New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-09

Senator lanes Is Jones the chairman Of the
Democrotir National Committee was quoted in
n Chicago dispatch the other day as expressing
decided uncasness over a certain alarming turn
in The fortunes of the I,"pudiatlon campaign Ill
Alabama A threatened fusion on electors be-
tween the Alabama Republicans and the souhn-
money wing Of the local Democracy was the
chief cause of the Arkansas Senator's uncoA-
cealed concern Mr. .Iones's fears evidently had
some substantial foundation: for we ind them
expressed even more poniedy and posiiiveiy
bv his willy ally and rival i'll the management
of the distracted RryanSewall. Bryan-Watson
campaign the chairman of the Populisi NATIONAL
Committee Senator Marion Butler. Mr.. Butler
who has Just finished visit to Atlanta ana
Birmingham. is reported as saying yesterday on
his return to Washington:
II the Republicans and Sound Money Democrats
In Alabama fuse on National electors. they VIII
probably carry the State unless the silver FORCES
also unite. The Sound Money democrats WI
see to It that there is a fair election IN the
Stale and that the vote OF the Black Counties
Is fairly counted. This is a thing which adds
especial interest to the situation. We are de-
handing that the Silver Democrats shall give
us at least . division Of the electors They don't
want to give us anything but think they VIII
come around after while. If the Silver forces
do not unite. ] have no hesitation in saying that
the Gold Democrats in combination with the
Republicans. will come pretty near keeping
some Of the Southern States out Of the Bryan
column.
This frank and candid statement Of the North
Carolina Senator seems fully justified by facts
Fusion is Indispensable TO the success of Mr.
Rryans campaign in Alabama. Yet many
natural causes operate 10 make prac-
tical union between the Democratic and
Populist forces difficult. if not impossible
For five six years the Democratic and
Jopulist organizations in Alabama have carried
on Il SinGularly vcDomouS and cmbttcred strug
Gle for local supremacy. A least twice the
POpulisiS. under the leadership of Kolb and
Bowman. have won apparent triumphs al the
polls. only 10 see the fruits Of victory stolen
from them hy barefaced fraud In 1892. and
again in 1894. Captain Kolb succeeded in rally
Ing 10 his support n clear majority of the white
voters of the State. but through an unblushing
manipulation Of The election machinery in the
socallcd Black Counties the Montgomery ma
chine twice managed 10 keep him ont of the
Governors chair
Al The Populisl National Convention last July
kolb and Bowman took somewhat cduvocal
attitude favOring the indo scment of Bryan and
Scwall AZ possible means of inducing the Dem
ocraiic managers al home 10 guarantee IN hon
est count AZ the State election held early in
August The two leaders were defeated in
their design by the strength Of the Middle Of
the Road sentiment in their own and other
Southern States. and they returned 10 Alabama
without securing pledges or concessions Of any
sort from the Democratic leaders At the Au-
gust election Representative Goodwyn the Popn-
list candidate for Governor was again made the
victim Of a fraudulent count in the Black dis
trici. and was declared defeated by Il majority
Of something like 10000 votes.
The old antagoni>ms between the two par
ties famed out afrcsh as result Of the dsap-
pointing struggle over the Governorship. and
all thought Of electoral fusion was quickly aban-
doned The ropulst State Convention NOM
mated full sci Of Bryan-Watson electors. and
the Democratic Convention put complete
Bryan Sewali ticket in the field. Recently the
Populisi State Committee resolved TO accept no
fusion which did not commit each and every