Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-19
KOLB MEN MAKING OvERTURES.
Trying to Reunite the Wings of the Democ-
racY in Alabama.


Trying to Reunite the Wings of the Democ-
racy in Alabama.
| Special Correspondence of TIE Evening Star.
BIRMISGHAM. ALA, May 16. 1898.
Recent developments in the political affairs
of Alabama lead to the belief that the demo-
cratic party in this state may be reunited at no
distant day. A movement with that end in
view is now on foot. It remains to be seen
whether or not it can be successfully coDsum-
mated. Nearly all the democrats would like
to see the party reunited, but just how much
each faction is willing to concede to the other
is the great problem that is yet to be solved.
A few days ago the state executive committee
of the Jeffersonian democracy, which Is
properly known as the Kolb faction. met in
Birmingham. The purpose Of the meeting, as
stated in the call issued by Chairman A L.
Goodwin. was ''to consider matters bearing on
the next gubernatorial campaign and to formu-
late plans to restore TO the electors OF Alabama
an honest vote and fair count, OF which they
have been deprived by means demoralizing to
society," which should be denounced by every
true and patriotic citizen.
A full attendance of the committee was on
hand. Among the prominent leaders was
Capt. r. F. Kolb. who was twice defeated for
governor, and who, it is expected. will make the
race again, supported by the populsts and
peoples party were to have met here the same
day on which the Jeffersonian democratic COM
mittee convened, but no quorum of the former
was present. Then Chairman Gather and Sec
rotary Manning Of the peoples party mingled
with the Kolbites and exchanged greetings.
| The peoples party committee will meet again
in a few days.
CHAIRMAN GATHER TALKS.
George F. Gather, chairman Of the people,
party, in an interview, said:
The populists propose to take the field at
once for next years campaign. We propose to
arrange routes for speakers and debates be-
tween our men and yours. We propose to COM
mence beating the bushes Mt once and to show
by the time Christmas comes that we are in TIE
field to win. We not only feel strong, but We
know we are strong, stronger than ever. Dele
gates to this convention come here with an
earnest purpose We have six probate judges
among our number, state senators and repre-
sentatives. What is more, they are representa-
tives of the white men Of Alabama. We pro-
pose to show that we are the white party. We
propose to invite our wide mouthed antagonists
to meet us on the stump and show if they have
kept single plank of their platform. The only
one they kept was the thirteenth, the only one
which they said they did not intend to keep.
We intend to show the iniquity of the Sayre
by any such subterfuge. 1t is a rotten law and
we will go to the people with that issue to the
front"
The Kolb committee, the result Of their
meeting. formulated a long plan, which they
presented to A. G.. Smith, state chairman of
the regular democratic executive committee
The plan is one looking to the reuniting of the
white voters Of Alabama and the bridging over
of the differences that have heretofore and
are now existing i'll the democratic party. The
substance of the plan Is as follows: A primary
election shall be held. In this primary only the
qualified white electors shall participate. The
election shall be for state officers from gov
ernor down. The result OF that ticket shall be
binding all the white electors of the state,
and any and each party participating shall put
up no opposition to that tickle. in August follow
ing. All three parties shall participate in said
primary. viz: The populists, democrats and
Jeffersonian democrats. ANY white man who
desires shall DE allowed to become a candidate.
This plan Is for the purpose of reconciing all
differences and submitting the question to the
white people of Alabama.
The proposed plan provides further that at
the primary election to be held in April next
new executive committees shall be elected in
every county and for the state well. The
committees of the regular democrats and the
koibites are to conduct the primary election
proposed and after that the new committees,
composed of white men without any special re-
gard to whether they are Kolbites, popullsts or
democrats will come into power.
CHAIRMAN SMITHS REPLY.
When Chairman Smith of the regular demo-
cratic committee received Chairman Goodwyu's
letter. containing the plan OF the Kolbites to
reunite the party. he wrote Mr.. Goodwin a
letter. in which he stated that it would afford
i'm great pleasure IL the two factions of the
party could get together upon some reasonable,
equitable basis Chairman Smith further stated
hat ha rnflld coll Mt m Iut ipu
of the executive committee to consider the
whole question. The committee will meet early
in June. and then the proposition of the kolb
faction will be considered.
One thing can be said with absolute GER
tainty, and that Is that while there is a strong
feeling among the regular democrats in favor
of reuniting the party, the plan OF the kolbites
in its entirety will not be accepted. Chief
among the reasons WHY it will not is because it
allows all white men, regardless of former party
affiliations. to participate in a democratic
primary election, and because il pledges candi-
dates against the new election law, which was
enacted by democratic legislature. The kolb
ties have left the plan open for forty days for
its acceptance or rejection In its entirety 1t is
thought by prominent democrats that when the
regular democratic convention meets it will re-
ject the plan. but will appoint subcommittee
TO meet and confer with similar committee
from the kob faction and see if basis of re-
union. acceptable to both factions, can be
agreed upon. 1he democratic newspapers.
almost a unit, opposed to the kolbites'
plan as it stands, but express desire that it
can be modified by these two committees, salts
factorily to both.
WHAT IT MAY MEAN.
Some of the old war horses Of the democratic
party are opposed to making any concessions
to the kolb faction, and denounce the plan
which has been presented by them They de-
clare that it is only scheme to put Kolb in the
governor chair next year. as he is undOub tedly
the candidate of his faction and the populists
Kohl, they further assert, claims to have con-
troll of the machinery" in more than half of
the counties in Alabama, and all he wants is a
chance to get back into the regular democratic
party and make the race a regular and not
independent, he did before, believing
that by so doing he can control a much larger
vote than he did last year.
Col. W. Z. Oates, Congressman from the
third district, seems to be the favorite of the
| regular democracy. or a large part of them at
| least. as democratic candidate for governor.
His antagonism to kolb and the alliance in the
last campaign is still bittery cherished by that
faction and he wouldn't be acceptable to them.
! With matters in that fix it is doubtful il any
settlement of the alleged differences in the
party can be reached. kolb is obnoxious to
the old line democrats. and if they convinced
that the plan of the Kolb faction is plan to
/ l.