Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-07
TO BE ON LOCAL ISSUES
The Political Campaign This Year in
North Carolina
Effect OF the Injection of the senator
snip ACCOMPLISHMENTS on the
Cleveland Administration.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

democrats will conduct in North Carolina
this year has been touched 1t is that this
must be "a North Carolina campaign
that Mr.. Clevelands personality must be
kept out as properly having no place in
1t, and that the succession to Senator
Ransom must also be kept out. 1t is re-
garded by the most thoughtful democrats
to be extremely dangerous to wrangle over
this senatorial succession and thus cause
further division in the ranks, but to de-
eide the matter only after the state is car
ried. 1t is felt that the interjection Of
this senatorial question may result in the
loss of the state.
The democratic paper which may be
said to most ably and strongly represent
what may be termed the anti-Cleveland
democrats says: mo man can lead the
democracy in North Carolina to victory
In 1894 who kicks the Chicago platform
from under his feet, stands as the fast
friend of the gold bugs leans to high
protective tariff as the final outcome of
democratic revision, opposes an income
tax. of all taxes the most just and equal,
and antagonizes the repeal of the 10 per
cent tax on state banks" This brings out
distinctly the grievance which a large
faction or element of the party has against
the national administration. 1t I'm fact
complete statement of the opposition to
the President within his party in North
Carolina.
The paper which perhaps backs Nh
Cleveland as strongly any in the state
says: 1T is obvious that the democratic
party In North Carolina cannot be organ
lied for battle on a line Of Endorsement of
the Cleveland administration" The lead
ing democrats and the newspapers have
not supported the administration as a set
tied democratic policy; have not Endorsed
1t and have unduly magniiied their differ
ences with 1t. To such an extent has this
gone that an Endorsement of the President
probably could not now be secured from
a state convention. Yet the President has
many strong adherents in the state, who,
as the leading paper last quoted says edi-
torially, would not suffer a convention TO
repudiate him II they could help it,"
1t will therefore be seen at once how
necessary il is to keep individuals and
issues out of the campaign IL the demo-
Gratis would carry the state. 1t is also
readily seen how divergent are the views
and how hard IL would be to reconcile
discordant elements in the democratic
party. There is evident a disposition to
make the silver issue a leading one. The
newspapers in speaking OF certain men as
possible candidates for the congressional
( nomination have taken care to say that
| the men named are ardent advocates of
silver.
The Coalition Movement.
The republicans and pCpulists who are
urging their parties to coalesce are work
ing earnestly in that direction. 1t is the
current rumor that J. {. l.. Harris in the
/ fourth district and Daniel l.. Russell in
the sixth desire and hope to get the coali-
ton nomination for Congress. Both are
veteran republicans and two years ago
were the most enthusiastic advocates of
/ fusion with the populists. Harris claims
that the coalition or fusion movement is
spreading.
! The Farmers Alliance now has a dozen
! lecturers in the field 1t is alleged that
these rATsl of
agricultural matters. 1t is also declared
that special agent of the alliance who
processes TO give the farmers points is
holding secret m ceilings and stirring up the
alliance brethren against the democrats
1t is true that there are now a very small
number of democratic alliance men. 1t is
also true that when the populists are hold
ing their county conventions and speaking
republicans meet with them and speak
and that the speakers vie with each other
in abusing Cleveland and the democrats.
A democrat who holds a high position
| at Washington said day or so ago while
here that the republicans and popuists in
! North Carolina might always be relied on
! TO do the fool thing in political man.
not be a complete coalition: that the re-
publCans have lost three or four chances
OF success in years past, and have always
done foolish things since 1876; that while
the democrats know that there is dissat-
isfaction and. disafection in their own
party they DO not know or else forget
for when one party is affected the Others
are also by internal dissens!ons and SINH
larry weak ened. complete coalition
would probably defeat the democrats. but IL
is as dirhcult 10 make a solid compact Of
populist and republican votes this year as
to satisfy all the democrats
The simmons Question
Some of the friends of Senator Ransom
having intimated that his hopes of re-elec-
ton are bound W in the confirmation of
Simmons revenue collector OF this dis
trict, good deal of argument has followed
one anti-Ransom democratic paper says
that if he is made political issue this year
it will drive many democrats out of the
party ranks, and that thousands will leave
if given TO understand that a vote for a
democratic candidate for the legislature is
a vote for Ransom.
Inquiries as TO the condition of Senator
Nance are made daily. The published news
has been rather favorable. A private letter
from a person at Tampa to relatives here
does not give such u favorable statement
but says his condition is not satisfactory
Perhaps the one thing which has tended
most to arouse resentment and cause talk
has been what may be termed the division
Of the state" between the two Senators, the
one taking the east and the other the west
Congressman, IT is intimatei cuts a
small show, and SO does the chairman of
the party. Ii is this division" which has
been and is so powerful an element in MAX
and opponents of the Senators.
the truth is that this year the democrats
cannot afford TO run any risks while The
other parties can do so. and are entirely
ready to take any steps to win success
Not one OF the parties knows where IL Is
at" curious feature is the reticence of
the negroes. Usually they are quick TO talk
but this year say they do not know what
they will do; that they care little for poll
TICS but are looking after meat and bread
The knights of Columbus.
The new secret order the knights Of
Columbus is said TO have obtained a foot
ing in this state. 1t claims to be non-poli.
ical but appears to be quite the contrary.
Mr.. Ed. Chambers Smith of Raleigh. state
democratic chairman four years ago. is an
avowed candidate for the democratic noml
nation in this Cthe fourth district.
DIR. John ]. Mott is one of the few wealthy
republicans in the state. He is of course
sought after. He is a fusionist ana two
years ago urged the republicans and popu-
lists to get together His bitterest enemy
John Il. Eaves, the republican Chairman
opposed coalition and carried the day Or
Mott says the republicans saw their error
too late. He declares that Eayes men told
the national committee two years ago that
coalition would weaken the republicans and
help the democrats; that this was believed
then, but that later Chairman Carter and
PRESIDENT Harrison gave a piece of their
mind to the leaders who had thus misrep-
resented the facts. DIR. Mott contends that
the strength OF the Democratic marty In the
south depends upon the solidity of the re-