Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-18
MADE A DOUBTFUL STATE.
Division Among the North Carolina Dem
OcratS.
Strength Of the Third Party-Expecta.
tiOns of the Republicans-Elec.
tfOns to lie Held This Year.
RALEIGH, N. c., Jan. 16, 1894.

RALEIGH, N. c., Jan. 16. 1891.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
OF political talk and surmises there are
now much in this state. The populists are
first in the field. Marion Butler their chair
man. has issued a stirring address, in which
he urges the party to unite all it's forces
and present a solid front. He asserts that
the point where the democrats are to be
attacked is in regard to the election law of
1891. He calls for complete organization in
counties in thirty days. and in townships
in sixty days. This makes IT clear that the
populist effort this year will be mainly one
to capture the legislature. The alliance
| which in 1892 became the third party, once
had entire control OF the legislature, the
| latter being then termed popularity the al
/ lance legislature" The populists made a
sad failure in 1892 in their attempts to elect
Congressman.
Populist leaders claim that their party
has gained 40 per cent since 1892 They
allege that in that year $1,000 people. whom
/ they term ''reformers" were induced to
vote for Carr for governor. and for the re-
mainder of the democratic ticket but were
deceived, and will this year cast populist
! votes
! On the part of many democrats feeling
against Mr.. Cleveland and his policy is in
| tensely bitter. democratic paper made a
| prize offer to any intelligent farmer, or
| doctor. or lawyer in its county who would
say that he Endorsed the Cleveland finan-
cial policy. but there have been no takers,
| it appears.
| 1t is interesting to get at the strength of
| the alliance In this state, which in 1890 was
| 100000 The late L. L. Polk, president of
| the national alliance, gave your cores
pendent these figures. An official state
v,,h 1Snot ton ~
only 1900. but officers of the alliance say
there are thrice as many. OF course 1t is
an open secret that the populists (or third
party, as they are nearly always termed
in North CarOlina) absolutely dominate the
alliance.
Republicans of Different Minds.
Republicans are Of many minds. Some
wish to combine with the populists, and
carry out the plans which they urged their
party to adopt in 1892 To this coalition
there Is strenuous and powerful opposition,
for at heart the republicans have contempt
for and distrust of the populists. Some re-
publicans will urge that this year there be
no convention held and nominations
made by their party, and that the party
publish to the world the statement that Ii
makes no nominations because of the pres
ent election law. What they mean by this
is to assert that the democrats will count
them out, and hence that an election is a
| farce and waste of time.
The republicans who hold this view are
now declaring that there is a great clamor
! in Virginia for a good election law and that
is being made by democrats. They also
say that there are signs of such a move
ment in North Carolina, and that If the
democrats have the entire field and no re-
publican opposition. they will soon divide
themselves and bring about the changes in
the law which the republicans insist are
needed.
Western republicans are nearly all white
! a n how oh
plete ticket, etc. They are the men who
want to get rid of the color line in politics.
by eliminating the negro and having a
white republican party. OF course these
western republicans are a power in their
party. They carried their point in 1892
overwhelmingly.
Your correspondent believes they will this
year again dominate their party and force
| 1t to put a full ticket for Congress, judges
and the legislature in the field. For al
though 1t Is side year in politics, yet 1t is
| a very important one. for many offices are
to be filled. A chief justice and three asso-
/ ciates on the supreme court bench and four
superior court judges are to be elected. The
election determines the complexion Of the
supreme court bench for eight years. Nine
members Of Congress. fifty state senators
and 10 members of the house are to be
elected. This legislature will elect United
States Senator to succeed NJ. w. Ransom
and a railway commissioner All the coun-
| ty officers In the state are also to be chosen.
This Years Elections.
1t Is perfectly clear that the campaign
will be warm one and that 1t will contain
many surprises is also certain. The demo-
Gratis, so triumphant in November 1902 are
now greatly disorganized. Ransom has
many bitter enemies and so has Vance
The latter was in fact almost given the cold
| shoulder on the occasion Of his last public
appearance in this city. while at a mass
meeting Of people in Ransom's own county
49, A. q
ness of the attacks upon him and the reso-
buttons adopted.
One Of the best informed democrats in the
state says that the republicans are stronger
now than at any time in twelve years past
and does not believe they will combine with
the populists. He confesses that the demo-
Gratis will have to do their most earnest and
persistent work to elect their Congressman
In the third fifth and eighth districts. A
democrat, who was told Of this by your cor
respondent declared his belief that all the
nine districts were doubtful. But long ago
North Carolina Senator gave utterance to
the remark, "All hell can't beat a scared
democrat" Just now the great mass of the
democrats are disorganized, torn up and
embittered against the Cleveland admins
tration. There is plenty Of wild talk. Few
men, extremely few, can now be found in
this state who indorse Cleveland. This is
new departure for North Carolina democ-
racy, and 1t Is serious thing 1t means
that the state is again a doubtful one. That
assertion will hardly be gainsaid.
An early campaign may be expected and
one on some new lines. The democrats will
not follow men so much heretofore but
measures 1t is felt strongly and bitterly
away from the Chicago platform
Senator Vance will continue to oppose the
confirmation of F. NJ. Simmons as collector
OF this district. Simmons is the democratic
state chairman. newspaper evidently
speaks by authority of Senator Vance when
1t declares the latter will fight Simmons
sun. 1t was thought the fight was ended
Vance rtf orl rlx
in the cast.
Columbian Notes,
The Banjo and Guitar Club of the Column
bian University has effected its preliminary
organization, with the following members.