The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-01
BIG FIG HIT IN ALABAMA
Election Next Monday and What its Issues
and Men Intend.

Montgomery, Ala, July 31-Alabams
will be first in the field for the election
since the national conventions. On Au.
gust 3, next Monday, the electors vii
ballot for a governor and state officers
The result will be watched with great
Interest all over the country.
Since the first appearance of the
Farmers Alliance there has been divi-
sion in the ranks of the white voters of
Alabama. Prior to that time they had
been practically unanimous for the
Democratic party. There was some
white Republican strength, but II did
not aggregate 10000 and was not felt in
political contests. In consequence there
was but little opposition to Democratic
candidates from 1876 TO 1892.
Occasionally an independent move
mant was attempted. bat was buried
under at least 100000 majority. In 1890
under the leadership of r. +. Kolb the
Farmers Alliance entered the political
field. Their work was done secretly
and county after county was captured.
When the Democratic state convention
met KOIb's name was presented and
pressed for nomination.
His following was made up of men
few Of whom had ever been in a state
convention. They numbered within less
than fifty OF a majority of delegates.
bad at no time was there the semblance
Of break in their ranks. Four others
contested for the nOminatiOn-William
Richardson, James Crook, Joseph F.
Johnston and Thomas G. Jones. The
latter after a convention of four DAYS
vas nominated and elected without op-
position.
In 1872 Kolb again sought the Demo
cratic "omination, but when he saw
that Jones was sure of a denomination
he caused his followers to hold sonar
a;e conN en;iunS, set up a plea of fraud.
ami n inmate him with a full ticket in
opposition 10 the regular organization.
Jones was again elected by u 600 ma
3ority. but kolb insisted that he was in
fact chosen. and he continued to pose
as martyr. Immediately after his
second de,s2t kolb went into the third
parry crowd. helped TO put out Weav-
er ticket Of Populists and Republicans.
all pledged TO support Harrison If need
ed to elect him. and stumped the state
for the ticket
IN 1894 tie Democrats were divided on
the currency question. Captain John
Hton had been for two years a candi-
date for the gubnatOrial nomination He
had been big factor in many deals in
Bi,niii CHAM and the mineral districts.
He Wa president OF a large national
bank. He resigned his hank presidency
and soon developed into an extreme
anti-Clevel"nd agitator Soon after The
extra session OF congress. convened in
August. 1898. he published an interview
TAX 'ng most extreme position against
Cleveland and his policy and advoca ted
free silver coinage. Until then he was
practically eltain Of nomina ton With
cut opposition
He had big following four years be-
fore, and he was the only one OF the
candidates of that year seeking the
Nomination. The soUa. money admin
tstration Democrats did not feel ike
resting under his attacks upon the pres
ident- Governor Oates, in January. 1894. |
consented 10 make a fight for the nomi-
nation and after a remarkable showing, /
every county in the state. he
secured a majority Of the delegates %
the state convention Richard H
Clarke was the only one of his congress
associates who supported him. and I,
when the convention met he was chcs- |
IN president.
This contest left Captain Johnston |
and many of his supporters sore. al |
though they supported Oates. Again |
kolb turned up. This time he made nc |
pretense of sesa..g Democratic cup |
port, but he was nominated for COVER !
nor by a distinctly anti-Democrati /
oaSes' majority was about |
b. 00o. Kolb sought to set up a dual /
government, claiming that Oates had /
been counted. his revolution amount
I'd 10 nothing.
Oates gave out from the start that
,e would not be a candidate in 1886. but