Evening star., 1899-10-10
ISSUE DECADENT
Little Attention to the Subject in Ne
braska Campaign.
Significant Action of MiddIe-Of-the-
Road POpuiists-PrOspects
to Result.
Special Correspond ,ncc of The Evening Star.


OMAHA. Neb, October s, 1899.
The present campaign in Nebraska has
brought to the surface many evidences of
the deCadence of the free silver sentiment
in this state. Stump speakers are not dis
cussing the subject. except in a brief way,
the republicans referring to ii as a dead
issue. while the fusiCnsts attempt to ridi-
cule the republicans for their apparent
anxiety to bury the dead issue so often.
but the party leaders do not seriously dis
cuss the issue nor do the people show any
interest in it.
The mddle-of-t he-road populists held a
meeting ut Hastings recently and took
radical action in respect to the time-worn
silver issue making the following declara-
tion on the subject:
And knowing. further. that no benefit
to the people. save those interested in sill
Yer or silver mining. can come from free
silver or fusion, therefore the chairman is
hereby authorized to appoint committee
to arrange for having hti1 drawn up for
the transferring of railroads. telegraph ana
tCleDhone lines to the national government.
and also to secure the cooperation of peo-
pie throughout the state and nation to as
sist in this work;
And we hereby invite all reform forces
who agree with us in these measures to
meet at the time of the conference at Lin
coin. Neh.. to consider any such bills or
other questions or subjects as may come up
for cCnSidprat tiOn. y.
These populists will meet at Lincoln soon
In response TO q growing sentiment within
their ranks. which is more and more op-
posed to fusion. To he sure. this movement
Is supported to a certain extent by disgrun-
tied populiSts. who are tired of voting for
Bryan democrats for the best offices,
county and state. and to a further abJect
surrender of their oli-time party principles
enurciated in the Omaha platform. The
fusion committeeman. of course, allege that
this movement is gotten UP at the behest
of republicans, in order to sow discord in
the ranks Of fusion. However it cannot
be disputed that many of the men in the
middle-of-the-road movement are sincere,
consistent populsts from principle, and not
supporters of that party for the sake OF
office alone Among them are numbered
many leading farmers in the center of the
state and their abandonment of the silver
shibboleth IS very significant sign of the
times. High prices and good crops have
dispelled the belief that the country suf-
fered for want of free coinage of silver.
The fusion speakers are being booked at
important towns all over the state and the
campaign is beginning TO warm up The
republicans are quite active. 1t is their
desire, of course, that President Mckinley
shall enter the state for a brief visit in
order that one or the other of his cabinet
officers may make a speech. which will be
of benefit to republicans here:
Senator Thurston has arranged for a
number of eastern speakers. and Chair
man Orlando Taft is in correspondence
with a number of prominent midwest cam
paigners. who are expected to deliver sew
eral speeches within the next few weeks.
The republicans have large odds to over
come and it is not certain that they can
win, yet the chances seem to be favorable,
for it is a matter beyond question that
marked disintegration is going on in the
fusion camps.