Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-26
FUSION NOT LIKELY.
Coalition Between North Carolina Re-
publicnns and PopuIists Improbabl


Special Correspondence of The Evening star.
RALEIGH, N c., April "a. 1894
Ohio Wilson. one of the best-known pop
ulists in the state, says that while some
members of that party are clamoring for
an early convention. the policy will be for
late one. as the populists are gaining in
strength all the while. He says the gains
are mainly west of Raleigh. Wilson is
very bitter against alliance men who sup
ported Cleveland or Carr. but says he re-
spects those democrats who stood sQuarely
by their nominees. He says the demo-
Gratis in North Carolina desire TO throw
Cleveland overheard but that the popu-
lists do not intend to let them drop Cleve-
land, but will make him and his policy
issue in the campaign.
A month ago. two months ago. fusion Of
republicans and populists seemed GER
tainty, but now there signs that the
marriage of these parties will not be con-
summated. One cause of this drawing
apart of these two parties is that each
is beginning to think IL, unaided. can de-
feat the democrats. AS you have been
carefully Informed, there are two wings
of the republican party-the fusion and
the anti-fusion. DR.. j. j. Mott, one of the
wealthiest republicans in the state. and for
years that partys chairman, says his party
is helpless in North Carolina, and on some
points agrees with the populists, and ought
to make common cause with them against
the election law. He opposes the present
system OF county government, but on this
the populists have not as yet declared
themselves. He is with the populists upon
only one national issue-the free coinage
of silver-and in this matter is not in line
with his own party's platform. The leaders
of the republicans are divided in view
Mott. J. c. l.. Harris and Daniel l.. Rus
Sell favoring fusion: John b. Eaves. the
present chairman: ID. NJ. Furches and ex-
Congressman H. G.. Ewart opposing it, The
Winston Republican is by far the most
influential paper that party has In this
state.
The bulk Of the correspondents Of this
winston paper are coming out in oppo-
stion to fusion. The populists are silent
on the subject One of their organs SAYS
that they are making no overtures to any
body for fusion. The evidence is that up
TO this time there has been no formal bar
gain, save in the ninth congressional dis
trict
The real cause of the change of view
from that recently held has been given
by your correspondent; that populists and
republicans each think they can defeat
the democrats.
1t is unquestioned that the democratic
platform will declare for silver coinage.
an income tax and a modified tariff No
man can get the party vote save on
those issues. The anti-Cleveland men are
in the saddle. The Senate's delays are hurt
ing the democratic party daily and
strengthening the populists. The republi-
cans are badly torn to pieces.
A leading negro republican told me that
his race intended to keep quiet and see
what will be done for il. He said that
while some of the white republicans claim
ed to be able to control the negro vote
this was positively untrue. He went fur
Their, and declared that there was not a
white republican in all this state who knew
what the negroes would do this year He
used the phrase that this year the negro
vote would be placed with the party which
did the most for Ii. He expressly denied
that this meant anything like a bargain
and sale business, but asserted that the
time has at last come when the negro must
protect himself. He said that the negro
had to a large extent, been disfranchise ed
in South Carolina, and that this was the
true cause of the reign of Tillman.