Evening star., 1896-07-30
TEE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIE STRUGGLE
A Comprehensive and Instructive
Review of the Situation.
CLAIMS OF BOTH SIDES

NNS'cA
Pugh. whose term of office expires on March
4. 1897. Much interest attaches to the out
come Of the election, because It is generally
accepted that 1t will indicate the populist
strength in the south since the action of the
democratic convention in Chicago and of
the populist convention In St. Louis. 1t
WILL as matter of fact be the first election
held In any of the states since the national
conventions of the parties have acted. The
result here, therefore is expected to fore
cast the outcome in the south on a limited
scale as regards the November election.
Conditions are peculiar in Alabama at
this time. The situation is decidedly mixed
to say the least 1t has been the custom of
the populist and republican parties in this
state to form fusion against the demo-
cratic party, and this program was carried
out TINS year. -Four years ago the fusion
proved very formidable, and Gov. Jones
democrat was elected by the narrow ma
Jorfty of only 1000 votes Two years ago
Oates, democrat, was elected governor by
majority or 5000 votes. One populistsCon-
gresham was declared elected from the re-
suit In 1894. and two republicans and one
additional populist were given their seats
In Congress on contests from this state.
Plan of the Present Fusion.
Early this year the populst and republi-
can leaders agreed upon a plan of fusion
which was carried into effect at the state
conventions of the two parties. which met
at Montgomery. April D. 1t was that the
populists should have the gubernatorial
nomination and all of the state office nomi-
nations, except two. which were to go to
the republicans. This was put into effect
and Congressman Albert T. Goodwin who
was given the seat OF Congressman ]. f.
Cobb from the fifth district on contest was
nominated by the populists for governor
and was in turn indorsed by the two re-
publican conventions there being two con-
lows 81, Ia.
split on national politics. both being In ac-
cord, however, on the matter of fusion in
the state campaign.
The silver faction i'm the democratic party
triumphed In Alabama. as IL did In all the
southern states, and Capt. Joseph F. John
ston Of this city was nominated by the demo-
Gratis for governor. This nomination was
made in April. two weeks prior to the nomi-
| nation Of Goodwin by the opposition There
had been bitter factional fight among the
gold and silver democrats, but after the
victory Of the latter all united in the sup
port or the state ticket, deciding not to let
national issues keep them apart i'm the mat
ter of electing state democratic ticket.
No Fusion on the Electoral Ticket.
The campaign has not until very recently
grown active, as all hands seemed to be
awaiting the outcome of the various con-
ventions. The republicans in this state
were totally unprepared for anything like
q fusion between the populists and demo-
Gratis. and at meeting Of their state ex-
ecutive committee here about three weeks
ago sent subcommittee TO the populist
leaders and requested the latter to give
them some assurance that the populis:s
would fuse with them on an electoral tick
ct. or. rather. would support the republi-
can electoral ticket in return for republican
support OF the state fusion ticket the re-
publican committee concluding that the
populists were still due the former some
thing besides the two state offices which
q fyfN how sH<.
The reply OF the populist leaders was for
the republicans to walt until after the ma
tional populist convention had acted Now
mat that convention has acted, all chances
Ior 1usion between the two parties on an
electoral ticket are killed, and the relb-
ncans have Iut out a straight electoral
ticket OF their own, and during the ma
tional campaign will paddle their own ca
noe.
However. the trade between the republ;-
can and populite parties with reference to
the state ticket ard with regard to county
tickets where fusion has been effected as
mas been the case in many counties still
stands.
Effect Of Free Silver on Populf.t.
But in the meantime many things have
occurred to weaken the combine. To begin
with the adoption of the free coinage idea.
both by the democratic state and national
conventions, has caused many populists to
come back to the democratic party. Their
excuse for such action has been that they
left the party because ii had followed Cleye-
land and departed from it's ancient terets: !:
that now 1t has come back to their way of
thinking, and they are again a part and
parcel of it. This is the view of Phila nader
Morgan, brother Of United States Senator
John T. Morgan, who was a prominent
leader among the populists. and could have
had the populist nomination FOR governor
would he have accepted. Another thing
which has hurt Goodwin to no small extent
among his white followers was his action In
voting while in Congress last spring to seat
the negro, George W. Murray, who success
fully contested the seat OF Col. William
Elliott from the seventh South Carolina
district. 1t appears that Goodwyn was the
| only populist who voted for Murray, and
this has been pointed to Indicating that
he faVors negro rule. While his .o:e has
strengthened him very much among the
negroes it has hurt him extensively among
the whites. In several instances county
candidates on the fusion ticket have come
down and quit the populist narty, and in
one county the popuiist chairman resigned,
all because Goodwin voted Tor the negro.
They SO stated in newspapers cards The
democrats have, of course, made the most
Of this incident. and the democratic cam
paign committee has had printed thou
sands of copies of picture representing
the negro, Murray, side by side with Colonel
Elliott, whose seat he was given, with this
inscription under the picture: Look On this
picture, then on that: Goodwin voted for
4
operated against the fusion ticket has been
the fact that there is nothing now in conf
mon between the republican and popu'ist
parties as regards their platforms in the
ma ton, one being for free silver and the
other favoring the gold standard.
Honest Elections the Issue.
Leaders Of both parties, however, have
| disposed of this by saying that the over
shadowing issue in Alabama is honest cleo
tions, and as that is a local question here
natioal politics are not in it. This has been
generally accepted as an explanation by
the rank and file until since the action of
the St. Louis populist convention. The
| republicans had all along hoped for popu-
list aid on their electoral ticket, but now,
seeing the chance for that is gone. the re-
publicans are growing very restless, and
were the state election to occur a month
hence instead of next Monday ii is probable
that few republicans would be found voting
for the fusion ticket. AS matters stand, 1t
is not probable that many republicans will
bolt the fusion nominees. They say that
1t is and should be made local fight and
that national questions should not be al
lowed to interfere, though no small num-
| ber of them say that they will never vote
for any silver candidate, Goodwin or any
body else.
The Democratic Party United.
t. RRns.