Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14

claims to be the rightfui state chairman.
This faction claims to be largely in the ma
jority. Among the leaders in this faction are
ex-Representative Robert Smalls, colored,
and Thos B. Johnson the contestant for the
seat Of Representative Stokes of the seventh
district The Webster faction is support
ing Allison solidiy, while the other faction.
or at least the chairman of it. Is for Reed.
The regular state convention IS announced
to he held on April Z, but the Brayton fac
tion has called one for April IA, and there
will be two distinct sets of delegates. 1t has
been an almost invariable rule of national
conventions, in cases of these contests. to
give each faction a half vote. Mckinley has
good many strong friends among the
minor leaders. but If there is no change in
the situation from now until the state con-
vent:on Allison will be the victor, and will
get all, or nearly all. of the delegates.
Smalls was once power in the state, and
ruled everything to suit himself. His
county contains an enormous colored popu-
lation. and he was formerly solid with them.
Internal factions icssened his power He is
stronger in other parts of the state than
at his home. Brayton, the leader of the
Reed forces, was defeated for the republic
can nomination of the seventh district by
Johnson, who is allied with the Webster
Smalls people
A white republican party. composed of the
better element of the old party and dis
affected democrats, who are tired of the
Tfllman reform rule in the state Is heinz
organized with some success. and the pres
ence OF this element makes the situation in
eHdt stale somewhat doubtful. 1t Is not
thought that they will take much stock I'm
the county conventions. preferring not to
engage In the disgraceful scrambles which
characterize such affairs. Many of the new
recruits are Mckinley men. They are con.
nected with cotton factories and want pro-
lection. Should they be able to turn the
votes of their employees to the republic an
party it would be a large addition to the
ranks.
1t is not likely that any combination be.
tween republicans and jisaffected clements
could be effective. So m;ny colored votes
were disfranchised by the new constitution,
adopted last year. that there would Lave to
be strong white backing to win.
Chairman Brayton was in Washington
this week. He said: THE fight in our state
is not SO much one of presidential candi-
dates. 1t is a question of organizing a re-
spectacle republican party. The most of
the men who will attend the convention
called by me are for Reed
The Dnkotas.
Representative johnson OF North Dakota
says that in his state the fight is chiefiy be-
tween Davis and Mckinley. DAVIS is natur-
ally very strong in the state, but recent
reports, he says, rather indicate that Nc
kinley has a little the best of the fight,
though it is not yet certain that lie will
get the delegation. If the delegation had
to drop to a second choice, there would
be very friendly feeling toward Allison.
In South Dakota strong fight is being
Hidue " get tHe ueleSaUOn Tor DAVIS.
Senator Pettigrew. who is an earnest
friend of Davis, is himself in the field, and
expects to be one of the delegates, bead
ing the delegation at st. Louis. The silver
question enters into the fight. The princi-
pal opposing force to Davis there, as in
North Dakota, Is Mckinley and protcc-
tion.' The belief is that Senator Pcttigrew
will control the delegation, or rather that
the delegation Will be as he desires.
Illinois.
The Illinois men in Congress agree that
Cullom will be a serious candidate before
the convention. and that he will have al
most a solid delegation from the state HIS
candidacy must depend for any hope OF
success upon playing a waiting game. and.
understanding this, IT is said. his friends
will stick by him Until the time comes, if il
should, that it would be obviously useless
to make further fight. 1t would be use
less to enter the contest at all under any
other condition, there is no idea that
Culiom could lead early in the struggle
There is a decided Mckinley sentiment in
the state, and the general impression seems
to be that ne would have majority Of the
delegation if Cullom were not in the race
But situation has developed which may
change this. The Mckinley people have de-
clined to take Culioms candidacy seriously.
but have adhered to the idea that it WAS