Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-03

list state by at least 2O00O majority, and
that majority would hold good this year.
Chairman Edmonston gave the same ex-
PLANTATION of the slump last fall that other
populists give. This was in substance that
the republicans played shrewd politics and
won the legislature by still hunt. The
popuiists. he explained. were over-confident
and stayed away from the polls to husk
their corn and look after other farm du-
ties. But this year they are on their guard.
full vote would be brought out and that
would mean populist victory One rea-
son for looking for a full vote, he said.
was because county officers will be elect
ed this fall, and that always assures get
ting the voters to the polls The populists
have 500 out of the $50 county officers in
the state. 1t is assumed that their fight
to keep these officers will be more effec-
tive than the fight OF the republicans to
capture them. That raises the old ques-
ton whether the ms ever fight quite so
hard the outs. The populists also claim
that Mr.. Bryan is making votes among the
ABE Lincoln republicans by his talks
against expansion. But as l have before
indicated, whether votes are being made
or lost on this Issue cannot yet be deter
mined.
Local Side of the Campaign.
The campaign naturally has its local side
The republicans are attacking the popu-
list state administration, and they find
plenty of material for attack. Governor
politician as was Mr.. Holcomb, his populist
pr edecessor. The nominees for supreme
Judge also inject a personal interest into
the canvass. The republicans are peculiar
~ fortunate In Judge Reese. their candi-
date. He represents the best element in
Nebraska repubicaniSm, and his nominal
ton has toned up the whole orgauiza ton
He served one term on the bench. He has
a consistent anti-mouopoly record, though
not of the cheap kind. In a year when the
trusts are factor in the campaign this is
OF some importance. The populists with
whom I have talked without exception have
a good word for Judge Reese 1t is evil
dent that though they may not vote for
HIM he has their confidence.
On their part the populists have also a
good candidate. He Is former Governor S.
w. Holcomb. Mr.. Holcomb was governor
for four years and, for a populist, was
quite conservative. His administration is
Tow being attacked for alleged shortcom-
frgS because he is a candidate for another
office. But this has little weight, and
whether Reese or Holcomb is chosen judge
Is not of moment except that in them GER
tain issues which are antagonistic are per-
scnif1ed. Some strength is expected by the
populists for Hoicomb because of his pop
ularity among the Germans. In 1896 his
majority was greater than that of Bryan
ny 100 This was partly due, it was said
who We're for sound money and voted for
Mckinley, but who were satisfied with
IIolcombs state administration and gave
him their ballots.
The Foreign Vote in Question.
More is heard this year of the foreign
vote than was heard In 1896. Then it was
SO solidly republican that no question of
where 1t stood was raised. This year the
effort has been put forth to prejudice the
fore1gn-born voters against the republic
an policies because of the alleged connec-
tlon between expansion and imperia ism.
Inc toreign-born vote of the state is said
TO number between Go00O and 10000 1t is
located mainly in the eastern counties The
Germans are by far the largest element
They claim to have between :sJOO and
4j.no. The Scandinavans who are mostly
Swedes, have about 1860, and the Bohe-
m-ins are said to number between 1900
and 1900. The Swedes were very largely
republican in 1896 and apparently they
are so today. So far as / have observed
the cries of ''militarism'' and 'mperalism''
nave made no impression upon them. The
Bohcinians are also a fixed quantity The
variable ones are the Germans Their at
ttude is similar to that which they MAIN
tain in other parts of the country. They
are waiting rather Sulleny and are show
ing indifference to the question which for
nIer y made them strenuous republicans 1t
is rare to find German in Nebraska today
who Is not a sound money man. But some
of them profess that they no longer fear
Eryan's free silver ideas and they are
therefore more tolerant of his views on
other questions. Some German newspapers
of local circulation which supported Nc
kinley in 1896 are now opposing the ma
ticnal administration. The Germans also
seem to have been flooded with anti-ex-
pansion literature in their own tongue. The
republicans are now offsetting this by Ger
man eXpansion literature. But there is still
much work to be done.
CHARLES M. PEPPER.