Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-08
SENTIMENT AGAINST FUSION
Throe-Ring Convention May Be Held in
Lincoln Instead Of Omaha
MAY Be HYPNoTlzED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
Chairman Gnmn Wears n Worried
Look and Says the omaha Halls
Are Not big Enough TO
Hold the Delegates.

the three-ring convention will have to be
brought to Lincoln. Those who are on the
inside, however, know that this is not the
real reason why the change of location is
desired. From conversation that has been
overheard and from the extremely worried
look that is seen on the faces OF the re
form" captains it 10 now known that the
fusionists are afraid to hold the state con-
vention in Omaha. A canvass Of the situa-
ton has shown them that the local senti-
ment in Douglas county is strongly against
fusher fusion Of the conglomerate forces,
and they admit there Is a probability that
the Douglas county delegations will be anti
fusion in both the democratic and the popu-
list conventions This condition, aided by
the Omaha crowd that will be on hand to
kypnotize the delegates, they feel sure
would cause many of the delegates from
the interior counties to join in the middle
of-the- road movement. This might create
stampede that would spoil all the plans
OF the leading sham reformers.
Last year there was strong sentiment
against fusion in the populist convention,
but there were no large delegations united
in making such demand, and while hun
dred or so OF the delegates bolted the con-
vention, their absence was not noted, as
the full votes OF the counties they repre-
sented continued to be cast. The bolt OF
a solid delegation might have caused
stampede that nothing could stop.
Big Douglas Delegation.
The populists have realized another dan
ger, and that is the apportionment when
allows such a large delegation to Douglas
county The recent recount OF the votes
in that county has developed the fact that
the populists and silver republicans COM
bined have not as many actual votes as have
tho populists OF counties like Saunders Yet
the apportonment based on the total vote
OF the fusion forces allows very large dele
CATION to come into the convention repre-
senting Douglas county, and the fact that
this delegation may be opposed to further
fusion causes the fusion forces much wor-
riment
An immediate effort will be made to take
the conventions away from Omaha and locate
them here at Lincoln, where the entire
state house force and other salary drawers
can turn out as usual and undertake the
rounding up of the mavericks.
In the state house today the pending in
vestigation of The state officials was under
discussion, and one of the members of the
State Board of Janitors asked Secretary
Porter II he was going to allow the COM
mttee a room in the building.
well / should say not" answered Por-
ter with much emphasis.
why don't you give them good room
and save them tIouble?" asked the jani-
torial statesman.
"I'n give those fellows lot of trouble
before l get through with them,' replied
the secretary of state
This illustrates the feeling that is sus-
tanned by the state officials toward the pro-
posed investigation. Some of them indicate
that the movement is mortal insult, and
in the preparation to head off the COM
mittee the memory of the ten-thousand
dollar Mutz committee finds no place.
That Insurance Middle.
1t has been intimated at the state house
that the attorney to whom Deputy Insur-
ance Commissioner Bryant referred in the
letter published yesterday and sent to the
various insurance companies doing business
in this state is the father of a member OF
the First regiment and that the veto to
which he refers as being the cause Of the
opinion Is the veto of the vote Of thanks
to that regiment prominent populst was
heard to say in the governors office this
morning that he thought for the good OF
the party Governor Poynter should instruct
his employees to call attention to the veto as
little as possible.
Auditor Cornell returned from Omaha this
afternoon, but he refused to divulge the
name OF the attorney to whom Mr. Bryant
referred, even intimating that he had re-
ceived no written opinion on the question
Of the constitutionality OF the Weaver faw
b from any one except the attorney general.
He said he told Mr.. Bryant that he had
a coEvei sation with an attorney on the sub
ject and that he had been advised that the
law was defective
1t was learned this afternoon from au-
thoritative sources that an opinion was writ
ten for the auditor by an attorney not con-
nected with the legal department of the
state and that II was referred to the attorney
general ly Mr.. Cornell with a request for
his opinion. This opinion, or a copy of 1t,
kept On file In the attorney generals
Office until yesterday afternoon. when by re-
quest 1t was sent to c. j. Smyth at Omaha.
Either the copy or the original was pre-
sented to Mr.. Bryant several days ago, but
no name indicating the authorship was at
tached.
The statement that he had acted on the
advice Of this attorney was denied this aft
ernoon by Mr.. Cornell, who stated that he
had been influet ce In the controversy only
by his own re;sohaf opinion and that OF
the attorney general He called attention
. to the fact that the auditors Office Is sup
piled with copies of all laws and OF the su-
preme court reports, presumably for the pc
rusal of the auditor.
The question as TO whom mall addressed
to the insurance commissioner" or de
partment" shalf be delivered has been re-
ferred by Postmaster Bushnell OF the Lin
coin postoffice to the third assistant post
master general at Washington and until his
decision Is rendered all mail addressed in
that way will be held, Acting on his own
responsibility Postmaster Bushnell has noti-
fed the state house mail carrier to deliver
all mail addressed to Mr.. Bryant Auditor
Cornell and Governor Poynter, but when II
is evident that II is intended for the insur-
ance department 1t will be held with the
rest.
Since July 1 several insurance companies
have applied, both to the auditor and to
the deputy insurance commissioner for
agents certificates and permission to do
business in Nebraska, these requests being
granted by both.
The records OF the auditors office show
that since the first OF the year and up to
July l $500 agents certificates have been
issued, being considerably in advance OF last
year