New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-13
FUSION IN NORTH CAROLINA
BUTLER SEEMS TO BE COCK or THE
ROOST.
BIT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL
BE-AIL SORTS OF COMBINATIONS
TALKED OF.
LBY TELEGRL PH To TILE TRLHrNI

IBY TELEGRl PIT TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. Aug. IA leading Republican,
whose connections are such as to make his state
ments Of political matters valuable has just
reached the city from North Carolina OF which
State he is citizen He says. "rhe position of
affairs down there is simply indescribable Butler
is not only lord OF the Democrats. he is likewise
lord Of school of Republicans. He completely
hoodwinked the silver Democrats. who are anxious
to form coalition with him Without committing
himself definitely, he makes ex-Chairman Edward
Chambers Smith believe that he is the most yield
ing considerate and oad-minded in that
part OF the world Smith Is conceited, and fancies
that he has immense influence with Butler. who
at glance that Smith personally has
political strength to deliver Buffers game with
both Of the old parties is to coquette until the
last moment with both and give his aid. whatever
that may amount TO- to the one Offering the
bigger inducemert. As to State matters the Re-
pubicans have most to offer. The old alliance, not
yet formally dissolved is with them They have
more in common with him. so far as local affairs are
concerned than the Democrats. But the trouble
is tho electoral ticket. Butler insists on hav-
ing the Mckinley electors withdrawn. and it is
significant that the negro leader Jim Young
favors the project of supporting the Bryan and
Watson ticket | believe on the strength of what
l know that Young was put forward to test the
Republican voters. The response has not been
what was possibly desired The Republicans
generally opposed sacrificing the Presidential
ticket. | know that Holton, Dockery, Boyd and
others who have in the past been the leaders Of
the party against the proposition. Jim Young
is In the confidence OF Russell Prtchard and
Pearson. They have doubtless let him try the
feeling of the State on the subject | do not see
how Pritchard and Pearson can surrender the
electoral ticket, and [ know that If they We're to
agree to it they would fail to secure the support
OF all the leaders. l think the policy Of sacrificing
the Republican ticket would be fatal, The mass
Of Republicans would not adopt IL whatever the
Executive Committee should decide upon
las for Butler and the Democrats, ne seems to have
them in a deep hole and TO be pOkng sticks at them
for pure devilment He has got them all stirred up
on the question OF fusion, and Whichever way they
Since Ransom went to Mexico there is no Democratic
leader. Every man fancies himself leader, ana no
Butler proposes, in reply TO the Democratic Com
mttee's offer of electoral fusion, fusion on Con-
gress, the State ticket the Legislature ana county
offices This the Democratic Committee seems as
posed to think about, but 1t see tnat the mass Oh .e
ticket The Democrats are composed mainly OF three
squads Of unequal size The larger one isfor Bryan
fanatca ssveries the second also favors Bryan anu
Sewal. because the members do not feel IKE le5elis
the marty but they against the silver ana Iopu
stic platform; the third group are the extreme s.l
men Of the party ana Srs sd o ths s tSnR they
deserve at the party's hands. . ,,s,, for roon,hs
MS man of 4 second Democratic State Convention
defear ed he went 10 work on the ne" Deihocrdt,SI
80. rnittea and found plastic material 1t would
seem II remains, however, to De seen "netHe. i4S
Can cxtort from the State Committee any furtner
arrangement than the IL proposed, out l "ouu
not be- surprised at anything. If fusion De made Win
the Republicans the State ticket ana Iocal ma.
tars n is lust possible that some understanding may
be reached before the weeks end ON the Presdenudl
Ticket | oppose any decker here but Would prefer prefer
~ ns me Populists the whole rather than portion
of tha electors | would do for this reason uluer
M circumstances would feel obliged to vote Tor me
Popust electors and hence it would be netter 10 let
them have the whole. ,, s...lo. ,t,a.
The prominent Republican quoted said further ina,
r,,ior l1 nor dare To make snow or MS numerical
lveakness by running State ticket ana separate
Electoral ticket this b based MS eApec, oi
ZION Neen the parties TO the OLD alliance
1nt his gentleman felt that il might not extend 70
he electoral ticket although ne tuliy recognizes ee
I'll 70 Ri,fler OF having Arrangement with one
partv and quite different one with another party;
finder no circumstances did he thlnk bulsr "oui
- - snnarate Rrvan and Watson ticket or com.
Mt Populist electoral ticket. His words weEe
Rutler is sincere he will not abandon bryt anu
enoars he would hardly dare to snow the paucl'y
~ his vote in North Carolina.