The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-28
to the News and Observer.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sci

St'@Nt't@
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. q.
Mr.. Thomas Settle, who was elected to
Congress last November by the Fusion
lists in the Fifth District, has been max
ing a great deal of fun of the Silver Con-
vention in Raleigh. He was interviewed
Yesterday by the Washington cor
respondent of the New York Tribune.
He spoke with great frankness about the
fusion movement in the State. The in
terview in full is "a follows:
"What about the political situation in
North Car0lino?" asked Tribune cor
respondent to day in conversation with
REPRESENTATIVE Settle, of that State, who
had Just arrived in Washington.
We'll, it is somewhat peculiar aud not
altogether satisfactory" was the reply.
Mr.. Settle continued: There are some
men in the State who have been strong
Republicans in the past men like Or.
Mott formerly chairman of the Repub"-
can State Committee, for example-who
have allied themselves with the PopulISts
so closely that they have virtually es-
housed the doctrines of that party, and
they are active participants In the SO
called non partisan free silver movement,
whose leaders have called convention
which assembled in Raleigh Wednesday.
The movement was initiated by two eX-
chairmen of the Democratic State Com
mittee, and one of the men who signed
the call was Governor Carr. Elk Gov
ernor Jarvis is also actively interested.
A call was also issued by Senator Marion
Butler in behalf of the Populists, and
when | left home the prospect was that
the Populists would control the con
vention. | do not believe that many
Republicans of prominence or influence
viii take part in or openly approve the
proceedings of the convention ii the
result should be declaration in favor
of the free and unlimited coinage, but
there are others whose sympathles are
strongly in favor of it. P"
GLOW is the convention constituted
viii it be composed of delegates regularly
chosen?n
''Oa, no; no credentials are required;
the delegates are self chosen non par
tisan Volunteers so to speak-an1 yet
they represent the Populist party, a ma
iority Of the Democratic party and
small fraction of the Republican party of
the State. The Popalists have two
strings to their bow. If they can swal-
low the Democratic party almost bodily
their political appetite will probably be
satisfied. If they fail to do that, they
will be eager enough to swallow as much
of the Republican party as possible. One
of their schemes is to cave the Republl-
cans divide the electoral ticket with
them next year. Senator Pritc1ard,
who has recently been making
free silver speeches from the same plat
from with Senator Butler and other Pop
ulist leaders at meetings called by Popu-
lists, is in favor Of the scheme. SO is
ex-Congressman Russell, who is free
silver Republican, and who desires to be
a fusion candidate for Governor, EX-
Congres man Dockery, who also wants
to be nominated for Governor, is non
committal and anxious not to do any
thing that might provoke the opposition
of the Populists and the free silver men
in the Republican party"
Chow do the Republican Representa-
tives elect stand 2" asked the c0rrespon
dent.
"Well, I, of course, am strongly op
posed to free and unlimited coinage, aud
/ am quite as strongly opposed to any
and every proposition to divide the cleo
toral ticket between the Republicans and
Populists. Mr. Pearson, of the ninth
district, and Mr.. Linney, of the eighth
district, are both opposed to a division
of the electoral ticket, and are not as
yet committed in favor of free silver
coinage, as ! understand. Chairman
Holton, of the Republican State Com
mittee, and Messrs.> Boyd, Keogh and
other prominent and influential mem
bers of the party, are strongly opposed
10 both propositions.
"HoW does the Republican State ON
mittee stand in regard TO these ques-
tionsg'
"WeH, a number CT the members are
favorably disposed towards free silver,
but presume that the majority are OPP
posed to it--or if not, they will not de-
clare themselves in advance of some Off
cial expression by the National organi-
zation. Mr.. Cowles, the North Carolina
member of the Republican National con-
mittee, is as strongly opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and to
Iu5lOI on Tie NalIOudI tIGh6t as euA
1t was one thing for the Republicans OF
North Carolina to cooperate with the
Populists in order to enact laws that
would give Us fair and hone-t elections
and to carry out certain other necessary
reforms within the State 1t would be
very different thing, and believe a
most disastrous thing for the Repub-
iicans of that State to co operate
or ally themselves with the PoDulists
on the silver question or in the sup.
port of fusion electoral ticket Why,
for twenty years we have been fighting
for reform OF the election laws, and
saying that that was all the Republican
party in North Carolina needed to set 1t
on its feet aud enable it to win political
victories. Now we have succeeded IN
enacting election legislation which was
designed to give all parties an equal
chance, and which we believe Will &c
complish that object he Republicans
and Populists worked together TO make
that legislation possible, and To enacf lt.
That was a measure in support OF which
Republicans could vel stfoId TO join
hands with PopUlists, ID n3crst8 and
.rybody else who favored honest and