The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-18

l. IL.
over two TO one. all but halt dozen
| or so of the opposition came over.
Pence. of Granville, made Ten NH
| ntes closing speech; joining III WIN tllt
mn iorjty. and went so far yesterday aS
| ~ CIV thot he was ashamed OF the Isli
| ba had made in the conference aEapiiS'
the resolutions.
rnrom tho sentiments expressed IN the
Conference and as gathered yesterday
from interviews with the leanets' o'
fore they left for home, there was
moet decided opposition to fusion oil any
sort with Democrats. IN
DR. Thompson-'I am pleased with
the result of the conference. III was an
intelligent conservative body of men,
from all parts of the State and repre-
scnting all shades of opinion. On the
auestion of cooperation no decisive vote
was taken and | can't tell what views
would have maintained on that subject
had it come TO a test. Everybody spoke,
| think, who wanted to speak, and the
utmost harmony and good feeling pre-
vailed"
Baylns Cade-"1'here was n great di-
versity Of opinion on the question of CO.
operation. Some strongly favored flu
sion with Democrats, some with Repub-
lcans and others wanted Il straight
fight. | don't know which element was
tie stronger, those with Democratic or
those with Republican leanings. The
most marked feature of the conference
was it's harmony and the willingness of
those present to leave the settlement of
cooperation with the convention. The
conference did just what | wanted
done"
L. e. McCaskey-"Th conference
was almost unanimous for cooperation
with the Republicans on State and
county officers. On the Congressional
ticket we would be glad to cooperate
with all the silver forces of the State.
We have tried the Republicans and we
can trust them. SO much cannot be said
| for the Democrats. Then, on State is
sues. we are in line with the Republi-
cans, just as on national issues we agree
with the Democrats. For instance,
opulists and Republicans think alike on
the election law question. You may put
il down as about settled that there will
again be Rep Pop. fusion in North
Carolina"
j. Y. Hamrick-''Three shades of
opinion We're represented: Those favor
ing Republican fusion 60 per cent;
those desiring Democratic fusion go per
cent?, and those wanting a straight mid
dle-of-the-road fight 40 per cent?. That
is about the way | sized up the confer
ence from the speeches made and senti-
ments expressed. No vote was taken on
the question:
DIR. j. Il. PERSONAL---VERY. will he no
fusion with Democrats. There was not
a dozen persons in the conference in
favor of it."
j. w. Denmark Though there was
much difference of opinion toching the
proper course to pursue in regard to
fusion, there was one thing on which
everybody was agreed 70 leave the
matter for the convention to decide aud
then abide by that decision"
Everett Bryan-"We can hold out no
inducements to expect cooperation with
us ON State and county tickets. The
sentiments expressed in the conference,
with one or two exceptions, were de-
cidedly anti Democratic.
G. M. Babbitt.-''Ab0ut one and one
half per cent of the conference favored
Democratic fusion. The principal OBJ
iect Of the meeting seemed to be to
smooth over the differences between the
minority and majority factions. This
was done"
nr. A. J. Dalby-"As TO whom wen
cooperate with, that's for the other fell
low to decide
c. Ii. Mebane-'I was elected to look
after the schools of North Carolina.
I'm trying TO do that. and so Pm not
mcddling with politics. | guess the
conference did what it thought was
best"
A. ID. X. Wallace-"There was not
great deal said about cooperation.
The question was discussed only Incl
dentally. The object of the meeting was
10 get together All differences were
healed and we had sort of a love-feaSt. :"
r. r. Lneberry, editor Of the Chat
ham Citizen-"The man who talks of
fusion or cooperation Of Populists and
Democrats, is simply wasting breath
Harris. Of Hyde-"There is no senti-
ment in favor of fusing with the Demo-
Gratis in my county. We voted for
Pritchard and endorse Skinner. Hyde
Populists will fuce again with Republi-
cans. | am opposed to trying to go IT
alone because we could not elect any
body"
John w. Atwater-" Nothing was said
specially about cooperation. That viii
be left to the convention, and will he
largely determined by local issues, and by
circumstances and conditions that may
arise between now and the opening Of
the campaign"
Il. w. Dalby.-"There were only
three counties represented that favored
Democratic cooperation. They were
Cabarrus, Catawba and Harnett coun-
ties"
A. s. Peace-"There was perfect
harmony in the conference. The only
fight was over the resolutions. This was
in the committee room over the wording
and then in the conference over the con-
struction of the words. Some feared
the resolutions committed us to some
thing. We wish to be free to act ais we
see best when the convention meets. The
conference put this construction on the
resolution and passed them without
change"
l.. c. Caldwell-Tm very well pleased
with the result of the conference. /
don't know 0yactly how it STOOD IN the