Evening star., 1896-08-05
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Trying to Do That Which viii Got
the Most Votes. .-
FUSION ON fHE ELECTORAL TICKET
Proposition Made by the Demo-
Gratis to the Populists.
EHE STATE ELECTION 8
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
RALEIGH, N. c., August f. 1898.
The past six days have been crowded
with events vitality affecting the very life
Of the democratic party in North Carolina,
and these events came In such startling
succession as to literally astonish those who
as to possibilities.
"Say to The Evening Star that In North
Carolina 1t Is now no longer politics. but
sentiment" said one of the leading demo-
Gratis to The Star correspondent. 1T Is
silver and silver alone. and a desperate ef-
fort to do something which will get the
most votes"
An editor of q democratic paper when
he read the news that the democratic state
committee had invited the populists to fuse,
said he wished he had the power to forbid
the banns: that here were the democrats
themselves doing something monstrous-
very thing for which two years ago they
had denounced the republicans. But" he
added. '.it is the politicians who are really
doing all these things. and not the people,
as the politicians would have it appear.
When the populist delegates came back
from st. Louis they quickly gave 1t out that
there might be fusion If the democrats
would give them. say. five Of the eleven
electors. They had no time tC make Tor
NAL proposition. for on the night OF the
3Uth of July the democratic state commit
tee made the direct offer to divide, and ap-
pointed Its newly elected chairman, Glenn
ent Manly. to call on Senator and Populist
State Chairman Butler and see what terms
could be arranged.
The two chairmen met here Friday night
and again Saturday morning. Butler had
been sent a telegram by Manly. F. D
Winston. a member Of the democratic state
committee. was present at the first meet
trox haul rfyN0 To day ri Rl1t
q little before Manly's arrival, so as to re-
duce any possible frigidity.
Neither Butler nor Manly will say one
word of what occurred. That will not
come out until August 13. when the popu-
list state convention meets In this city.
This. it can now readily be seen. Is the
most important of all the state conven-
tionS of this remarkable year.
Much Opposition to Fusion.
One of the leading newspapers in the
state made the sweeping assertion the day
after the committees action in declaring
In favor Of fusion that the whole party in
North Carolina aDplauded what had been
dore. This is untrue. There is much bit
ter opposition. and the Charlotte Observer
end Wilmington Messenger, two extremely
influential papers. say what was done is
INDUSTRIOUS One editor said that the
state committee, which voted ~ to in
favor Of electoral fusion. had absolutely
gtEe further than the much denounced
democrats, who, early in the year, were
charged with attempting to trade.
An eN-democraic chairman said: IF we
deal with the populists now we will have
to do it again. What the populists dread
above all things this year is to stand up
and be counted 1t is strange that just as
cur people have the populsts so they can
absorb them or divide their vote, they
bling up this fusion business"
Republican View.
Now alongside OF this must be placed
what Hire m l.. Grant, member of the re-
publican state executive committee, says:
Senator Butler doesn't want to count
noses this year. He can't afford to do it,
If the democrats make Butler what he
thinks liberal offer he will no doubt fuse
But he will be the sole judge Of 1t. We
can't fuse with the populists on the elec-
toral ticket. Butler can't allow that. His
success at St Louis has changed the whole
plan He is Obliged now. to be consistent.
to fuse with the democrats electorally. But
the rank and file of populists and republi-
cans are bound to fuse on state matters.
1t Is policy. not principle, which proves
this We must retain control Of the legis-
lature- Watch and see II Butler does not
make W. A. Guthrie populist state chair
man. Under the new state law Butler can
not himself Continue state chairman, and
Guthrie is now being pressed for governor.
so that when he Is given something else,
the chairmanship. II will appear like q
great concession on his part. Then Butler,
already national chairman, can manage
the party in the state, through Guthrie. as
Well as IL he were state chairman himself -
Some democrats say that the two worst
things done this year were the kissing of
Clevelands name by the state convention
and the viriual reputation Of Sewall by
their state committee.
What Fusion Democrats Say.
On the other side of the question the
fusion democrats claim that they represent
the rank and file Of the party Not only
this. but they go further and say they rep
resent the rank and file of the populists,
too. In speech before the democratic
state committee E. c. Beddingfield declared
that delegates-elect to the populist state
convention were receiving letters from
their people saying they must work for
fusion and vote for 1t.
Ex-Chairman Simmons. an earnest advo-
cate OF fusion. says 1t Is not worth while
to protest or kick against 1t: that the par
ty. in fact. all the silver people, have abso-
lutely determined upon carrying it out.
A Republican Out for Bryan.
The State was Informed of the fact that
James H. Young. republican state commit
teeman. had declared for Bryan and Wat
SON. Friday night he went to see Senator
Butler. and just as soon as the latter's con-
ference with Chairman Manly ended had a
talk with him The republicans express
amazement at Young's action. and say they
think 1t must be a desperate effort to get
'in the push" George q. French, one of
the most prominent republicans in the
state. and ID. L. Russelrs chief political
manager, says Young has literally read
himself out of the party. j. c. L. Harris.
republican ex-state secretary. who Is of al
most the same mind Young and who de-
clares that the republicans must give the
populists all eleven votes. and must also