The age-herald., 1900-07-30
BITTER FIGHT IN 2
 3 say NORTH CAROLINA
General Election Will be Held on
 Next Thursday.
CAMPAIGN HAS WAGED WARM
Main Question is Adoption of Constitu- tional Amendment Limiting the Electoral lFranchise-Serious,
 Trouble is Feared

Raleigh, N. C., July 29.-A general elec- ton will be held in this state next Thurs day and the question of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution limiting the electoral franchise will be voted on. There is apparently little doubt as to the result of the election, both as to the amend ment and the state ticket It now seems to be simply question of majority. The opponents of the amendment acknowledge that 1t will be adopted As the amendment and the Democratic state ticket will run very close together, the Populists and Re- publicans have practically abandoned their state ticket in an effort to elect majority of the Legislature and return Butler to the United States Senate. Active cam- paigning will continue up to Wednesday citing campaign this state ever has known. The battle has been fought on the race issue,s Drought to the front by the proposed franchise amendment, by which SOOO0 ignor- ant negro voters are to be disfranchised.
 For the past month thousand speeches a day have been made in the state and the people are aroused to such a pitch that bloodshed is feared. So far there has been none and the best elements on both sides hope there may be none, though 1n many eastern counties the "red-shirts' have declined to allow the fusion cam paigners to speak. On account of threats by Senator Butler and his followers to pre- vent the election by injunction and other methods, the Legislature will convene here tomorrow and adjourn from day to day till election day.
 May be Serious Trouble
 The Democratic leaders say that If there is interference on the part of the opponents of the amendment, it is certain that there will be serious trouble.
 During the first three months of the campaign the Popuists and Republicans had two State tickets in the field, straight Popuist ticket and straight Re publican ticket. There was, however, all along perfect unity and an understanding between the leaders of the two parties that at the proper time before election their tickets would be consolidated. This con solidated ticket which is known as the fusion ticket was made up little more than a week ago, and has been printed and distributed On it are the Republicans and eight Populists.
 The offices assigned the Republicans are Governor. Attorney General and Chairman of the Corporation Commission Dr. Thompson, Populist nominee for Governor, has issued an open letter announcing his retirement in favor of Spencer B. Adams, Republican. In it he says:
 "We have under this arrangement the united force of the Republican members of the Legislature for Senator Buffers re turn to the United States Senate, which we could not have secured had I permitted my name to head the ticket for Governor I believe it is of more value to the party to re-elect Senator Butler than that I should be Governor. We could lose the State by 10000 and yet save the Legislature Therefore, if I should lose the State ticket we could secure by this arrangement the reelection of Senator Butler.'
 In accordance with this plan the fusion ists are making strong fight for the Legislature and the campaign is being con- ducted personally by Senator Butler Re- publican Chairman Holton is rendering him all possible assistance. The Demo- crats aflege that the effort is futile one; that the Legislature will be safely Demo- cratic in spite of all that the fusionists may do They claim that a preliminary poll of the registered vote shows that they doubtwul. In the west they say they can afford to lose several counties that they carried two years ago.