The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-14
BRYAN REFUSES 4 T0GA
Could Be United States Senator
From Nebraska if
He Would.

Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 14.-An extraordi-
nary political situation prevails in Ne
braska.
1t is probably the logical result of the
activity of Mr.. Bryan and other friends
of bimetallism in the state since the
presidential campaign. But in any event
the situation is regarded as unusual by
those who have watched the trend of
political affairs in the state for the past
quarter of a century.
Much of this activity among the sill
yer men is due directly to the efforts of
Mr.. Bryan. The champion of bimetal-
liSm has written during the past few
months hundreds of autograph letters
to his friends in this and adjacent states
urging them to maintain their political
organizations with Increasing vigil dur
ing the interim between the election of
last fall and this year. Particularly has
Mr.. Bryan cautioned the congressional
organizations to be on the alert. There
will be six members of congress elected
in Nebraska this year. Mr.. Bryan de-
clareS today that he has no doubt that
all congressman returned from Nebras-
ka this year will be pledged silver men.
The state has been flooded for some
time with literature on both sides OF
this topic, and the relative merits of the
financial question are attracting much
attention among country literary So
cieties, grange meetings and similar or
ganizatiOns where live questions are
discussed.
One thing especially has endeared Mr..
Bryan to the friends of silver in Ne
braska recently. That is his refusal to
even attempt to dictate the political af-
fairs of the state of Nebraska OF
course it is no secret that the allied sill
yer forces will in all human probability
elect the entire legislature and all the
state officials this year.
AS Mr.. Bryan's mere suggestion is ac-
cepted by his friends here as the law of
the silver party in the state, touching
party policy, he could easily indicate
every man who should fill an ofhclal po-
sition in the state this fall. OF course
this would mean the naming of the next
United States senator from Nebraska
to succeed William Vincent Allen.
The various factions of the allied sill
yer interests have urged Mr.. Bryan, as
a political necessity, to express his pref
erence on these subjects, which he has
firmly refused to do
All he will say is: Let none but true
and tried friends of bimetallism be
placed on guard at this hour, as the su-
Dreme struggle between the forces car
rying on financial battle is about to be-
It is no secret that w. J. Bryan will
not be a candidate for United States
senator. This is absolute. He could
have it without even asking for it All
that would be necessary would be for
Mr. T2rvan to refuse to make his friends
understand clearly that he is not can
didate.
Senator Allen is a very popular man
in Nebraska and will be favorite to
succeed hinself-with Mr.. Bryan in his
present attitude. Gov. HolcOmb is pro-
ba bly Mr.. Aliens strongest opponent
This is his second term as governor.
Many of Senator Aliens friends are try
ing to secure HolcOmb's nomination as
governor for third term in order to
Dlace him out of Senator Aliens way.
Holcomb might agree to this, but the
allied silver forces of the state are be
Teved to be too Democratic to violate
the established rule against third terms
in the governors chair.