Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-03
THE ALABAMA ELECTION.


Populists Think They Will Win If
They Get n Fair Count.
Populists in Washington are all deeply
interested in the election being held In Ala
Lama today. Without exception they pre-
dict that the populists will win the day If
there is fair count. Equally as much in
terest is manifested by all Alabamians who
residents OF the city. The Alabama
democrats feel that this is the most impor-
tant election ever held in the state and
that the supremacy of the party is at stake
While the populists here and elsewhere are
Claiming that they will win the election if
there is not fraud, the democrats say that
The elec ton will be won by that party with
out any fraud. They aliege that thousands
of populists have rejo.ned the democratic
party since the nomination of Bryan at St.
LOUIS. The popuiist party, they say, Sc
cured its strength in Alabama because the
people were told that the democratic party
was dominated by eastern influences and
would never declare for silver or anything
else that the east did not want. Because of
this thousands of men left the democratic
party. These men. they say, have returned.
No fraud they declare, will be necessary
if any ever was necessary, which is denied.
They cite the names of d number of prom
inent popuistS VINO have returned to the
ranks of the party.
What Mr.. Turner Says,
Ex-Secretary Turner of the populist ma
tional committee, who is still in charge of
the committee headquarters here, said to Il
Star reporter this morning that there was
no doubt the populists would win If they
could secure an honest count. He doubted
that they would get this. He said that
there are fftysiX counties in the state. OF
these forty are known as white counties"
where the white vote exceeds that of the
coioTed. The remaining siXteeh counties
belong in what is called the black belt" !"
where the colored vote is lar.-ely in the
majority. He went on to expiai'. that near
ly al the white counties are in control OF
Iopullst county officers and that the popu-
hst ticket VIII get fair count. In the
black counties, however, the democrats IS
would likely make the best Of the sltua-
ton. In the last election, Mr.. Turner said,
kolb received a majority of something like
22nc votes IN the white counties. while
Oates received majority of 81 900 in the
black counties. In one of these counties,
he SAID. the majority for Oates had been
larger than the total male population of
the county.
The election is going to be close" said
Mr.. Turner, and it all depends on how the
vote is counted
Mr.. Turner was asked If he thought the
result would have any bearing on the ma
tional election. Il do not think so,'' he said.
Bryan will carry the state. The populists
are too strong for silver to ever vote for
-hcr\iHiey Hey may combine with tIle re-
publicans on state issues. but they Will
rever fuse with them on electors" Mr..
Turner stated that the fusion that is now
on for the state ticket of Alabama is be
tW cen the populists and lilly white repub-
icans The "black and tam republicans
lave ticket of their own in the field.
Mr.. Turner is familiar with the situation
in Alabama. He has been through the
state several times and has made a number
Of speeches there. He says he is confident
that whatever is the Ontcome it will have
no effect on Eryan's chances Of carrying
Alabama in November.