The Portland daily press., 1895-07-01
Washington Star. }

washington Star
Capt. Reuben f. Kolb, the leader of
the Populists of Alabama, who was the
central figure of stirring scenes at the
time Gov Oates took his seat is in the
city, stopping at the Metropolitan Capt.
holb always ch ooses the stronghold of
the Democracy headed by ex-Speaker
Crisp, the Metropolitan, as place to put
up while in Washington, and in that way
he generally meets on friendly terms
many prominent Democrats who happen
to be in the city during his visit here.
Capt. Kolb is every inch southerner
III appearance, of stout build, a clean
shaven face, with the exception of gray
mustache, kept well trimmed, and hair
that shows few traces of the black locks
which he possessed twenty five years ago.
But Capt. Kolb moves about with the
energy of younger man, and carries a
determined countenance at all times. He
is generally mild in manner, but when
ne talks about ALBANIA politics he is apt
to indulge in strong adjectiyes.
Several prominent Democrats sof Ala
bama have lately claimed that Capt Kolb
is losing his following, and that the Popu-
lists of thatssstate are becoming discour-
aged of ever gaining success under his
leadership The idea has been given forth
that the Populists themselves have begun
TO see the errors of their ways and are
again returning to the Democratic party.
A Star reporter mentioned these reports
to Capt. Kolb
''The people, who Say these things,
said the Populist leader ''do not believe
them. If they think that the Populist
party of Alabama is corpse they will
nnd that it is the liveliest corpse they
nave ever had to deal with. Far from
being discouraged, throughout the Popu-
list party there is determination that
at the next election we will have a fair
ballot and count There is no doubt that
in the last election two-thirds of the
white people of Alabama voted the Popu-
list ticket. They are ready to vote it
again and the party is receiving access
ions all the time
81 will cite one circumstance partly
personal to myself to show that there is
much life in our party. 1t is just nine
months ago today that I started the
Peoples Tribune at Birmingham. 1t is
weekly paper, but it pays more postage
into the Alabama post office than any
paper OF the city, weekly or daily. We
have the largest circulation of any paper
in the state, and we are fighting straight
ahead in perfecting our state organiza-
tion. believe that the election which
be Populist victory not only in the
sense that we had victory in our last
contest, but our votes will be counted and
our candidates will be seated.
You ask why 1 can hope for this out
come in view of the fact that we did not
succeed at the last election. 1 reply that
the conditions will have chapged-indeed,
they have changed now We were but
poorly organized in our last election and
were not prepared to enforce our rights
We now have an organization in every
county of the state, and, more than that,
amendment to our election law has been
adopted, which will do much in helping
us to get our rights. In the last election
the Democrats had the power IN the black
belt to appoint any man they saw fit to
represent our party at the polls. They So
lected some ignorant negroe, who might
be bought for half dollar, to represent
US, so that that theoretical protection was
of no practical use to us But the
amendment to our election law provides
name three men, one of whom must be
selected to represent it at the polls. By
this method we can get another class of
men to look out for our interests. and the
result of that will be very material.
"There is no likelihood of the Populists
of Alabama fusing with the Republican
party in the future. I have advocated
that no such course be adopted, and in
+r,l lo+o 4ba of
state 1 have sent circular letters to all the
members of the state executive committee
of the Populist party, as well as to other
prominent members of the organization.
The sentiment shown in the replies I
have received is almost unanimous against
fusion. Of about forty members of our
executive committee, only four or five
hesitate in pronouncing in an unquali-
fed way against fusion. The others
straddle the question, and say that it
may prove desirable to bring fusion in the
state election, but not in the national
election. [ cannot indorse any such posi-
tion as that. If we cannot fuse on nation
al questions we cannot on state questions.
."While I am Populist, continued
Capt. Kolb, i do not concede first place
in my loyalty to true Jeffersonian Demo
racy to any man. What the Populists are
fighting for in Alabama is just that De-
mocracy. You can depend upon it, we
are going right ahead, with no feeling of
discouragement, and the real cyclone in
Alabama is yet to come. We have got to
have our votes counted and must seat our
candidates when elected, or know the
reason why. For myself, I have no idea
of again becoming a candidate for gov
ernor, but, of course it is impossible to
look too closely into the future. But 1
am in the fight in Alabama and am
there to stay, too