Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-03
A PRETTY FIGHT
Populists and Republicans at Odds
in North Carolina.
SENATOR MARION BOfLERS CIRCULAR
What His Colleague, Mr.. Pitch.
ard. Says of It.
AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT

A very pretty fight is going on in North
Carolina, and last evening Senator Butler,
the young poprlist leader Of the state,
completed a circular which he will send
out to all his party associates in a few
days, and which means war on Senator
Pritchard. his colleague and republican
ally during the last political campaign
in that state
When the two North Carolina Senators
were elected a fusion had been effected be-
tween the republicans and populists The
populists had the upper hand, and Marion
Butler. their candidate, secured the long
term, while Jeter Connolly Pritchard the
| republican. was given the balance Of the
late Senator Fance's term in the Senate,
which will expire on the Sd of next March.
But in consideration of this unequal dis
tributfon of favors Mr.. Pritcha-d's friends
secured promise OF support for the re-
election Of their candidate for a long term
IN the Senate. Mr.. Pritchards friends
alleged that Marion Butler, I'm accepting
the senatorship, referred to this agree
ment and ratified it SO far as he was con-
cerned.
pared ready to send out is a sequel TO this
incident. 1t is strongly asserted that Mr.
Buffers promised support of Mr. Pritchard
was not connected with any conditions and
that he was to use his influence to secure
the reelection of the republican Senator
but the circular now being manifolded for
dlstrlbutlon declares in plain terms that
Mr.. Butler does not wish his friends to
vote for any man for the senatorship who
VIII not promise to support any cne for the
presidency unless he be a declared free
silver man. Senator Pritchard is himself a
free silverite, but he is at the same time
N nd int de
as great concessions as possible for the
cause of silver from the republican party
ana then to accept the results as binding
upon him and TO work for the nominee Of
the st. Louis convention.
What Mr.. Pritchard SAYS,
Il have heretofore said," said Senator
Pritchard to Star reporter today, ito the
people OF North Carolina that 1 was willing
to make cooperative fight in the state,
but was not willing to support an inde-
pendent free silver man on the electoral
ticket 1 sad 1 favored a division Of the
electoral ticket as to give the repubg-
cans share of the electors pledged TO vote
for the nominee Of the st. Louis conven-
ton. while / was ready to give the popu-
lists certain number of electors who
might do as they pleased. In other words,
L favor an honorable co-opera ton between
the populists and republicans. / said /
was not willing to vote for an independent
free silver ticket for the reason that such
action would be an abandonment CT the re-
publican party and while / was for free
silver L was for ii inside of the republican
ranks. believe the republican party IS the
only party that will do anything for sill
ver."
What will be the effect of Mr. Butler.
movement on your reelection 10 the Sen
ate?' Mr.. Pritchard was asked.
Il am saticfed," replied Mr.. Pritchard.
that the republicans will carry The state,
md do hsv,ly a1,xra T.
about their ability to carry the legislature.
We made a fight before very successfully,
and succeeded in eecting a good many re-
publicans and 1 think it would be treating
those men unfairly II / were to attempt
breaking up of the arrangements then
made. There is every disposition on the
part Of the republicans to treat the popu-
lists fairly. but there is no disposition on
the part of the republicans of North Caro-
lima to go over to the populists OF that
state"
Mr.. Pritchard did not wish TO comment on
Senator Buffers circular, shortly to be sent
out but he said when he succeeds in get
ting a copy of 1T he will then make public
reply. This circular has not vet been made
public, although a more lengthy statement
by Mr.. Butler. which has heen modified and
condensed, has been published in ::ews-
papers Of his state. But Mr.. Butler does
not stand by that publication. which, he
says, was never sanctioned by him, and
which was merely a first draft of the cir
cular. 1t Is understood that the circular is
being held back in order that it may be
published In the Caucasian, a weekly paper
published by Mr.. Butler at Raleigh, n. c.
His paper is published weekly. ard he doea
not want the daily journals to secure any
advantage by first publication of his OFF,
cial statement.
Importance Of the Movement.
This movement on the part of the popu.
list Senator cf North Carolina is an ex-
tremely important one in its bearing on
the politics of that state. 1t is a declaration
that Mr.. Butler wants the populi5ts to
fuse only with free silverites, democrats or
republicans. who will support no one for
the presidency who is not free silver man.
and the outcome of this policy, If It should
be adopted, would be to cause the free sill
yer people Of North Carolina to support a
ropulist candidate for the presidency unless
the republican or democratic party should
nominate free silver man, which is ex-
tremcly improbable. His movement, il per-
sisted in. as it is firmly believed by his
friends that ii will be, viii make it inipcs-
:'ible for the republicans and populists Of
North Caroline 10 fuse during the coming
elections.
Republicans of North Carolina acknowl-
edge the great influence of Senator Butler
but tney say they do not fear the outcome
Of The fight brought on by him between
populists and themselves. They sny that
the election law adopted 10y combination
OF these two parties makes il impossible
10 count oUt NoteS OF lliiteTdte negroes, and
that the negro vote of the state T'ill lie
cast for republican candidates. The crisis
in North Carolina politics precipitatel by
Senator Butler, IL is believed. will result in
making either the populists or the republi-
cans Of the state dominant, and does away
with any hope that may have been enter
tanned for a fusion between these parties
1t is thought that either Senator Butler or
Senator Pritchard must go down. and the
struggle to be waged in North Carolina
during the next six months IL is believed,
will be one of the hottest political battles
the state has ever known.
MADE A DISBURSING OFFICER.