The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-05
MAJOR cUTHRlE's VIEWS.
He Thinks All the Silver Men viii Get
Together and Sweep the State--Non-
Partisan State Superintendent of

Together and sweep the Stafe--Non-
Partisan State Superintendent of
Public instruction.
Mai. w. A. Guthrie was in town
yesterday on his way to Chatham
court.
The leading Populist candidate for
Governor was smiling and happy. As
the round silver dollar rises from the
political horizon, it throws white rays
over the situation. That's what the
Major thinks, and as the Populists
are booming him for Governor, his
views may be of interest.
rs fusion between Republicans and
Populists now possible?' reporter
him.
Won't it be time enough to talk
about that when the Republicans show
they are fused among themselves.
The Dockery and Russell factions
seem to be pretty far apart on State
matters, and some of their followers
seem to be far apart on National mat
tiers. [ understand Judge RusselIs
convention here the other day declar-
ed in favor of free silver and McKin-
lev, and this would hardly suit the
gold-bug element of the Republican
party who want Reed or Morton or
some other single-standard man.
"They have found out one thing,
viz, that the Populists of North Caro-
lima don't propose to fuse for a mere
division of spoils in this campaign. |
think before this campaign is ended,
in fact before the Peoples party State
convention is called and held the line
of cleaage upon the free coinage of
silver is going to be so distinct and
well drawn that it will be hard to tell
where any old party man, either Re-
publican or Democrat, is going to
stand We all know now where the
Peoples party stands upon that and
kinded subjects relating to financial
reform. If you will read the Congress
sional Record of last Friday and the
speech made by Senator Butler in
introducing a bill to make trade dol
lars and Mexican dollars and Japanese
yen a legal tender in the payment of
debts, you will have a good idea of
what is foreshadowed as one of the
financial planks that will be introduce
ed at the Populist State convention,
platform. / have written an article
on that subject myself for next
weeks Caucasian.
81 think fusion between gold Repub-
licans and Populists will be impossi-
BILE; / believe that fusion between
gold Democrats and Populists is i'm
possible; but / believe that fusion be-
tween silver Republicans, silver Demo
Gratis and PopuIists is not only posi-
BILE, but almost certain. In other
words, believe the silver men in both
the old parties will unite with the
Populists. just how it is going to be
done, / am not prepared to say, but
time will develop the plan by which it
will be brought about. / believe that
the lime of yleayage on free silver
coinage will not only be drawn i'll the
electoral and Congressional tickets,
but also in the election of members
of the next General Assembly, on the
lines of Buffers speech and my arti-
Gle in the Caucasian.
II think great many of the gold
Democrats will go to the Republicans.
Fusion on the basis of '94 has pass
ed away. 1t was simply to change the
election law and the county govern
ment system.
II believe, that the silver men of
all parties will get together and sweep
the State.
And the Republican party is not
solidly for gold. ! believe there are
three hundred silver Republicans i'm
Durham county, who will vote for the
silver candidates, and If there is a
single Populist in the county who is
going to vote for gold-bug for Pres
ident or Congress,I don't know him.
seThere is one State office that /
want to see taken entirely out Of poll
tics. and that is the superintendent
Of Public Instruction; and | want TO
see the Teachers Assembly when it
meets in June take the matter up
and recommend a suitable man for the
position; and ali Parties take him up
and vote him through without opp01
sition, / want TO see some young, ac-
tive. progressive educator, who is up
with the times. put into that office,
and have him devote his entire time TO
the building up of a system Of com
mon-school education in the State
which would be commensurate with
the educational resources and needs
of the State, and who would see That
the people get a proper return for all
the money raised by taxation for ed
ucational purposes. And | want the
Superintendent to feel that he is not
dependent upon any particular party
for his position. / don't know Of a
better body to make the recommen-
dation than the Teachers Assembly
because it represents every shade of
political thought To properly fill that
office at this time requires more real
executive ability to build up system
Of education than is required by any
State officer, not excepting the Gov
ernor."
ON TO SOUTHERN PINES.