Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-15
Chief Clerk Daniels Talks on the
Recent Election Results.
DEMOCRATS WON'TSTEAL SENATORHIPS
The Fusion Victory Not Likely to
Be Long Lived.
ELECTIONS WERE FAIR

Mr.. Josephus Daniels, chief clerk Of the
Department of the Interior and proprietor
of the Raleigh, N c., News and Observer,
gave a Star reporter close-communion
chat this afternoon on the matter Of the
printed stories that a deal would be effect
ed whereby the democrats would secure
one Of the Senators from the tar heel state.
He half laughingly, half Indignantly and
wholly emphatically disclaimed that the
democrats of his state had any such mean
ambition. He said:
"The story is absurd on Its face The con-
stitution of North Carolina provides that
the tenure of Office of members Of the gen.
eral assembly of the state shall begin i'm
mediately after their election. 1t Is well
understood that even though the governor
should wish to take snap judgment on the
people and the legislature should be willing
to aid him, they would run up against a
constitutional snag. The governor OF North
Carolina would not for moment entertain
such proposition and Senator RANSOM
whom the story in question duplicates,
would not he a party to such an unfair
deal Senators Ransom and Jarvis would
very much like to come back to the Senate,
but / am confident that neither would
wish to come with flaw in their title.
A Fusion Victory.
"The victory in North Carolina is not a
republican victory, neither is 1t a populist
victory. These parties made fusion, the
result of which is that the legislature
stands thus: Senate, II democrats, 16 re-
publicans, 2l populists. House, Al demo-
Gratis, 81 republicans. Al populists. These
figures may not be strictly accurate, but
are very close to the real situation.
1T Is not believed that this successful
fusion can be permanent. II 1t could be
maintained North Carolina would be en-
tirely out Of the democratic column, as the
two parties can poll about 10000 more votes
in the state than the democrats at present.
The reason why the fusion cannot last is
that the republicans advocate protection
them holding to the gold standard. The
populists are nearly all free traders and
are a unit on the question of the free COIN
age of silver at a ratio of 16 to l, the sub
treasury plan and the governmental con-
troll of transportation facilities. No two
parties. differing so widely on public pol
Icy, can long maintain a fusion.
Decline I'm the Price of Cotton.
"One of the reasons for the defeat of the
dem ocracy in our state was the decline in
the price Of cotton. This staple fell to
1-2 and cents pound There were, Of
course, other important reasons leading up
to the result, but If the price of cotton
had kept up the farmers would have sup
ported the democratic ticket. In 1896 they
will not go into a fusion, unless cotton
shall reach a higher price, and the kind of
silver legislation which they demand shall
have been given them by the help of the
republicans. The fusion Legislature will
have to elect two United States Senators.
1t has been the understanding that one
shall be a republican and one populist.
The populists have sixteen votes more than
the republicans and will demand the six
year term. OF course the republicans will
want 1T also, instead Of taking the two
year tenn.
1T has been suggested that the republl-
cans would vote with the democrats to
give them the short term If the democrats
would vote with them for the long term.
But the democrats of North Carolina will
pursue no such course. They will fuse
with neither party. They will at all points
show the Inconsistency of the fusion move
ment, and will expose the legislation ef-
fected by the fuslonists.
I'VE are confident that the fusion will
be broken down before 1896, and as a
minority party in the legislature the dem
ocrats will be able to make a record and
demolish the cooperation Of the republi-
cans and populists.
The Election Was Fair.
''The democrats Of North Carolina, while
regretting their defeat, have one consola-
ton, which is that once and forever it has
exposed the slander that free ballot and
fair count could not be had in the state.
Ever since 1876 it has been the great cry
VI ING TepuDHCdl paily tiiHt IL WOULD
carry North Carolina if not counted out
They have endeavorcd to give the state
black eye at every time, and there Is no
doubt but that these cries. repeated so
persistently, have done some damage to
the fair name of our state. This time all
the election machinery was in the hands
of the democrats. The majority Of the
elec ton board in every precinct and county
and the state returning board was demo-
cratic. This has been the case for nearly
twenty years If the democrats had been
willing to purchase victory at the sacrifice
of honesty they would have won. If they
have carried the elections by frauds in
other years. they could have done so at
this time. If during recent years demo-
cratic triumphs have been due to the
suppression of the negro vote, that same
vote would have been suppressed this year
In the county of Wake, in which the cap
ital is situated, and where / live, the re-
publicans have won nine times out of ten
ever since the war. The democrats have
controlled the election machinery of the
state since 1876. The elections have always
been conducted fairly, and the man who
could poll the most votes has won. The
republicans in the Reed Congress had
three members. North Carolina elections
are fair and square, else we would not
have lost" And Mr. Daniels brought his
fist down on his desk as though he meant
every word he said.