New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-25
NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS
QUESTION WHICH MAY DECIDE THE
PERMANENCY OF FUSION.
IT Is PROPOSED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM VI
COUNTY GOVERNMENT BY GIVING IMPORTANT

COUNTY GOVERNMENT 81 1lNiNo
APPOINTMENTS TO THE JUDICIARY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.]
Washington, JAM H-The comphoatioh Vi 'oe"'
with general politics sometimes anords an inter-
esting story. Down in North Carolina there Is
STATE Of facts worth considering In connection Win
tho exnerirent of changing the relations OF an ola
ctata n the National parties. The fusion move
ment has succeeded In the 'Old North state as
her poople Familiarity term her. In the cno'ce Oh
United states Senators. The Legislature Is no"
face TO face with more important Ha'tei' 'o0""'
sneaklng and one which. generally speaking may
decide in its termination the permanency OF the
r,sio, 60 successfully begun 1t is the question OF
oor,,v government The system adopted by the
democrats on their restoration to power mas h''
been popular In the white Democratic coun''e'
IS the counties in which the whites iafseis pr
dominate II was invented to meet suppose"
emergency Of politlcs The negroes being In ma
iority or having political preponderance ID Id &c
number OF counties in The eastern hail oi '"e 90
rho democrats when they assumed charge AFTER 'he
short Republican domination framed an ingenious
plan of government by which the Legislature ".'
10 appoint the magistrates and the magistrates ,''
County Commissioners It will be seen that uhue,
this scheme the Democrats. so long as 'hey he'u
the LEGISLATURE would hold the county govern
mcnts The Populists. well as the RepuoncahS
COMPOSING the present fusion In North CaroHna.
have opposed the existing system IL was an issue
in the late campaign Now that they ho.d the Leg
islature il is evident that they mean to change
the mode Of government
\ bill has accordingly been framed by ex-con-
gresham H. G. Ewart. late candidate tor the
succession 10 Senator Vance. which challenges at
tention That part Of the measure which relates
10 the election of magistrates by the people goes
unchallenged by the coalition, but there are othef
important features which have not escaped criti-
csm one OF these Is the appointment OF the Board
Of Audit and Finance by the Judge OF the Supe-
ror Court The objection which is most trench
ant:v urged f. that It clothes the judiciary with ex-
tensive political powers. These boards are check
on the County Commissioners and have absolute
control OF the financial affairs OF the counties The
judges formerly chosen by the Legislature
for life the nomination OF the Governor. fopu-
lar elections Of the judiciary were introduced by
the Republicans and retained by the Democrats
They have undoubtedly tended to make the judges
politicians to a certain extent Now II. 1t Is urged
TO the popular mode Of election IL added the po-
litlcal power OF appointment. the judiciary Will be
lowered in its tone and made less Impartial ano
even tempered. Representative Alexander, Of the
With North Carolina District. whose ideas OF finance
are more nearly what the Popusts profess than
those of almost any other Democrat In the State.
thus speaks OF the provision OF Mr.. Ewarts bill
here alluded to:
Il Il not It's partisan character TO which would
call attention. Il is the fact that clothes the judge
win a tremendous power which makes him. If ne
be an ambitious man. almost Irresistible in his own
b. ~ the same mind. could combine and by their APP
pO.ntmenis OF personal friends these boards OF
Audit and Finance manage the entire politics OF the
state. Just look at It a moment. The boards viii
have them necessarily very influential county
men in most instances. They will be men who man
age things In each county. These men at the head
Of county government reasonably may be expected
to have a hand in shaping local sentiment In the
dominant party. whichever II Is; and the judgc
42Gs n Be reasonsby to na
the right men for his purposes There may be no
COLLISION. II is not necessary. Every one knows
who has been in politics that II Is indirect influence
OF personal attachment and family influence that Is
more effective than the distinct offer OF quid pro
with other men; they have ambition TO be Governor
Senator may be something even higher, suppose
they md themselves invested with possibilities thar
vel nigh infinite through these appointments
ia It likely they Will fall to avail themselves or them
DoVl in Georgia where they have a judiciary With
bestow on the North Carolina judges. the outcome
Is such as 70 give warming to our own people a
CabsnIss though; he had secured his denomination
last year: indeed Il seemed he had the counties In
his district in his favor, but the judge OF the court
Macon member and actually succeeded in capturing
the machinery and defeating Mr.. cabaniss. His
coeaeue Mr. lawson had similar experience Ely eA
through will say thisif this provision In the PHI
Ia canyassed in the legislature II Will be defeated
with absolute certainty. The very men VINO most
favor other features Of the new system Will OPP
pose this II they think about It before they are
called on TO The fusionsts are no more favor
able IN comforting vast and almost underlined poltl-
cal power the judges than are the Democrats. II
will not be n question OF politics at all.
Other adverse criticism Is heard on the same gen
erAl line The measure has been printed In detail
ex-Congressmsn from the Asheville District.
straight Republican. whose political orthodoxy Is I'M
questioned