Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22
NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS
Populists Watching Outcome of Democratic
State Committee Meeting.
Latter Party All Torn Up Again ON
Race Questionable Struggle
for Office.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
RALEIGH, N. c., November 20, 1897.
Inc populists are awaiting with interest
the meeting of the democratic state COM
mlttee, which Is to be held here November
80 The utmost effort OF the populists will
De put forth to try to keep their party the
balance of power in the state. One of them
said today that North Carolina is now
their only stronghold. They have lost and
are yet losing ground steadily in other
states. They are making a despairing
struggle here. Senator Butler is grasping
at straWs, and does not know where to
turn. Such Is the comment of both repub-
hcans and democrats. With the execution
of Gov. Russell the senator has not a
friend in either party, and his own party
is divided against him. Such is perfectly
frank epitome Of the populist situation
here.
Old Leaders Thrown Aside.
The democrats realize that so far as they
are concerned a new deal is an absolute
necessity The old leaders are in the lum-
Der yard. OF them all, ex-Gov Jarvis
alore is saying anything. He is making
pleas for party unity, and renews his as
sertion that white supremacy is and must
be the sole and supreme issue.
1t is the negro question which has kept
the matter of protection in the background
lin this state. where it is naturally stronger
than in any other state south of Mason
and Dixon's line. But for this negro ques-
ton the republican party would gain
great following Of whites, particularly
young whites. Two years ago it seemed
that this question was to be relocated, but
now it is higher and stronger than since
1876
Religious Papers Take u Hand.
Even the religious papers are going into
politics. more or less mildly, and one Of
them, the organ Of the Baptists the most
numerous denomination in the state, cries
out: IF Abraham Lincoln could have seen
the recent negro state mass meeting in
Raleigh. whose idea of their citizenship
was avowedly measured by the number OF
offices they could get, he would have made
new proclamation of deliverancs: he
would have delivered the only state in the
world in which there is a majority y, " mite
men that is ruled by the votes of colored
men-North Cardinal
And yet it Is idle to attempt denial that
the negroes were promised during the last
campaign 10 end of offices. But at the
negro convention, held for the express
purpose of protesting against such break
ing of promises and of demanding offices,
1t was stated that the negroes had re-
ceived as reward in official salaries only
$1.O6 for each vote cast. 1t Is very doubt
full If queer and SO exact a financial
calculation was ever before made in the
whcse history of American politics.
Vote for Men, Not Parties.
Some of the negroes swore at the meet
ing they would in future vote for men and
not for parties, but one of their number,
a venerable old man, said: You say one
thing at night and do another in the morn
ing" 1t was a center shot. The North
Carolina negro Is peculiarly welded to the
republican party. For thirty-two years
his preachers and his woman kind have
declared to him: There is only one party
the republican, An aged negro said to
me: 1T don't somehow seem just right to
vote for anybody exceptin' 'publicans.
did last fall vote for some populists, but
1t Was cause de 'publicans said do So"
Populist Committee Meeting.
The date for the populist state committee
meeting Is not set. No call Is out for 1t
and none will be made, If the Butler men
can prevent it, until next spring. The
democratic committee meeting Is of inter-
est to the party, because something may
be said to widen the breach between its
two factions. Only one thing can heal this
breach and that is-silence. Some of the
committeeman thought the call unwfse, but
a majority desired meeting. The minor
ity say they hope there will be no action
talking and that In a mild way. Those
democrats who voted against Bryan are
not to be bullied. They are as earnest
as the Bryan men in the desire to regain
control of the state. Their sole desire Ia
N see state pOlfticS made paramount.