The age-herald., 1899-03-25
THE NEBRASKAN WAS RIGHT
Vas Strictly Following the Democratic
 Pathway Blazsd by Jefferson.
THE RIVAL DINNERS IN NEW YORK
Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont Has En- tered the Political Arena to Thwart Ambitions of His Brother-The
 Cause of Their Differences.

Washington, March A.-(special) )-The fear is prevalent among democrats here that the letter of MT. Bryan to Perry Bel mont will make permanent the split in the democratic party. It was generally be- Heved that the gold men who left the party to the support of Palmer and Buck ner in 1896 would return to the democratic ranks and act with the democratic organ ization in 1900, doing what they could, however, to subordinate the silver issue to other questions.
 Both sides, which have shown some spirit of compromise and willingness at least to try to join issues, are greatly dis turbed on account of MT Bryan's letter. The gold democrats who are in the city do not hesitate to say that this letter will result in the gold men meeting in a sep arate convention, as they did in Indian- apolis, and continuing their organiza tions. The fact is pointed out that while written to Mir. Belmont, the letter, in fact, is writ ten to all who think as MT. Belmont does and might just as well been headed "to all whom it may concern"
 Mir. Bryans earIess Letter
 Iue ClOSeSI ITISHQS OI MT. Bfyan ana those whose political fortunes are united with that of the silver issue say that the letter was not written on the spur of the moment, but had been contemplated for some time past and that the Belmont in- vitation to dinner simply afforded an op- portunity for Mir. Bryan to express his views and those of the national commit tee
 As pointed out some time ago. Mir. Bryan was made aware that the eastern demo- crats would try to control one-third of the next democratic convention, and, so doing, would be able either to defeat the nomina- ,ion of MT. Bryan else force the con- vention to violate an old-established prece- dent and nominate with a majority of the delegates; the method pursued in the re- publican conventions. The closest adher- ents of the Nebraskan say that the prime object of the letter was to head of this movement and kill it in it's incipiency. They assert that it will have this effect. It is due notice that there is to be no shily-shallying at the next convention and that any one who does not think with the party organization will practically be dis barred from the party's councils.
 Will Build Up lyan Party
 It may have the effect, moreover, of building up in the state of New York real ree-silver-Bryan-party, which may elect delegates and send them to the next convention, which will be seated in place of the delegates sent there by the Belmont Croker crowd. Mr. Bryan believes that there are enough free silver democrats in New York to organize into a party His friends claim, moreover, that by thus fore ing the party to keep the faith with the free silver element that MT. Bryan will get every vote cast for him in 1S95 on this and that all exnauSiOn will be forced to come to him in 1900. This will be made easy for them to do because of the fact that the senate of the United States will be completely in the hands of the sound money men for six or eight years, and that while protesting for free silver, the party made triumphant through this issue will be powerless to carry such a policy into effect.
 But whatever effect the latter will have on the deslinies of the party it is thought here that MT. Bryan has cinched the nomi- nation and that he will secure it without violating the two-thirds precedent.
 Laid the AK to the Root
 When MT. Bryan wrote the letter to Perry Belmont he laid the at the root of the evil. MT. Belmont has now got to knuckle to the silver leader or else aban- don all hope of fulfilling his political ann bitions. His first object to attain was the control of the party in the state Through that he hopes some day to be governor of New York. His friends in the Empire State were already grooming him for run- ming mate with MT. Bryan when the lat ters letter upset that calculation.
 Perry Belmont Is a very interesting fig- ure He is the Sturdiest and hardest of all that set and may yet be able to rise to the occasion. He is not easily downed. The man who can be battered about be- tween the Bowery and the Four Hundred and still retain his undisputed place in each, is somewhat of politician He has always been a strict democrat. He has served three terms in congress, was minis ter to Spain as democrat and is president of the Crocker Democratic club. In his political relations he is as democratic as Bryan himself, while in his social connec- tions he is very select and exclusive.
 His brother. Oliver Hazard Perry Bel mont has recently gone into politics, more to checkmate the ambition of his brother, 1t is said, than for any sport he hopes 10 get out of the game. Until very lately Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont went in only for pleasure. Tine two brothers do not speak now, and thereby hangs an inter- esting story.
 The last-named, 1t will be remembered, divorced his first wife and became mixed up in the domestic affairs of William K. Vanderbilt and afterwards married the divorcee. The cause of the rupture be- tween the brothers is not due to the di- vorce and the subsequent marriage, but to the fact, 1t Is claimed, that Oliver Haz- ard Perry Belmont allows his wife to re- ceive alimony from her first husband, Will liam K. Vanderbilt.
 Living on Another's Bounty
 In coarser terms. it is said that Bell mont is living partly on money furnished by the divorced husband. The brothers have dissolved business partnerships, do bo uav 1T fhov
 lContinued on Second Page).