Omaha daily bee., 1897-07-05
FALL BATTLE IN NEnRASKA

Detroit Journal: That sterling sound
money democrat, ]. Sterling Morton, pro,
poses to have Il sound money democratic
ticket in the Nebraska field to make things
more lively for Mr.. Bryan's party of fusion,
lists and confuSionists. 1t will be a three
cornered fight in that state, and if the Bry-
antics don't win the Bryan star viii be con
sidcrubiy dimmed.
Buffalo Express: The free silver people
Of Nebraska think they have composed their
differences by ~ fusion which gives the can
didate for Judge Of the supreme court to the
populiSts and one state regent each to the
democrats and the silver republicans. This
is the slate which was prepared at a meeting
Of the state central mi of the free
silver wing of the democrats. If it is rati-
fed by the conventions it will then be in
order for the republicans and gold democrats
to make a fight which will give Mr.. Bryan
his quietus in his own state.
GlObe-Democrat Nebraska will elect only
minor state officers this year, but the fact
that Bryan resides in that state, and that he
will take tho stump for the ticket, will give
tho contest considerable interest for the
whole country. In 1896 Nebraska gave
Bryan 1900 plurality, but no such lead for
the democratic ticket need be looked for
this year if the republicans make an active
canvass. A republican victory in that state
would DO a blow to Bryan's prestige, but If
the crops turn out to be good and If the
DuSltlbsS Improvement SnOulu ne as marked
as the republicans believe it will be, let no
body be surprised if the republicans carry
the state. The only possible chance the
democrats have for victory this year, or at
any other time, depends on the continuance
Of the business stagnatiOn or the occurrence
Of some other sort of a calamity.
indianapolis Journal: 1t is announced that
Mr.. Bryan will remain in Nebraska the
greater part of the season and canvass that
state, where a supreme court judge and two
regents Of the State university are to be
elected. lnasmuch as Mr., Bryan carried Ne
braska last fall by about Is, 200 majority, il
Selms strange that he should waste his elo-
Quencc upon his own stale. But there APP
pears to be reason for it. The close fusion
Of 1896 cannot be counted on. The democrats
desire to have the candidacy for the Judge
ship, the popuiists insist upon 1t, and a Ill
Yer republican threatens to lead a contingent
of 1000 followers of his brand out of the flu
ZION camp. Thus is fusion menaced In Ne
braSka, Mr.. Bryan cares little who Is the
candidate for Judge, and has so expressed
himself, so long as there is but one, and to
the end that there shall be but one he Is
striving. In Nebraska the populists are as
numerous as ths democrats, so that II there
Is any friction in the nomination the state
viii fall into the hands of the epublicans-an
event which Mr., Bryan sees would injure If
not destroy his prestige as a presidential can
didate in 1900. Even with fusion, others than
republicans express doubt as to the outcome.
Several important industries are starting up
in Nebraska. dependent upon the passage Of
the tariff bill. Already the Bryan organs are
crying out against the efforts to republicaniZe
Nebraska and Kansas by creating an artificial
wave Of prosperity. The republicans are con
Adont that the Bryan ticket can be defeated.
To that end the republican convention will
rot be- held until after the democrats and
pOpulists haN" nominated candidates. They
count much upon the better feeling among
the farmers and the generally improved in
dustrial outlook. MIR. Bryan is going to
stump the state from one end to the other.
Meantime, eX-Secretary j. Sterling Morton
is organizing the sound money democrats,
who will do all they can to defeat a silver
candidate. So Mr.. Bryan may not have much
time for missionary work in other states.