Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-18
LIKE COMIC OPERA
Plots and Counter Plots in North
Carolina Politics.
TAR HEELS IN GENERAL TURMOIL
All Eyes Watching for the Out
come of the Trouble.
THE STARS IN THE CAST
TAR HEELS IN GENERAL TURMOIL
THE STARS IN THE CAST
ecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
RALEIGH, n. c., August II. 1895.
The most desperate political game ever
seen in North Carolina was played here
last week. To get an insight into it 1t
must be promised that there are factions
In each of three parties-republican demo-
cratic and populist.
The democrats began the play by pro-
posing to the populists electoral fusion, and
that only Marion Butler, at that time
really the populist party. replied to this
that proposition for complete fusion, with
the Senator given to the populists. would
be favorably received by him and recon-
mended to his committee. But Clement
Manly, the democratic chairman, had an
idea. he says, that this counter proposition
OF Buffers was not a real one, to be laid
before the democratic state committee, but
merely a memorandum of Buffers views.
But the populists declare otherwise and
cave issued statement. in which they
charge the democrats with ignoring the
populist counter proposition, and hence
seek to put upon the democrats the blame
for not uniting all the free silver forces.
Now, the proposition to fuse electorally
Was as much as the democratic committee
could stand. Even the acceptance of that
proposition by the populists and the at
tempt to make this deal would have famed
into flame an incipient revolt in the demo-
cratic ranks. 1t would not have had
united democratic support. Neither would
it have had solid populist support. for a
large proportion of the latter party will
go to any length rather than vote for
democrats.
Each Party Dfstrusts the Other.
And here was where what many term the
folly of attempting to mix populists and
democrats came in. The solid vote Of the
two CO mot be assuerd. AS exCongress-
nan Buck Kitchen says. leach party
distrusts the other" and with this dis
trl st there Is marked aversion in many
cases. The truth is the rank and file of
The populists wanted fusion with the re-
publ:cans. What Butler really wanted was
fusion with the democrats on electors,
he regarded one as fully as important as
tie other. Butler was fortnight al least
dictator, SO far all three of the parties
are concerned
The next big move in the play was at the
populist state convention, when Butler pro-
cured the nomination of Oliver H. Dock
cry known the "old war horse of the
Pee Dee" and who Is confessed by re-
publican state committeeman to have
larger personal political following than any
other man in the state) as lieutenant gov
ernor. D. l.. Russell beat Dockery for gov
ernor by fraction of one vote, and ever
s-nce a large element in the republican
party was pledged not to vote for Russell.
Buffers play was therefore 10 divide the
republican vote by putting Dockery on tine
ticket.
Forces Arrayed Against Butler.
He had trouble in doing this because he
thus drew the fire of Harry Skinner and
Cyrus Thompson, the latter the president
of the State Farmers Alliance. Skinner
and Thompson both desired fusion with the
republicans, both hated Butler. and both
had what they considered secure repubi.-
can pledges of support for Congress. Skin
Ter had been trying to fix and perhaps
had arranged a deal with Congressman
Pearson by which the republicans in Skill
Der's district were to support him and the
populists in PearsOn's district support HIM
reciprocity. Pearson calls it. And i;
seems the republican Central committees
chairman was a party to this deal in the
nrst and ninth districts. Cy. Thompson was
gut up for governor, but Guthrie bea,
aim by two-thrds vote. That represented
Buffers strength in the convention.
BUtler's Overthrow FOreshaIOyved.
The fact that Skinner was able TO stand Oh:
the platform and attack Butter, the populis,
.tiol. marks the coming OF change. Two
years ago he would not have dared at
te mpt it, would it have been permit
ted. There are those who say they see Al.
1t ti,a beginning Of the end of Buffers vast
&c yer. The sccEe was Indeed dramdt..
when Skinner told Butler he was SALE
leader but a party wrecker, VINO had maue
the populiSt party a hariot at st. LOUIS am
a harlot between two parties in North Caro-
Ina. Skinner was livid with anger. Butler
though really at white heat, looked as
frigii as an icicle he rebuked Skinner
and told HIM the matter was now ended
Then he added. with face Ike flint: THE
matter is over SO far as l am concerned
If not. am ready to see it over Mint
of fat n "a
pecte1 a personal collision. That night
Butler and Skinner sat at the same table
at their hotel and talked to each other, TO
the Amusement OF populist, who said
Are they really speaking?' But when
Skinner was leaving the following day he
said to The Star correspondent these little
words NO amount Of deception. treachery
and Juggling will prevent the state CT Mort:
Carolina from going for Bryan.
Intense Republican Interest.
Every leading republican in the state was
here while these events were in progress
and their interest in the popuHst play was
intense They saw Skinner worsted in his
Rattle with Butler, and they were astoun
ded by the nomination of Dockery. They
saw Cyrus Thompson, another of their pop
ulist allies captured by Butler by the unar-
rlace worth 5000 a year, and then, after
his revolt, getting into ranks again and
saying he was for the ticket. The situa
ton was dark indeed. But Senator Pritch-
ard who is az much the republican leader
as Butler is the rorrlist. devised a way Of
getting out Of the difficulty. This was rot,
ing less than the Endorsement of Dockerv
and all the other popuEst nominees save
W. A. Guthrie for governor and Hal w.
Aver for auditor. Tbs leaves three cand'
dates for governor ard three for auditor
in the field.
Pritchnrl's Task.
1t took much argument on Pritchards
Part as we'll as Ills vast influence to make
D. l.. Russell. the nominee for governor.
agree to this course. Putting Dockery CT
the ticket was a sore point with Russell
who, brilliant man as he is Is good hater
Ii was equally hard for Pr!tchard to con-
vince several members of the committee of
the good politics in his move. Put Pritch-
ard told them that the nomination Of Dock
cry would hold the party vote together and
checkmata the populistic plan to divide it.
But Saturday morning all saw it was
great scheme and those who the previous
evening had thought 1t best to make
straight nominations, with strings to
them" said Pritchard was right. The re-
publicans rejoiced. Pearson said: "For the
IN min thS no