Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-01

make what they claim are absolute pre-
dictions. When your correspondent ask
I'd Republican Sfate-Chairman Holton
| how he expected the Legislature to
stand. he replied: "rhirty-four out OF
| the 20 senator's and "a OF the 40 mem
| bers OF the lower house are absolutely
! sure of election on the anti-Democratic
| ticket. with chance at s more senators
and "a members of the House." Demo-
| cratic State-Chairman Simmons simply
| says his party will have control OF the
| Senate and House by a perfectly safe
majority. II is no secret that for weeks
| the Democrats. feeling that the House
was safely theirs. have devoted their
| attention more particularly TO the SEN
ate.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The loss or gain of the Legislature Is
| the supreme thing. The Legislature has
all the power in this State. In no State
| are the powers Of governor more linn
tied. And so the first query of man
| from a distant county Is always: How
| Is the legislative ticket getting on?'
TO win the Democrats will require
many Populist votes. The Populist
| fiice-holders. one and all. are swearing
| that the Democrats are securing only a
| beggarly array of Populists. but out in
| the country, for nearly all the Populists
are ruralists. another story is heard. 1t
| Is that they are breaking away by
| thousands. and will vote with the Demo-
| Gratis. The Republicans. as rule, deny
| bitterly that Populists are not standing
by the fusion compact" Chairman
| Holton says: THEY are standing by u.s."
Democratic State-Chairman Simmons
tells me that he has accurate informa-
ton which shows there Is a deal or
agreement between Senator Butler and
George II. White, the negro congress-
man in the Second District, by the terms
Of which James b. Lloyd Is to be kept
I'm the field in the Second District In or
der 10 keep as much Of the Populist vote
together as possible and thus prevent
any Democrat from success, in return
for Whites working the negro vote in
the Third District for John f. Fowler
The latter Is Populist, who Is spe-
cia friend of Senaor Buffers, who
moved Heaven and earth to have the
Republican committee endorse him as
the fusion candidate. Finally 1t vas fr-
ranged, to the great disgust Of many
Republicans. who hate Fowler exceeding
ly, because he antagoniZed Senator
Pritchard's reelection. A Populist who
hates Fowler says the Populists are be-
ing whipped into line 10 vote for him,
and adds that Fowler purchased his en-
dorsement by the Republicans. giving one
negro 81 600 for getting the negro dele
gates in line for him.
SIDE-LIGHTS.
Reference is made to these matters be-
cause side-lights are thus thrown upon
a curiously interesting campaign. The
last election prior to 1896 in which the
Republicans were successful was in 1872.
Their majority was then 2i,60l. In 1876
Governor Vance broke their power. They
are powerless now, despite the vast and
solid negro vote, save for the Populists,
and say as much. The largest Demo
cratic majority was AZ. 329, in 1890
The Republicans and Populists iterate
and reiterate the statement that the
Democrats propose TO disfranchise the
negro. 1t is untrue. The Populists put
IT that the poor white man" is TO be
disfranchised. This is equally untrue.
There is no purpose to disfranchise these.
OF this fact the most solemn assurances
are given. The whole body of the people
would have to vote to amend the Con-
sttution in any such way. But 1t is
felt that the negro vote must be regu-
lated. Some western Republicans are
quietly saying that they see plainly the
eastern counties must be given protec-
ton. Populist State-Chairman Thomp-
son says there are evils in the East
which need elimination. But the Demo
Gratis are not relying on uncertain
promises; they propose to correct the
evils now. The purpose Of their pressure
is to drive the white men of the State
into a solid body as against the great
black solidarity which confronts them.
THE THREAT OF TROOPS.
Businessmen from other States-north-
ern men, too-say there is loss of conf
in 10 n
the bad conditions. 1t is but speaking
the truth 10 say there is genuine SYM
pathy in the North and West with the
fight for white supremacy, which is being
fought out here to a finish.
The threat that troops may be sent TO
the State has made many Democratic
vote in the past few days. The Repub-
lican managers here, and the Populist
managers, too, know well that the threat,
no matter how deeply yelled. was a faux
pas of the worst type, politically speak
ing
Negroes are not sparing in threats.
They say at MorgantOn that, If any OF
the volunteer troops. who are home on
furlough, come around the polls on cleo
tion-day. they will get hot lead or cold
steel" There are published to-day aft1da-
Wits by Baltimorian that he heard Oil
yer II. Dockery, fusion nominee for Con-
gress in the Sixth District, say to n ne
gro: MY old pistol has not been loaded
for twenty years but ii is loaded now
We are going to have trouble. Arm your
self, and go armed"
Democratic State Chairman Simmons
was loudly applauded when he said. in his
speech at the great mass-meeting at
Goldsboro' last Friday, that the :ime has
come when the white people of North
Carolina must either rule IL or leave the
state. The most conservative Demo-
cratic paper in the State, commenting
on this, says: "And they not going
to leave"
OUR CHAIRMANS LETTER.
The Democratic State chairman has
written a long, open letter TO Senator
Pritchard. In this he says he learns that
the Senator, in his statement 20 the Pres
ident, asking for Federal troops. denies
that there is in any part of North Caro-
lima negro rule or domination. Then he
asks the Senator twenty-nine questions,
and insists that he deny them over his
own signature. In the questions he asks
whether there are not a negro congress
sional candidate one for Solicitor. a Col
lector OF Customs at Wilmington. twenty
five negro postmasters in Eastern North
Carolina. a negro director of the White
Blind Institution, negro Chief of Fer
tilzer Inspectors, a negro general store
keeper and gauger, negro registers OF
deeds, and coroners, scores OF negro dep
uty-sheriffs and constables, IA negro po-
licenen in Wilmington. 40 negro magis-
trates in New Hanover, 81 in Edgecombe.
l6 in BERTHE q in Craven, 20 in Halifax,
II i'm Granville, in Caswell, and in all
am. o Hat itfo 1afa