Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-29
COMBINE IS GROWING SHAKY
Popocratic Alliance in Need Of Something
Strong to Bolster it Up,
SHELDON LETTER STIRs THINGS UP A BIT
Democratic Leader Comes Bnck Mt Its
Author In DcnuncInIon of the
EopuIist Party - The
End Not Yet.

LINCOLN Nov. 2s.-(special )-The letter
OF A. f.. Sheldon, one OF the pOpulist lead
ers Of the late legislature published in the
populst organ a week ago, in which he
pleaded for complete consolidation Of the
populist and democratic parties has, as was
expected, stirred up quite a hornets nest
In popullst circles
The Independent this week comes back
with letter from Wilbur Bryant, a well
known democratic politician OF Harrington
denounclng the Sheldon letter as both un.
timely and ill-advised." Mr.. Bryant prac-
t.cally tells the populists that their party
is nothing but sn experiment, doomed TO
disappear without achieving ouccess, and
that its only present use is to help the dem
ocratic party into power. After a review Of
the third party movements in America, Mr.
Bryant says Brother Sheldon shoud re-
member that the populist party Is still an
experiment. Thus far 1t has achieved no
more success than did it's predecessor, the
Native American party, and not much more
than did the anti Masonic organization
These old parties failed because no real de-
msnd for them existed The prohibitory
party failed because it tried to do too
much The populst party is liable to fail
for the same reason"
BRYAN FOR 1900.
Then after emphasizing the necessity Of
capturing the democratic nomination for
Bryan in 1900, Mr. Bryant points out that
an attempted consolidation as proposed by
Sheldon with all who voted the fusion
ticket in one set OF caucuses, primary cleo
tioas and conventions, would eventually
lead to internal discords, for the elements
are agreed on no doctrine except free silver.
The letter concludes with another demo-
cratic slap at the populist candidate for the
vice presidency in 1896, as follows Brother
Sheldon speaks of the treatment Of the vice
presidential candidate in 1896. Don't try,
Brother Sheldon, to make martyr out of
Thomas L. Watson. Watson has failed Of
this job himself, and there is no likelihood
that you will succeed"
While the Independent has not yet taken
up the suggestion of MIR. Sheldon editor;aily.
the democratic and populiat papers through
out the state are beginning to comment
upol It, While they do not seem to agree
either against 1t or in its favor it is plain
that the fact 10 recognized that the triple
alliance has reached very shaky condition
and that something must be done to prop
it up or supp!aut it with new piece OF
machinery. On the one side papers like the
Schuyler Quill, edited by John G. Sprecher,
once a populist member Of the egis ature,
announce that free silver republicans have
lost their usefulness and might as well go
out of business while on the other hand
papers Of which the Wahoo New Era Is
type, throw cold water the suggestion of
the pcpulists Offering themselves as a vol
untary SlCrlnCe 10 be swallowed by the
democratic whale and urge the retention
and strengthening of the three-headed po-
litica monstrosity by which they have only
secured a taste of the spoiIs, which makes
them went more. As 4 sample of this line
of argument the following from the New Era
may be taken as typical;
NEW ERA'S IDEAS.
''Ex-Re Representative A. Il. sheldon discusses
at length in last weeks Lincoln Independent
"A Perplexing Problem wherein he takes
the ground that the free silver forces ought
to get together in one organization If vic
tory shall be won in 1900 His arguments,
although plausible and containing elements
of truth, are not convincing to our mind.
We believe in letting well enough alone
not to condemn the bridge that carried us
safely over. The fight for bimtalism rs still
on and this is no time for swapping horses.
II victory for bimetlllism is what we are
honestly after in 1900 then we must not die
turb the present harmonious alliance be-
tween the three wings OF the free silver
army. Mr.. Sheldons plan OF union as far
os developed by his communication is not
practicable. 1T contemplateS the disband-
ment OF the democratic and popullst or
ganizations and the formation of a new
party. or the absorption OF one by the other,
both impractcable and would result in COLI
fusion more cOnfounded and in perfect polit-
ical chaos. IL the free silver element should
withdraw either for the purpose OF forming
new party or to be absorbed by the popu-
list. the old democratic party would be taken
possession of by the gold bug element and
the free silver party would have two strong
parties to fight. The union Friend Sheldon
aims at is illusionary and imprlCtcdble at
the present time; the union existing at the
present time between the three grand dvs-
ions of the reform forces is practicable and
brings victory and glorious results in its
train. Again we say let well enough alone"