Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-02
.BI TER FIG H T
Senator Pritchard's Struggle for Re-
Election.
TEE POPULISrS ARE AGAINST Him
IT Elected They Say He Must
Swear by Free Silver
SENATOR BUFFERS POSITION
Of The Evening S.,r

Correspondence Of The Evening Star
RALEIGH. y. c.. December 10 1ss,
The senatorial fight is on and is h,,,o.
indeed. The attempt to effect 4 coon
cihauon between Senators Pritchard ART
butier has absolutely failed and the n..r
sonai and political breach is now wider
uiah ever. Ii is a fight to the death and
ms is admitted by such republicans as
Hiram l.. Grant OF the state committee
ana by such populis;s as Ohio Wilson of
the state committee
Last summer the populis,s offered To
pledse themselves to support Pritchard If
Inc republicans would take down Rrss.ll
ana put up Guthrie as the nominee for gov
erhor. Ihis comes direct from a state
committeeman who was present when the
oHer was made. 1t is asserted by the re-
puphcahs that a binding pledge was made
IN January. 1885, by the popu.ists, through
Senator Butler, that they would SUMMIT
Priclard for reelection. Butler denies
.his' ana says ne merely made a personal
statement that he hoped The fusion or 90
operation relations would continue I'm lsy,
as they then existed. He says the state
ments must be stopped; that they are
twaddle and Will not be permit tied
Was There "a Pieslges
This latter declaration. over the senior
senator's signature moved Republican State
committeeman Grant. who is Pritchard's
most devoted friend, to declare hat on the
sunday before the senatorial caucus i'm
January. 1925, IL was decided by the re-
publicans that Pritchard must be given
the long term; that Butler then went to
MIN tGrano and made voluntarily "a ledge
10 support Pritchard for reelection Grant
says ne will swear to these facts. Butler
has lot yet had an opportunity TO reply
TO this statement of Grant. His news
paper, the caucasian, published here, does
1larf
will no doubt shell the woods
Populist State Committeeman Ohio w.l-
son, who is. 10y the way. earnest as
pirant for Prtchard's place saws IN. lar
ter must take the free silver pledge in
order TO be reelected: that without such
pieuse MS reelection is an impossiblity.
This brings up the question of the pledge
VIII Pritchard take it? Judge Ewart who
speaks as Pritchard's close friend saws
that the latter will, when the legislature
assemblies announce that he will vote for
coinage of silver. irrespective of other
countries, but that this must be an indie
Pendeht Dill, Tor this particular purpose
ana not rider" on any other bill. XII
Gudger. one of the republican nominees
Tor eiector-at-large, makes the same state
ment But State Commute aman Grant
says Prftchard will only vote for a bill
asking joint action by other nations on
the silver question. Ohio Wilson evidently
thinks Pritchard will take the pledge for
he refers to the fact that Senator Thurs
ton speaks for Pritchard and says the
tariff question is paramount and that of
silver inferior Wilson says Pritchard is
in straits.
The Leeislature.
The legislature meets next MONDAY. That
day, at the instance of Goveraor-eleci Rms
sell, bill will be introduced providing thar
on the next day after its ratification the
governor and other state officers shall he
inaugurated. 1t is Russelrs h,lief TIA. this
may be passed on the 7th ami the inaugu-
ration occur on the Sth, which as earlier
man since 1877, when Vance was inaugu-
rated January J.
The composition of the legislature ,s
so'felhIng OF peculiar Interest: The exact
status of all its me mbers is NOT known vet;
strange to say. Some populists and some
republicans are quietly seeking 10 ascertain
the sentiments of the democrats regarding
Inc senatorial matter, buc the democrats
are Keeping very quiet A member OF the
democratic state committee says he consid-
ers II good politics for the democrats 10
lend hand in defeating Pri; chari
Ire latter Will be here next week and
VIII begin his campaign. His brpth er-in-
law. Mr.. Hyams, the secretary Of the re-
publican state committee, will have charge
OF his headquarters. Popuiists who will
talk say that if Pritchard has plenty of
populist votes pledged TO him. 1t is singular
that he is now taking SO mu,h trouble TO
look after his fences. Republicans say But
Ter Is now SO desperate that he will Use
anybody 10 defeat Pritchard; that if he can
DO SO he Will induce Julian s. Carr. demo-
crat, to be a candidate. Grant says But
Ter wants to be the Matt Ransom of North
Carolina politics.
The whole matter resolves itself into the
qCe stion whether Senator Butler controls
all the populists. There are some republic
cans who secretly are inimical to Pritchard
The latter knows these, and also knows
that II things begin to go against him they
are ready TO join in the clamor.
Republicans declare the populists are too
graspiils. Indeed. the latter have already
secured far more than their share OF the
offices, according to the general view
They are also to have the speakership of
the house.
Il is said positively by republicans that
every democratic off1ceholder under the
state administration is TO be removed and
that speedily. There is a rush for posi-
tions on the part of both republicans and
ropulists.
The New Governor.
The governor-elect, Daniel L. Russell. Is
fifty-one years of age, and his home is at
Wilmington. He is a lawyer and a rice
planter. He has served in the legislature
as superior court judge and one term In
Congress. at which time he was a green
hacker. He is for free silver. He is a de-
voted friend OF Senator Prtchard.
Governor Russelrs Inauguration will be
almost primitive in its quietness. He has
refused all offers of escorts. receptions
etc, and will deliver no inaugural address,
but will simply be sworn in by the chief
justice, and Will then send In a message to
the legislature.
The democrats are very quiet Whipped
at every point, there is nothing for them TO
do but await developments. No one can
tell what these may he. Russell is ambi-
tous to make his administration notable.
He certainly has the ability to make II so.
Some of the leading democratic papers
pledge him their aid in such case.
The democrats subordinated all state is
sues during the campaign to the election
Of Bryan. This was in large part due to
the influence of the federal officeholders.
That IT was a great mistake is now appar-
ent But it is one which will never be re-
peated.
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