Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-10
GENERAL POLITICAL MIx-UP
All Parties in North Carolina Divided on
Some Issue.
The Recent Troubles I'm the Popu1fst
Ranks VIII BE Revived When
Committee Meets.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

rittiat correspondence OF EVehi1g StAf
RALEIGH, N. c., August s, 1897.
Since the session of the legislature ended
last March politics has until his week been
dead issue. Never was there so general
indispcsition to even talk politics But
Senator Butler and his populists will, as
has beer the case for several years past,
fire the opening gun August IL. when the
populist state committee is to meet here.
Senator Buffers paper makes the state
ment that this meeting is to be of marked
Importance
The populist party's life is at stake. The
first thing to be decided is whether the two
factions of 1.-THE one which antagonized
Senator Pritchard's election and the one
which co-operated with the republicans and
secured it-shall bury the Ratchet and
again unite The most vehement asser-
tions have been made by the ma jority pop
ulists, known as the Butterflies" that
they never would recognize again the mi
ncrity populists. or "Pritchard populists'
as they are termed. The latter have sail
that they. after securing Pritchard's re-
election. were quite willing to again unite
with the majority and march along to-
gether. But SO well-known and jealous a
Futlerite as Ohio Wilson said within few
days past to a republican that the majority
did not intend to recognize either the mi
ncr1ty populiSts or the republicans who CO.
operated with the latter Yet Wilson has
within a week made the equally positive
declaration that rather than see the demo-
Gratis win the populists would again fuse
with the republicans.
Minority POpulists Denounced
The majority populists have denounced
in the plainest and bitterest terms those
of the minority as all purchased and
have declared again and agLn that the
very last one of them wouI get a federal
Office. And. as retort to this the repub-
hcans have said: I'VE WI look after our
friends
The republicans are also divided. There
are the Pritchard faction and the Russell
faction. Gov. Russell is today. after having
been in office only seven months, at odds
with almost every leader of his party. No
governor ever occupied such a position
htre before. Pritchard and Russell have for
many months been unfriendly
The negro vote is giving some trouble
The a1;i-Russen negroes are declaring tina,
they do the work and get no offices. That
Is really the sore spot; the beSgarly doing
out of trifiing places to the bl hex voter A
negro leader asserts that despite any decla-
rations to the contrary by white republi-
cans. the negro vote will be far more in
dependent that ever before. He points to
the municipal elections last spring as proof
of this, when many negroes voted with
democrats.
The old fight between Congressman Skin
ner and Senator Butler will. it seems. be
fought ever. One of the two must be crush
ed. Skinner is just now the power with
the republicans, as Senator Pritchard's
friend 1t was asserted that Butler and
Pritchard had made friends but Butler de-
MES this Butler will make a speech at
Newton August IA. and at this a keynote
is apt to be sounded, as there is no claim
that it is to be other than political speech.
Democrats Also Divided.
The dissensions Of the populists and re-
publicans are more than matchc by those
in the democratic ranks. The Bryan demo-
tempt for those who voted for Mckinley,
or for Palmer. who did not vote at all.
The latter return their scorn with interest.
Party organization appears merely nomi-
nal The campaign of 1896, which was car
ried out On lines laid down by one man, was
a conspicuous failure. The only way I'M
der heaven by which the two factions OF
democrats can get together is by absolute
ly ignoring national issues and making the
fight On state lines. Last year word was
passed that nothing must be said to wound
the feelings of any populists; that state
politics must cut no figure, but that the
fight must be made the free silver ques-
ton. The stock in trade of a large proper
ton of the weaker was abuse of President
Cleveland And the very popIlists 1t was
sought to conciliate laughed al the lack OF
backbone The democrats have no "or-
gan They have had one but to judge
from their talk the mass of their leaders.
at least. are at odds with 1t. There is no
central thought, no rallying point or cry
with the democrats. And they must have
both before they can ever hope to win.
The populists make secret of thelI
desire to continue to keep the balance OF
power. They are perfectly satisfied to have
this.