The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-18
DECLINE OF P0PULISM.
Indications Are That It Has About huh
Its Course i'm the West.

The Washington Star of yesterday mas
the following special correspondence UH-
der date or Lincoln, Neb, october Ioth'
Popuiism seems % have run its course
la the West. AZ least this must DC ine
inevitable conclusion. Judging from the
usual weathercocks Of political conditions
In Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska,
where POpulism has had It's stronghold.
Democracy and Populism have been thor
oughly fused In the Middle western
States, but the candidates for Office on
he fusion tickets are certainly running
on such shiftless and changeaDle plat
forms that the most enthusiastic Popu-
lists and Democrats are becoming be-
wildered. Contrary 20 the natural suppo-
sitlon Of Eastern people, the silver ques-
ton Is not entering into the present CAM
paien I'm this section Of the country. where
two years ago IL was the issue on which
the whole battle was fought. The iead-
Ing Democratic and Populist newspapers
are totally ignoring any mention OF free
coinage of silver at tho ratio of l6 20 i.
Like the candidates themselves. they
vacillate Woefully on the question of eN-
pansiOn. Their ammunition of past cam
paigns-that of charging hard times 90 the
decentralization 0f slycr-nas been eA-
plOaed by the return OF prosperity TO the
farmers and mechanics in the West The
people are unQuostiOnably in favor OF exc
pausion on the principle that SPANS pose
sessions should be kept by this country
10 at least pay the cost of The war Tho
hard times which every Populist ana
Democrat declared, and which he had
been led TO believe. would surely return
IN case lho national administration We're
Republican. have been replaced by the
best business prosperity ever enjoyed in
this section of the country Making false
PODuists. This may ug held as the
reason why. thus far boz the campaign,
every meeting advertised by the Popuiisl
candidates in oklahoma, kansas and Sc
braska. with scarcely single exception.
has resulted in such n manner as tO
cause cOusi ernItlon among Che party
leaders Meeting after meeting has been
frost with more empty seats than
filled oues-a condition never known bee
fore by amy party in any campaign In
this section
lu Kansas the P0puists have almost
conceded that Leedy will Doe defeated for
Governor. Not one OF the pledges of the
popu.isl candidates two years ago has
been kept 10y the State administration.
0ul instead there has been such fee-grab-
bling and inc9mT atcncy ON the part of the
P0puiist Office holders as t0 bring them
into disgrace in the eyes of the we'll
meaning POpu.ists.
I'm Nebraska the conditions are much
the same as in Kansas The fusionists.
after finding early ln tho campaipp that
even their own constituents regarded the
silver and free trade issues as dead. have
been laundering from pillar 90 post on
the new issues attempting TO attract the
attention of their followers from the
prosperity that has resulted from the
present national policies.
At Lincoln, che home OF Bryan, the Re-
Dublcans are making a. most vigorous
campaign Their slogan IS the "uutruth-
fune-s of Bryan's prophecies and
throughout the State the party is working
to reclaim the state from Popuusm. The
Lending opera house was filed ON the
night or October l0,h. when Mr. Davis.
as representing the national adm'nistra-
ton discussed the now national issues.
Men who were strong Bryan supporters
I'm 1896 attended the meeting and gave enc
thusiastic support to the speakers dec
larauon in favor of n patriotic national
administration.