re law; but they do look at results They
ee republican as postmaster at Raleigh S
mo was chief supervisor of elections and 2
Tho was arrested last year for alleged ,
Interference with elections, and who n
said, will hold office until March 7 next
ecause his second commission bears date s
larch Z, 1880. They the republican
tVenue collector in this district still in q
flee, with his l20 clerks and deputies. while
he Senate fails TO confirm F. NJ Simmons
ne man who last year conducted the mas 7
erly democratic campaign against the re- |
ublicans and populists. This means with v
hem that so many democrats are kent s
ut of office. The dislike of the civil serv n
'e is very deep with the masses of the /
emocratS.
Another thing. has occurred which NAV a
ave political effect in this state Most u
the hundreds of licensed whisky dis
lleries OF small capacity, as the aver e
ge still will contain only about seventy e
We gallons The distilers say they can {
My make about two gallons of whisky n
ut of each bushel of corn, but they have II
al to pay tax on 1-2 gallons to the / {
ishel. The commissioner of internal reye v
Ne has issued an order that the tax must S
paid on three gallons to the busbeI y
any, If not most of the distillers, saw they n
i'll have to close. They say as do also S
lie revenue officers, that there will he &C r.
result, great increase in Illicit distillins o
there will be a feeling againSt c
lie administration. The State LIQUOR Deal
g and Distillers' Association has called
meeting at Charlotte, and will appoint !,