Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-19
NORTH CAROLINA SENATORS
Mr.. Butler Has Opened War on Mr.. Pritchard
in Regard to the Latters Re Election.
A POpulist or Democrat May he
Friends Say He Will Win.

A story come here from North Carolina
that Senator Butler. while opposing the re-
election Of Senator Pritchard, has not fixed
upon the man to whom he will give his
support and to whom he will try to throw
the populist support. The story says that
Senator Butler does not know whether 1t
would be good plan to have a populist as
a companion in the Senate from North
Carolina. That might put damper on the
Senator's leadership of the populists Of his
state. 1t would at least divide attention,
and Butler might not be able to keep his
party in line whenever he desired. The
election of democrat or republican would
leave the Senator as the ulndisputed head
Of his party in the state. Senator Butler is
known to be opposed to Prttchard, and he
has openly said that no gold-standard re-
publican can come to the Senate from
North Carolina.
The Natural Alliance.
An alliance of the populsts and republi-
cans to elect a Senator is more natural
than an alliance Of democrats and popu-
lists. but it is not known what silver
republican could be picked UP on whom the
republicans would unite. All the prominent
republicans of the state stood souafely with
Pritchard, and the republican, members of
the legislature stand with flnT now. They
will not change that position, because it
would put them out of touch with the in
coming republican administration. They
want to have something to say about the
distribution of federal patronage in North
Carolina. To join with the populists and
elect a silver republican over Pritchard
would put them in bad favor with the ad-
ministration and with Senator Pritchard,
who will be at the head of his party in the
state whether ne is defeated or not.
Senator Buffers abuse of the democrats
may, 1t is thought, make enemies OF the
populists and democrats again, but If the
Senator has seriously thought of the pro-
ject attributed to him he may decide at
last to have democrat as u colleague. If
this is not done, the only other thing Is the
election of a populist, provided Pritchard
cannot win. The democrats, 1t is said.
would vote for Guthrie. Whether they
would vote for any other populist is a
question. Representative Harry Skinner
is said to have an eye on the place. If he
should get in the Senate with Butler, then
the latter will be in a dangerous position
Skinner disputed Buffers sway at the last
state convention of populists, and almost
beat Senator Butler at the play that was
being made. Skinner is now In the city.
Butler Opens on Pritchard.
Senator Butler has addressed an open let
ter to Senator Pritchard, which is practi-
cally DECLARATION Of war against Pritch-
ard. The letter caused great deal of gos-
sip, and the republican leaders claim that
1t will elect Pritchard beyond a doubt.
Chairman Holton of the republican state
committee declares that Pritchard Is sure
OF ection. He says the populists will be
forced to vote for Pritchard, because the
republicans aided in the election of five
populist Congressman, and did not break
fa1th. The chairman says it would be in
gratitude for the populists to do otherwise