New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-18
MARION BUFFERS GAME.
sCHEM1NG TO CONTROL THE SENATE
NOMINATION.
HE WANTS PRITCHARDs SUCCESSOR TO BE A
MAN OF HIS OWN sTRIPE-L1vEIY POLL
TICS IN NORTH CAROLINA

TICS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington Aug lin the midst OF Buffers
performances last week at Raleigh. public atten-
ton was so concentrated upon MS audacity IN
forcing the nomination of Dockery that 1t failed
TO take sufficient cogniz4nce of the severe struggle
he had TO make for mastery within his own party
1t is now pointed out that il took the best efforts
of his life and all his OF cunning to down
the opposition headed by Skinner. Nevertheless.
when the noses were counted the bold and tactful
leader outnumbered his rival by two and half TO
one The Democrats here rely upon this strong
fight and especially upon Congressman SINNERS
personal antipathy TO Senator Butler. dating back
to the Silver party conference last winter for ma
terial aid in the campaign which has opened IN
North Carolina.
At the conference referred to. it is said Butler
who was one Of the big figures at the meeting cut
off Skinner from an opportunity which the latter
coveted for making long speech. Harry Skinner
reputed author Of the Sub-Treasury scheme Of the
Farmers Alliance. is local orator Of some prom
inence in North Carolina, and was. therefore,
deeply Inundated. He has always blamed Butler
for not securing for him the privilege Of long
talk before the conference. although the Senator
has stouly denied that he had anything to do with
the matter The Democrats think that SINNERS
friends and others who are more silver adj
vocates than Populists will break away and vote
for Bryan and Sewall, and. while they are kick
X,
headed by Cyrus Watson.
AS a matter of fact however. Guthrie, the Popu-
list nominee for Governor is personally acceptable
all wings Of the Populist party, and while he Is
a favorie OF Eutler's he Is also general favorite.
Few Populists likely support the Democratic
State ticket which nominated by a convention
that rejected all overtures for Populis; alliance.
Here there is no doubt that Buffers coup in NOM
mating Dockery for Iioutenant-Governor was
part of his game to control the election of United
States Senator TO succeed Pritchard Butler has
not got along well with Pritchard. and it is known
that he would be glad to have some man in the
latter's place who would he more subservent to his
own views At Raleigh it is thought by some that
Buffers idea in nominating Dockery was TO put
the latter in training as rival of Pritchard Here.
on the contrary. leading F/>ublicans and others.
as already stated in The Tribune. have believed
that Guthrie the man intended TO make the
Senatorial
Of course if that the programme of the
Popust leader it would have to be accomplished
10y treachery. The Office belongs TO the Repub-
leans in case tho fusion is successful. In the
address of the State Republican Committee IT is
declared that fusion on the Legislature must pro,
the fusion votes, and that he shall be the nominee
Of the Republican caucus. Is ex-Representauyte
is both asserted and denied Until quite lately II
was believed that Colonel Dockery was sound M
State within few days that he has changed; His
saw Young Claude Dockery not long since. and he
then gave no indication OF change on the part OF
his father.
1t seems pretty clear that three or four things
are true: First. that Butler desired to embarrass
the Republicans: second. that this was TO strength
en- his own position in the State. which mad become
perilous If the Democrats rejected OVcrtures Tor
State fusion; third that the Republican Committee,
not 10 be embarrassed promptly accepted the
Popust action. except to Governor and Auditor.
Butler may continue to trade up to the very eve
OF the election. He Is still hoping for an electoral
deal with the Democrats. and may effect II. The
local fusion in the counties of the State will gen
orally be with the Republicans. but in several
counties. notably Wilson, the hcme of Representa-
tive Woodland OemocraU. Of the I'D District. the
disposition of the mss of Populsts is TO break
away from Buffers leadership and fuse with The
Democrats In other words, the situation is stu
chaotic II must soon clear up, because 1t is time
nominations being made for the legislative
ticket and county Offices Meantime Butler has his
hands full reconcng the more rational ana indie
pendent men of his party TO his contradictory
and vacillatinG course.