The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-12
ALLEN. THE POPULIsT LEADER.

Senator Allen Of Nebraska is easily
the leader of the Populists in the United
States senate. He is making use of his
opportunity for no unselfish motive. 1t
is said, and doubtless is true, that Sen
ator Allen has ambition to be the candi-
date of his party in 1900 for the presi-
dency. The vote of the Populists for
Bryan most likely made one-third Of
the total Of six million votes. This is
by odds the largest third party vote ever
polled in the United States and there are
possibilities for Senator Allen. The
states that can be carried by the Popu-
lists ON the silver issue are quite as
strong in the electoral college as the
states that may be counted on to be
carried by the Democrats unaided by
the Populists. Why may not the Popu-
lists be the party to lead the silver move
ment in the nation in 1900? The Dem
ocrats can not in any true sense be said
to be silver party. Their ablest men
are opposed to the 16 to 1 free coinage.
A Democratic victory would be fraught
with uncertainty. Why not let the Pop
ulists have the right Of way if they will
make this the special order of their pro-
gram? There can be no question but
the Populists are for free silver, though
their political creed includes many other
matters dangerously near revolutionary.
Senator Allen halls from the same
state as Bryan, and the fact that he is
mentioned in connection with the presi-
dency is significant. There is no likeli-
hood that the Populists will tamely
throw their strength to any man calling
himself a Democrat in 1900. A party
can not be local; it must be national or
disintegrate. This is matter that the
author of ''The First Battle must take
into consideration. The only possible
Democrat to lead fusion campaign un-
der the designation Of Democratic
would now seem TO be Bryan. His re-
lation to the Populists in Nebraska
makes him quite as much Populist as
Democratic. Nevertheless the Populists
cannot afford to be tail 10 the Demo
cfatlC Kite tnat cannot ny.
Circumstances seem to point to Allen
as the national leader of the Populists.
The necessities of the future of the
party demand that the party commit its
fate to leadership. And the west offers
the strongest and most available leader
in Senator Allen Marion Butler. from
the south. is the only apparent rival.
The rivalry is not serious. There will
be a curious interest center around the
action of these men in the senate-espe-
cially of Allen.
Senator Allen has shown some talent
and no small amount of tact in and out
OF the senate. More is due to his fore
sight in the ST. Louis Populist conven-
ton last summer, in the nomination OF
Bryan and the rejection of Sewall and
the conservative tone Of the platform
than any other man in that convention.
His speech before the convention was
strong and pointed the way out of the
hne Of much folly usually followed by
the Popuiists. His suggestions were
practically followed The matter of his
utterances shows that he has profited
by his opportunities, and while still far
from the safe course to be pursued, and
still advocating unwholesome and un-
statesmanlike doctrines. he is the most
reso1rceful leader of the Populist party.
Senators Jones and Stewart can not be
classed as Populists, but as Independ-
enrs.
The career Of Allen viii be significant
as indicating the future course OF the
Populist party. The Populists can by no
possibility win the national election in
1900. But ii b possible that the party
may displace the Democracy for second
place 1t b pretty generally recognized
that no serious or radical changes. as
rule. can b expected from old parties