Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-18
They Will Seek Recognition From the
New President.
DEMOCRATS WHO MAY Be REPUBLICANS
How to Build Up the Republican
Party in the South.
A PRESENTATION OF FACTS

From well-posted circles a Star reporter
learns that many gold standard democrats
in the south not only expect recognition
of their services from the incoming ad-
miristration, but that they will seek recog
milton. From the same source it is stated
that President-elect Mckinley has serious
ly thought of what action he will take
in these matters; that Chairman Hanna
deliberated over the question before the
campaign closed, and that he promised
his assistance in several instances, not
On the ground that these southern men
should help elect Mckinley, but on broader
and stronger partisan grounds.
1t Will be no revelation to say that in
every southern state there will be gold
democratic applicants for positions under
the new administration. 1t will be inter
estipg to know thai the applications will
not be made on the basis of the work done
for Mckinley. but on the basis OF what
can be done for the republican party in
the south should these men be recognized
4 Presentation of Facts.
President-elect Mckinley and his admin
istration will have put before them these
facts: First. that never before in the
history of the country has the democratic
party been so badly split in the south;
that 1t is SO badly crippled that the proper
work will result in it's being permanently
disabled. Second, that the way to do this
is to recognize the gold standard men
and thereby anchor them safely to the re-
publican PARTY and republican principles.
Third. that the nucleus of a strong re-
publican party can thereby be formed In
every southern state.
1t will not be, it is said. the old time
republican leaders of the south who will
bring these ideas to the attention of the
national republican leaders. 1t will be the
influential business men and bankers of that
section who deserted the Ge mocratic party
in the last election, and who now find
the doors of the party closed to them.
They do not want to return to the party.
because they now find the principles of
the party sntagonistic to their interests.
They will not join the republican party,
as now constituted. because their social
however, t. Join the party and become
it's leaders, if they are given the oppor-
tunity.
Why the South is Democratic.
Every man of intelligence in the country,
ii is said, has long ago learned why the re-
publican party in the south does not num-
Der in its ranks the men of standing and
brain found in the other parts of the coun-
try. The colored voter has stood in the
way. The fear that he might get posses
sion of state has made the white men
stand together, whether principle was in
volved or not. That same fear still induces
thousands of men to stay with their cid
party. when they have long ago gone back
the principles of that party, and are
looking for a chance to enter another
party which will represent them more full
ly. but which will give them the same
guarantee of white rule. The foregoing is
the way the matter is now being put, and
the way 1t will be presented to the Presi-
dent-elect. who Is probably as keeniy cog
niZant of the facts aSy one.
The point is made that in .he election
just over hundreds of wealthy white men
in every southern town walked to the polls
and openly voted for Mckinley. for the
first time in their lives Drawing the con-
tume1y they expected to be neaped upon
them from their former associates. When
they did this they cast the die. They cut
themselves adrift from their old party, but
they did not seek entrance to the other
party. They did not know whether the
doors of the other party would be cordially
opened to them. Now, they will want to
know whether they will have cordial invi-
tations to enter. If they fin1 the doors
open there is strong ground for saying they
will go in.
To Have Two White Parties.
The wires, it is alleged. will be laid for
two parties of white men in the south
The new republican party may embrace
fewer white men than the old democratic
party, but 1t will have much brains and
as much money, and in time will draw to It
a majority of the white men. In doing this,
1t is argued, the faithful colored voter need
not be forgotten. He will be remembered
in more ways than now. His new friends
will secure possession of state governments
and of county governments. and he will set
more in the shape of small positions than
now.
Georgia is pointed to as an example of
what might be done. Thousands of white
men in that state who have been demo-
Gratis all their lives voted for Mckinley.
Some stayed at home. The feeling between
these men and their former friends is Bit
ter. These men members of a party,
the national democratic, which is merely
formalfty. For years, 1t Is argued, a ma
jority of these men have been sympa-
thfzers with the republican principle Of pro-
lection They have not dared vote the re-
publican ticket for fear of the feeling it
would arouse. In Georgia, Alabama and
Tennessee, particularly, the protection sem
timent in democratic ranks has been about
as strong as the free trade sentiment. 1t
Is growing daily, because of the increase
in cotton mills and because of the coal and
iron and other industries.
1t Is said on good authority that President
Mckinley will give good places to many
southern gold democrats, but he will not
be able to give them a ajority of the
best places in their respective states He
will have to recognize the men who worked
for his nomination at st. Louis. After that
Is done ne VIII De aDle 10 give places to the
new men. He will. It is said. have better
excuse to do this than any other republican
President. In addition 10 the reward due
the gold men the President can avoid the
republican factions in each state by giving
positions to other men. Every southern
state is split into factions. If one Of these
Is recognized the other Is offended. There
is more factional difference now than for
years.
Narrow Escape From Asphyxintion.