The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-10
RALEIGH, N. c.
THE OLD NORTH STATE.
Small Items of Newsy and Per-
sonal Character.
Special Dispatch to Tho yirginian.

Special Dispatch to Tho yirginian.
RALEIGH, N. o., January o.
Yesterday there was IA series of sur.
prises for the Republicans. In the
morning they regarded Walscr ms
sure to be Speaker of the House.
Then caucus of Republicans was
held, into which the Senators of
that party entered and Walser lost
the fight, aud 1t seemed certain that
Lusk would be speaker. Yet late at
night joint caucus of the Republi
cans aud Populists was held aud at
this, strange to say, Walser was
nominated. The combination which
was fighting Walser and his hacker,
Chairman Holton, was In state OF
delight when it was thought he was
beaten. but at midnight last night
was very sad Indeed, The Mott ele-
ment regarded the supposed defeat
OF Walser and Holton as q great vic.
tory for fusion, since Walser OPP
posed joint caucus while Lusk
favored them.
1t all shows how thin is the veneer
of friendehip of Republicans and
Popullsts. The rank and file of the
latter want separate caucuses, but
Marion Butler, their leader, wants
Joint caucuses. Butler SO far seems
to have his say, but this morning
bets were offered that joint caucuses
were at an end. Republican Chair
man Holton said to me at 10 o'clock
this morning: "rhere is an end of
JOINT caucuses."
There was so many things said
about the Senatorial matter that the
truth Is hard to get. The Speaker
ship fight showed. if it showed any
thing III this election, that Mott and
Prltchard had joined forces against
Holton and Ewart. The sudden
changes of yesterday half dazed the
Republican fighters. The absolute
sacrifice of Lnsk Was simply az.
founding. Now they say he was
gotten out Of the way in the interest
of Pritchard. but this il strange,
when Pritchsrd and Mott reioiced
at what they thought was the down.
fall OF Holton and Tom Settle and
Walser and Ewart. At midnight
last night DR.. Motifs son went to
Ewart and Walser and said: "Well,
you have beaten us at our OVID
game.
1t was arranged yesterday that
the Offices should be divided and
that the committees OF the Legisla-
ture should also be equally divided
between the Republicans and Popu
lists. At one time 1t appeared that
the whole fusion business was brok.
en- up.
To day the parties to yesterdays
quarrel are saying how harmonious
fusion is. At the same time they
admit that they have done some.
thing to make every Democrat in
the State laugh. In other words,
they say they have been absolutely
ruled by two or three leaders.
Marion Butler knows more than any
of the Republicans. All of his state.
ments made to me have "come
true" He is regular wizard.
There began at 10 o'clock this
morning Republican and Populist
caucuses to name the officers of
both branches of the Legislature.
The division was equal. In the
rotunda and ways was the largest
crowd of office seekers ever seen. It
was difficult to move about among
them. Most of the officers had been
agreed on last night at midnight.
The Democratic caucus was held
last evening. Its proceedings were
kept secret under pledge. The
only thing known was that It was
agreed to nominate j. Frank Ray as
Speaker.
There are to-day over 800 men,
bers of the Grand Lodge OF Masons
present at the 1oSth annual commu.
nieation. The order has done well