New-York tribune., 1900-07-30
NORTH CAROLINA ELECTION.
REPUBLICANS AND PoPuLIsTs TRYING TO
SAVE THE LEGISLATURE AND RE-
TURN SENATOR BUTLER

Raleigh N c., July "a general election will
be held in this State next Thursday, and the ques-
ton will be voted of the adoption of an amend
ment TO the Constitution limiting the electoral
franchise There is apparently little doubt to
the result of the election. both as to the amend
ment and the State ticket 1t now seems to be
simply a question Of majority. The opponents OF
the amendment acknowledge that it will be adopt
ed AS the amendment and the Democratic State
ticket will run very closely together the Populists
and Republicans have practically abandoned their
State ticket in an effort to elect majority of the
Legislature and return Butler to the United States
Senate.
In the first three months of the campaign they
had two State tickets in 1ed-a straight Popu-
list ticket and a straight Republican ticket. There
was, however all along, perfect unity of action by
the two State committees and understanding
between leaders of the parties that at the
proper time before election their tickets would be
consolidated. This consolidated ticket. which Is
known as the fusion ticket" made up little
more than a week ago, and has been printed and
distributed. On it three Republicans and eight
Populsts. The Offices assigned to the Republicans
Governor. Attorney-GeneraI and chairman of
the Corporation Commission. DR.. Thompson Pop
ulist nominee for Governor, has issued open
letter announcing his retirement in favor of Adams
(Rep). In this he practically comedies the defeat
OF the State ticket and thus indicates the future
policy of the fusion campaign:
We have under this arrangement the united force
Of the Republican members Of the Legislature for
ate, which We could rot have secured had per
nlitted my name head the ticket for Governor.
I believe that 1t Is of more value to the party 10
re-elect Senator Butler than that should be Gov
the Legislature. Therefore, II we should lose
the State ticket we would secure by this arrange
Inent the reelection Of Senator Butler.
In accordance with this plan the Fusonists are
making a desperate fight for the Legislature and
the campaign is being conducted personally by Sen
ator Butler The Republican chairman, Holton.
is rendering him all possible assistance In close
counties and Senate districts they are sacrificing
everything for the legislative ticket The Demo-
Gratis, however, alege that the effort is a futile
one; that the Legislature will be safely Demo
cratic in spite of all that the Fusionists may do.
They claim that preliminary poll of the registered
vote shows that they will carry every eastern
county with three doubtful. In the west they
say they can afford lose several counties that
they carried years ago.
There only three days until the election
Both sides are hard at work and active campaign
the bitterest and most exciting campaign TINS
State has ever known. The battle has been fought
on the race issue brought the front by the pro-
posed franchise amendment by which eighty thou
For the last month at least a thousand speeches
a day have been made in the State and the people
aroused to such pitch that bloodshed Is
feared So far there has been none and the best
elements of both sides hope there may be none,
though in many eastern counties the Red Shirts"
have declined to allow fusion campaigners to
and his followers to prevent the election, by in
junction, other methods, the Legislature will
convene here tomorrow and adjourn from day to
day until election day. The Democratic leaders
the opponents of the amendment 1t is certain there
will be serious trouble.