Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-02
TALKING FOR FUSION.
North Carolina POpuIists Seem to
Hold the Balance of Power.

Special Corr, sp"ndcnce of The Evening Star.
RALEIGH, n. c., September !. 1896.
Obseryant PEOPLE see the beginning of
great fight in this state against Senator
Eritchard by the popuiists. While the lat
ter are div on the question Of fusion
with the republicans, those who take the
view of Senator Prtch&rd appear to he
very largely in the majority. All these are
taking strong position against Pritchard
! lie latter, while apparently confident, can
only really lie SO if he knows ne can divide
The popujiSt party or can induce those pop
ulsts who in 1872 and 1891 left the republic
can party to return to it. The republicans
assert that under the new elecuon law
there VIII be ii least 1850 negro votes
heretofore never counted, while Republican
State Chairman Hatton estimates the
strength OF ! as party at $4,000. Dr. j. j.
MOI INSISTS That II is 2DDtt more. lie must
add IN tins the negro vote alluded To. Con-
gresham Pearson tnds it uphill work to
get populst aid in the ninth district 1t
as sand yesterday at the state democratic
headquarters that Pearson was surely beat
ca and II at he had known it any time these.
three Weeks past. He is working like a
beitver, Is he has " orkcd for months past.
The populist convention of the ninth dis
trIct adjourned without iLdorsing him. The
populjsts ere yet sought after assiuuously
by both democrats and republicans. They
know they hold the balance of power and
are acting accordingly. Both democrats
and republicans make their offers. TIE
democratic state committee, who's. offer of
ii division of electors stands open, most
earnestly wants that matter brought TO d
close.
RumOr of Fusion.
1t was asserted yesterday that the popU-
list and democratic chairmen bad actually
arranged this matter but democratic com
mitteemen last night denied this positively.
i.af h..r.. Il. h. HI; l,,
the very last moment some arranSviaent
viii be made, Senator Butler conserving
ercto, as he remains the real h. All. enc
rllSN almost say the vital spark. Of the
party in this state. Now the populis:
state organ and the head Of the popu-
list party's ticket, w. 4. Guthrie unite
in saying that the only electoral fusion
which the populists VIII agree 10 is on "A
Bryan and Watson ticket-that is, Sewall
mist be taken down. The mass of the
democrats Will certainly not submit TO TIL
i'or Is II ere the least sign or evidence that
the democratic committee would entertain
thc suggestion for moment, as il wouli
certainly split the party.
The bulk OF the work for the pas. three
weeks at each of the headquarters. repuiD-
publican democratic and populist. has
been the preparation of the lists of regis
trars of election and judges of election
First these sent in b., county chairr,,.n
ana then each state chairman makes mem
as orig, Al appointments and, as state
commission CT of elections under the totally
new law. certfies them TO the clerk OF the
court or each county. Under this new
election law there will he only two boxes
and Two tickets. one with twcntv-one
names. the other with fourteen These
tickets may be Of any color and may bear
any device. Not since ISIS have any tick
els save white ones without device been
used i'll this state.
The Gold Vote.
One of the gold bugs" who Is delegate
TO Indianapolis, says .p.ntD is a c0nserva-
tive estimate of their numbers. while one
OF the electorS-at-la:Gc a silver democrat
declares that 6,"eo is an outside estimate
TIE southern railway comes in FOR Il share
of harsh talk by the free silver men, u;,on
allegations that il has Instructed its en-
i'ioyes TO stand for the gold standard. Thus
there are factions in The democratic ranks
and also in the populist. Nor are the re-
pUb!icanS united.
The Asheyille Register, which is under
stood 10 voice the sentiments of Senator
Pritch&rd. in its Issue this week advocates
the taking down E'om the republican ticket
OF II. l.. Russell, nominee for governor and
KUHN henderson, nominee for auditor: his
IN the interest of W. \. Guthrie and Hal.
w. Aver. the populist nominees. This
marks possible new sensation.