Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04
DEADLOCK OVER FUSION.
North Carolina Popu1ists Demand
Regarding Silver.

Regarding Silver.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
RALEIGH. N. c., February 3, 1895.
The Stars correspondent in a recent LETT
ter foreshadowed the fact that the popu-
lists and republicans might be at the part
ing of the ways in North Carolina unless
the republicans acceded to the populist
demand that all candidates openly pledge
themselves that they will vote for no man
v no Is for a gold standard. That de-
mand has now been made formally. 1t
may as well be said that Senators Pritch-
ard and Butler are the heads and repre-
sentatives Of the republican and populist
parties in North Carolina, and 1t is by
these two that negotiations were opened.
There were many people who laughed
and not a few who snssred at the silver
convention held here last September. 1t
was called by some democrats, but the
pcpulists attended 1t in great numbers, and
Senator Butler wrote the single and terse
resolution which was adopted. This was
the now noted one to the effect that every
one who attended the convention was
pledged to vote for no man who would
not openly declare that he favored the free
and unlimited coinage of silver.
Now this was Senator Buffers ulti-
matum. and by 1T he stands. He has
asked the republicans If they will make
this pledge before there is fusion on the
electoral ticket. They have declined to
make it, 80 there is a deadlock.
The first class Of believers hold that
there will be fusion on the electoral ticket
upon the basis of an equitable division,
and say that unless this Is the case the
populists will stultify themselves. They
argue that If there is no electoral fusion,
but fusion on the state and county tickets,
democrat will ask populist how the
latter can vote for, say, republican can
didate for governor who is an avowed
gold man.
Senator Pritchard says that this is sure
ly republican state. Yet he wants CO.
operation in the coming campaign. Sen
ator Butler asks him why he should want
silver state and will not give a single
electoral vote to any gold bug for Presi-
dent. In no state in the Union is the
gold and silver fight so narrowed down as
! it is in North Carolina, as the above state
| ment makes clear.
The populists have gone so far in the
silver movement as to put 1t far above
politics, and hence it is that their state
populist state chairman, declares once for
ALL 1.-The peoples party cannot cooperate
with sny party unless such party is will
ing to cooperate on principle ard to adj
upon populist backbone.
The Asheville Register, which Is we'll
| known to be the organ of Senator Pritch-
ard. has angered the populists by referring
saying editorially: 1--WE are In favor OF
cooperation just as long as our populist
friends are reasonable in their demands,
but If they become obstreperous we repub-
licans will simply step in and clear the
field.''
To this Senator Buffers paper replies:
'The peoples party cannot cooperate with
those who insist upon voting and working
to put a gold bug in the White House.
If that Is unreasonable then we are proud
Of being unreasonable; if that is 'oDstrep-
erous' then we will continue to be obstrep-
erous. No party which insists upon sup
porting a gold bug for President can do
much toward Clearing the field in North
Carolina"
Senator and Chair. an Butler has sent to
each township chairman of his party In
this state circular letter, saying: "Our
committee (the state executive committed
wants to know II you indorse its plan for a
non-partisan electoral ticket, pledged
against any GOLD bug candidate for Presi-
dent" It is quite significant that of the
| first one hundred replies received seventy
five opposed fusion on the electoral ticket.
Another sensation is caused by an open
letter, written by State Senator W. r.
Lindsay, who is a member Of the national
populist executive committee, In which he
suggests fusion Of his party and the DEM
ocrats. Some democratic papers approve
his plan, but some do not. The ultra-pepu-
list organs, which are very bitter toward
the democrats, say that the latter oppose
fusion Of the populists and republicans
| but yet It is altogether proper provided
the parties to 1t are populists and demo-
Gratis.