Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-23
 A REPUBLICAN GATHERING Most Momentous Pow Wow Held in Alabama for Years. TO FUSE OR NOT TO FUSE That Is the Question That Vexes Rads and
 Pops Alike and Causes Or. Moseley
 to Sweat Under Weary Load.

The meeting of republicans in Bir- mingham today with the session of the state executive committee will be the most important and largest attended held by that party in Alabama for many years. The all-absorbing question with them just now is to fuse or not to fuse.
 Among the arrivals already on the ground are Colonel Grimmel of Macon county P. D. Barker of Mobile, Judge c. w. Buckley of Montgomery, c. D. Alex ander of Attalla, Frank Threat of De- mopolis, E. T. Witherby of Shelby, all members of the republican state execu- tive committee and -Moseleyites, who arrived last evening on late train. They will participate in the committee meeting today. They are opposed to the executive committee taking any action as to fusion. The colored members en- certain the same views.
 Gen. J. w. Burke of Jacksonville, Ala., was one of the arrivals last evening. It Is still said that he will. be the republican candidate for governor.
 Hon. William Youngblood, member of the national republican committee, is also in the city. He is also opposed to the state committee dictating the policy of their party as to fusion, 1t is said. Politicians say that Mckinley men" are arriving in numbers and influence.
 Ben De Lemos of Lowndes, ex-mar- shal, and B. w. Walker of Macon also came last night, and found quarters at the Florence.
 Of course, pr. R. A. Moseley is exceed ingly in evidence. He looks not very much unlike Governor McKinley-has that brief and round Napoleonic tout en semble-and then again he some how suggests Speaker Reed, and as he is seen the center of republican groups in the hotel Hobbies hanging upon his every ut terance, he has very much the port and mien of czar.
 Colored Contingent in Caucus.
 A large number of negroes met last night in Jackson hall, on Third avenue. The meeting was secret, and details were difficult to obtain, but a State Herald reporter was reliably informed that the negroes passed a resolution that unless they were represented on the fusion ticket they would not support it.
 It is said that Dr. R. A. Mosely, repub- lican candidate for governor, counselled against this action.
 When asked about it last evening in the Morris hotel lobby, pr. Moseley told the State Herald reporter that he did not know such a meeting had been held.
 "How many were present?' he asked of the scribe
 "I don't know the exact number" was the response, but I understand 1t was quite respectable number"
 'It's news to me-"
 "Will you say whether you have hith- erto counseled the colored voters in this regard?"
 "No, sir; won't say anything at all tonight. Tomorrow is the day for the newspaper man."
 Wont you tell me what your tndivid- ual views are?"
 "No, sir; I won't tell you anything. You must excuse me from talking to- night" And with that MT. Moseley po- litely withdrew from the reporters effort at an interview. He was in consultation with MT. Louis F. Parsons and other very serious looking men.
 Notes and Echoes.
 All sorts of gossip is going.
 A majority of those republicans here are expecting a repu blican administra- tion and want pie. Colonel Grlmmel of Macon wants to be postmaster at Tuske- gee; John w. Jones wants to go to the national conventions: H. A. Carson wants to be revenue agent F. H. Threal wants to be in the treasury department.
 Hon. William Youngblood, member of the national republican committee. is also here. He Is the leader of the Me Kinley forces, a thorough organizer and seems to be in the lead.
 Col. Ben DeLemos, it is said, will be one of the delegates to the national conven ton from the Fifth district. The other one will be J. N. Black of Chambers, or some prominent coIored man from Tus- kegee.
 Col. J. M. Whitehead of Butler, of Liv- ing Truth fame, arrived last night. He is one of the most prominent leaders of the populists in south Alabama, and could have the nomination for governor,