Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-25
FREE SILVER AND POPULISM
Recent Elections Sounded Their Death
Knell in the West.
Representative Mercer Says That the
People All Stand With the
President.

| Representative David Mercer of the Oma-
ha, Nebr.. district has arrived in the city
| THE recent elections in Omaha and the
west generally sounded the death knell of
| free silver and populsm in our country
| SAID Mr. Mercer to a Star reporter this
| afternoon 1.-The people are tired of popu-
ism and the false theories Of it's advocates
| ana are now in line for the good old solid
principles of the republican party.
| IN Nebraska, at the election, the free sill
| Verltes lost heavily, the republicans gain
ing the legislature by good majority. Our
| victory may be attributed to several
causes. In the first place, the free silver
| people have been promising so many things
which they have failed of fulfillment that
| the people have lost faith in them
| 1hey promised good times and good prices
Ior agricultural products. but it was not
| untfi n republican administration and Con-
| gress mad been elected that those good
| times were realized The populists and
democrats combined have had full sway in
NEBRASKA for some years past, and their
administration of state affairs disguised
every one
They promised reforms in the state gov
| ernment, but those reforms were not forth
| coming. Their administration was a fail
ure IN every respect and the voters con-
GUIDED that they were not competent to
| handle the reins of state government.
Nebraska and the west are entering upon
| an unprecedented era of prosperity. Bust
| ness is reviving in every direction, crops
are good and the farmers are getting good
prices Tor their products. AS evidence of
| this fact, the success of the recent Omaha
exposition can be cited, The attendance at
that affair was very large and the profits
were great 1t is the first exposition which
| has been held in years that has been sue
cessiui from financial standpoint"
Stand With the President.
ic
the territorial acquisition question:" he
was asked.
The people of Nebraska stand with the
President on this subject, and believe that
what we have won in the recent war
| 81 ould be held. They believe that the Phil
lfplneS and Porto Rico will be of immense
value to US, and they do not think that
Trey should be returned to Spain under any
circumstances.
Personally L think that they should be
heid either for our ultimate use or for trad
| ing purpo SEES. 1t might be found POSSIBLE
a ait we nave secured possession of the
hlllpp1neS to trade them to England. for
canada, for instance. Such a trade would
make England happy in the orient and
| would SOli1ify US or the western continer.
England IS friendly toward US, and, with
al extra money consideration, if necessary
she could probably be induced to agree to
| the trade
The republican state legislature will
Slioi tis eiect senator 10 succeed Mr.. AL
,en, populist. 1t is understood that Mr.
| Mercer is candidate for the office but
oecllnes to talk on that subject
| MT MERGERS majority in the election was
| a trlHe over loo, as against a ma jority of
| 100 two years ago.
Every effort was made to defeat him, and
the strongest men in The state and from
elsewhere including Colonel Bryan, were
put IN ms district to oppose his election
The slight diminuti0n in his vote however
can be attributed solely to the fact that a
.arge number of republicans were unable
10 get to the polls and cast their ballots