The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-31

one central point of agreement be-
tween people hitherto much apart IN
aims and policies. This central point
being that of the Presidency is seen
of all, and changed relations in some
fashion is looked for as the logical
result of the common National candl-
date now presented.
What these relations are to be, no
one now knows. Many came yester-
day with certain underlined notions,
but all came feeling, no doubt, that
there must be conference as to the
startling political fact of the triple
nomination of w. J. Bryan for the
Presidency.
At the outset. it may be said that
Chairman James III. Pou looked lnno-
cent enough as he sat in the Park lob
hv, saving that he had received no in
timatjon in his mail from anyone that
there should be any coming together
or fusion of any kind. Thus Mr.. Pou's
constituency of correspondents was
acquitted of any completely in any
scheme toward getting together of
forces for the purpose of electing w. j.
| BRYAN in this State. And yet there
was a sneal<ing idea abroad that there
| was some such thought pent up in the
minds of many which had not yet
found plan or word.
And the truth is that the ma ority
| of the members of the Executive Com
mittee who arrived yesterday were
quite frank to say this much: that
they wanted to elect Mr.. Bryan to the
Presidency and that they desired the
united effort of all those who Thought
as they did touching the Pres Dental
candidate.
While this may be said as to a ma
iority, vet there were some who were
disposed to look at the matter differ
emily.
Among those was Mr.. S. Gallert, of
Rutherfordton, who said that the DEM
ocrats in Rutherford were by no
means ready to fuse with the Populists
in that county, which, by the bye, he
estimated to be only about 200. 1t is
but Justice to Mr.. Gallert to say that
some of his friends put him down as
a gold bug.
If, however, these friends be mis-
taken, certainly there can be no mis-
take about the fact that Col. Paul r.
Means is a gold bug. The Colonel
came slowly up the hill from the af-
ternoon train in company with Mr..
Sam j. Pemberton, of Albemarle. The
Colonel is a member of the Executive
Committee. and needs no yellow shoes
to discover the yellow complexion of
his money principles, Even without
: his gold-rimmed spectacles. his bank
erlike side-whiskerettas would betray
his Whitney-like leanings.
During the deliberations of the Dem
ocratic convention, the Colonel march
ed up the hill planted his gold stand
ard and then marched down again.
He shot his gun that day until all the
loads were gone, and then like sensi-
bic man, he laid down his arms. He
was accepted in good faith by the sill
verites as Democrat who had Loyalty
surrendered his personal views to the
overwhelming declarations of his par
ty.
Then the Colonel was next heard
from in New York City where in an
interview which appeared in a New
York paper he was quoted as predict
ing that Mckinley would carry the
State by thirty odd thousand MAORI
ty. Those Democrats who heard his
glowing words at the convention were
pleased, some of them, to doubt the
accuracy of the interview, but as yet
no denial of it seems to have appear
ed anywhere.
And this same Col Paul B. Means
came walking from the station yes
terday afternoon at four o'clock on his
way to the meeting of the Democratic
Executive Committee.
There is no use in suppressing the
fact that his presence in the capacity
of a Democratic Executive Committee
man was in the nature of a gentle
shock to some of the Democrats in
town, and the talk went so far as the
intimation that Col Means would be
called to account in the meeting last
night for his reported New York ut
terances.
Nor will the argument do that is
likely to bob up here that Col. Means,
as an American citizen, is entitled
to his freedom of his speech; more
over that he is entitled to his opinion
touching the chances of the Democrat
ic ticket.
Tor there yet remains as n residumn
something like this: can Democratic
Executive Committeeman have many
helpful suggestions toward the success
of his party, who believes that the
enemy will triumph to the extent of
SOME 0O,ooo iIldJOfIly hSSe anu XIII
dred questions touching Col, Means
foated through the minds of some
yesterday afternoon, and they are
printed here in that same spirit of
frankness which seemed to charac-
terize the seemingly divergent utter
ances of Col. Means at the Democratic
convention and in New York.
Congressman T. A. Woodland, also
- fhn - f4aV1
was learned that Chairman Peu had
invited the candidates to be present,
and seemingly in response to his invi-
tation only Congressman Lockhart and
Woodland had put in an appearance.
Mr.. Lockhart had nothing to say, ex-
1pt to speak hopefully concerning
the outlook in his district. While Mr..
Woodland was not disposed to be over
wise about the solution of the situa-
ton, he was yet evidently in sympathy
with any honorable movement that
would get the Bryan supporters to-
gether on election day.
Fs1