Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-31
A FAIR ELECTION
What the Alabama Populists Are
Striving For.
EFFECT OF TEE RESULT NEXT MONDAY
Conditions Of Fusing With Demo-
Gratis on Bryan in November.
NAY GO FOR M'KIN LEY

MAY GO FOR M'KINLEY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, July 31.-The state
election next Monday promises to mark out
political alignments very closely in Ala
hama for the national contest that Is to
follow. 1t has developed during the last
two days that unless the populists are sat
isfied with the result Of the state election
they will, their leaders say, fuse with the
republicans on an electoral ticket and cast
their votes for Mckinley in November.
This may sound like startling STATEN ,nt,
but it was made to The Star correspondent
by one Of the most influential populist lead
ers In Alabama yesterday. He said: THE
paramount question with us Is that Of hon
est elections. Our candidates have been
counted out twice by the democrats in this
state, and If we are not given fair deal
this time We will refuse to fuse with a
party that Is so dishonest and will con-
tinue our alliance with the republicans,
even going to the extremity of voting for
Mckinley in order to emphasized our con-
domination of ballot box stuffing. We do
not claim that there Is anything in common
between the populists and republicans on
national questions except possibly some OF
our people favor protection, but We do as
sert that both parties want a free ballot
and fair count and have stood together
In Alabama for the past four years to get
it. and if II is not given to US next Mon
day we will continue to stand with the 1e-
republicans in this state. We are for free
coinage with all of our hearts, but we
contend that above all things we must have
the democrats if they do not treat us fair
ly at the polls. On the other hand II We
are given a fair election we will support the
Bryan electoral t!clft, provided the demo-
Gratis take the few gold men now on it In
this state off and put in their places good
silver advocates.
Claims of Former Unfair Elections.
The populist leader quoted above voices,
no doubt, the sentiment of majority of
the members of his party in this state.
There never has existed feeling of broth
erly love here between the populists and
democrats, all because the former have in
sisted that they could not get fair elections.
1t will be recalled that Capt. r. F. kolb,
who was the populist-fusion candidate for
governor four years ago. and again TWO
years ago. claimed each time that he had
been elected, but was defrauded by false
returns from the counties in the black
belt, that section of the state where the
negroes are in the majority. but the coun-
ties of which invariably roll up big demo-
cratic majorities. Kolb made an effort to
contest the governor ship with Gov. Oates
two years ago, but could not do so, as there
is no law in this state providing for such
contests. He and his friends then tried 10
get the legislature TO enact such statute.
but failed. They even went SO far as 10
try to have the United States Senate send
a committee to Alabama to ascertain If a
republican form of government existed IN
this state, but this, too proved a vain en-
deavor. All Of these recollections of I'M
pleasantness with the democrats are now
told that party that unless the result next
Monday is satisfactory to them (the popu-
hsts) they will not fuse with the demo-
Gratis in support of Bryan in this state.
Object of Gen. Weaver's Visit.
1t was in this connection that Gen. James
B.. Weaver, the Iowa populist leader, came
to Alabama this week. He conferred with
local leaders of his party, and after OBJ
tanning their sentiment which he seemed to
share, he met some of the democratic lead
ers and informed them that the success of
silver and Bryan in this state in November
depended chiefly on whether not the
democratic managers saw TO it that Good
wynn, the populist fusion candidate for gov
ernor. got a fair deal next Monday. The
democratic managers, ii Is said, assured
him that they were as anxious as their
populist friends for an honest election, and
would do all in their power to secure one.
The populist leaders say that they will
assert that If Goodwin gets a fair count
he will win by upward of $1,000 majority.
The democrats, on the other hand, say that
Johnston will have majority fully that
ing claims stand.
Work of Anti-DemOcrats.
1t is a fact, however, that within the past
few days the anti-democra:s have been Lut-
ting a tremendous amount of steam,
" he
grow somewhat nervous. Cyclone Davis of
Texas, j. R. Sovereign, Gen. Weaver and
other leaders of the peoples party from
abroad are at work in the state. Weaver,
however, IS not on the stump. He is doing
all that lies within his power to get demo-
Gratis and populis.s together in such a way
as will result in their fusion without fric-
ton for Bryan and silver.
He Is told by his fellow populists that
that can only be done by a fair election
next Monday; hence he is working for a
square deal for his party at the polls. At
the same time he says that he Is seeing to
1t that silver men only are chosen for the
legislature. If the democrats and populists
fuse after August it is their purpose to pool
strength In the legislature and elect a silver
Senator. Democrats, however, feel that
they will not need populist aid in order to
do that, as they expect to have a straight
democratic majority in the general assem-
bly, and be able to elect the caucus NOM
inee, who will most probably be a silver
man.
Efforts for Fair Election.
General Weaver will most likely be here
until after the election and is now making
en- effort to have National Democratic
Chairman Jones visit Alabama and use his
efforts in behalf of a fair election SO as to
tTing the populists in line for Bryan with
out further trouble.
At this time 1t is impossible to predict the
outcome. Capt Johnston, the democratic
nominee for governor, has pronounced him
self in favor Of honest elections in every
speech that he has made. His associates III
the party talk likewise. The democratic
managers say that fair and square deal
will be had, but, still, all of this has not re-
moved the misgivings Of the populists, who
say that they are afraid Of the fire because
they have been burned by it In the past.
One thing seems sure, and that is that the
future course Of the populists In this state
will be governed very largely by l.ext Mon
days result and their opinion as 20 how
such result was accomplished.
Sleep and the Coincidence
From the Boston Herald.
Il should think it would irritate you, DR..
Founder. to see members of your conpreea-