New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-02
THE NEBRASKA SITUATION.
FORECAST or THE PROBABLE DEFEAT OF
BRYAN AND THE FUSION FORCES


BRYAN AND THE FUSION FORCES
Omaha xoh Nov tspeciaD-The political sun
Of w J. Bryan is setting in Nebraska tVery'n'a O
nojnts to that ard the closing hours OF inc cam
paien In which he has fought so hard 10 revive ''o
drooplng spirits of his followers are full OF ui'''
taxable indications OF the approaching "SSo'"'''"
the Fusion forces Of the State and his repuul"'o"
bv tho masses OF Nebraska. No one beheNes lo' d"
instant that all the hurrah in Nebraska the mas
inc ~ dozons Of nopular orators from both parues
I'm the state the special trains and the laN's" u.s.
OF money IS over the Office OF Judge OF inc 'u
preme Court It is for higher stakes brYan N"'"'
he has been fehting for his very poh'''"' eN'''
ence. ,<.
His followers understand clearly what de.oa1
means TO this one-time popular leader ana ''e'
know, that the success OF the Republican cahuiu"'o
IN Nebraska at the election next week VIII Do ~
ccp,ed az a personal defeat for Mr. Bryan lhey
also insist that n tho state is carried by the Fusion
forces next week. Bryan Will be nominated ior '"'
Presidency next year. and they pretend TO tnihK
that - he Is he will be elected This IS the question
IN Nebraska Silver an issue has almost ulsal
pcared in the hysterlcal cry OF Bryan ana MS io'-
lowers who have sought throughout the camp@is"
TO arouse the people against the Administration oy
telling them that the young blood OF tneH pest
boys is being sucked to supply the army IN 'ne
Orient
But If the Fusion forces thought they would not
have the challenge accepted they were greatly mis-
taken. for the Republicans OF the state "ah'eo
nothing better than to try conclusions along TINS
line Hence the presence OF such National leaders
on both sides in the state to-day Senators John
NJ Thurston and NJ. l.. Hayward Assistant Sec
rotary Meiklcjohn. Senator Fairbanks OF lnoiaha'
John l.. Webster. Ex-Governor Crounse OF Ne
braska and other leaders Of the Republican party
while opposed TO them IS an array Of Fusion speak
ers Of notc-more than have ever gathered at one
time in Nebraska before-Bryan, Coin Harvey
Towno Argeld. Stone. Champ Clark, ex-senator W.
V. Allen. Governor Poynter and W. II. Thompson.
In addition 10 these men. making nightly speeches.
there have been dozens Of lesser lights engaged on
both sides.
Financial issues have not entered into the cam
paign except incidentally. On the surface il has
been almos. wholly the question Of the Philippine
war But the Republicans have had with them
most extraordinary prosperity through the entire
West. and especially in Nebraska To-day IN thls
State the farmers have moro money than they nave
over had before All business is prosperous; ana
the surplus money IN the State aggregates millions
monts OF the Fusion forces. Then. too. the State
has been getting tired OF The Fusion ailes ever
since they gained control in Nebraska
ON the first combination. the Fusion forces Sno~e"
HOOD votes as against 6s'U kepuuNoan- Int "a
tiohaI cdmPaiBn shV~ru a .iS M "SIo' $50 !, 90
Fusion. 1900, Republican luZWO. IN lSs' II WIZ
o Tg'9n s and s g bRgpTediSd
Republican. S2 0)O-and the Republicans were strong
majority So the change has been going on until
the Republicans have only 10 gain $50 votes
under the circumstances MIR Bryan knows there
IS real danger. He understands better than any
He knows the defeat OF Fusion means the utter
rcut OF the organization in this state and With TIA,
goes forever MS prestige ana ms hopes OF SUCCESS
lie had made arTangements to give only two
weeks TO this Staie-the last two weeks of Sep
tember-but when he finished those two weeks he
he did before Then it that the big guns Of
hysterical haste they set TO work to patch up Mr..
abilities that nothing could have saved the
Fusonists fr I'm defeat I'm Nebraska this fall Every
thing has been gradually working TO that end. Ma
tUre herself contributed the last blow. wnen she
gave to the state this year such wonderful ma
The three chairmen Of the different parties view
the situation thus: Republican Chairman Nj loft
SAYS Il have nothing 10 say OF the forecast OF the
election except to state positively that the Kepuo-
The Democratic chairman. James Dahlman. says:
81 certain success for the Fusion cause be
Hove The state Will 90 10000 for Fusion and that
nee next year and that he will be elected The
To-day Bryan delivered only two speeches, one
at oeock at He delivers 1 four E' Speeches 'G
s nq na on f FTqsg he b sr S Rs 81 s STAIN
II will last two days, and he VIII deliver at least
Each side has really put forward its best strokes
This fall Neither Will he in position TO attribute
ars,o le"' Both have LETT nothing undone The
idea at first entertained by tho managers OF the
Slide in their favor is not well founded Some or
the leaders still think it, but II Is wholly unlikely
OF course, there are known to have been large
defections from the Fusion ranks, because of the
feeling that the Administration should not he
Handicapped in It's effort 10 curb the rebels Of the
Philippines but the Fusion forces have won some
members by their position. Both sides should
count this an unknown and uncertain quantity
The careful Republican leaders believe that II
means about eight thousand majority for the Re
publican ticket. Major William Warner, Of Mis-
souri, who has been campaigning IN the state Tor
time. said to-day.
During tho short time that have been IN the
State 7 have been talking with parties on Doth
sides ~ The political fence who are in a position
10 keep abreast Of current information. ana max
Ing all reasonable allowances for overestmatcs
each way and for the blindness OF party zeal, IT
seems certain 10 me that Judge Reese Is going 10
he elected. Republicans everywhere seem 20 be IN
snred by that conviction. The pronounced and IN
creasing prosperity OF the men OF all caliingS
seems be the Keystone Of the prevailing conf
dcnco in the success Of the Republican ticket The
masses Of the people do not seem to desire
change from the existing conditions and II does
not seem probable. or even possible. that they
will lend 10 the prospects OF such change the en-
couragement that would accrue from Republican
defeat IN Nebraska this year.