Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08

tion from their own ranks and give them
n majority In Omaha and Lincoln and in
the other large towns they promise to do
better than they did last fall, when they
made marked gains in these localities AS
to the populist counties in the western
part Of the state no certain information
can yet be gathered.
The republicans are hopeful that the pa
triotic sentiment which upholds the ma
tionaI administration so long as there is an
enemy in arms against the United States
will gather force as the campaign pro-
crosses. They will appeal strongly to IL.
At one time there was some nervousness
over the returning soldiers Of the First Me-
braska. There was also some politics by
both the republicans and the populists In
the reception of those heroes. The repuo-
licans are no longer nervous on this sub
ject. The soldier boys are back in their
home. None of them who went out as re-
publicans have ceased to be republicans
while there are signs that some Of them
who went out populists have returned as
partisans of the national administration, as
far as relates to upholding its authority.
This, too, while some Of them talk against
keeping the islands as American territory
after the authority of the United States is
eStaDllSneQ anu TeSpeCleu' Inc popuilsuo
have been disconnected because Chaplain
Mailey, who was with the First Nebraska
in the Philippines, is making vigorous
speeches in support of the national admin
istraton. His influence is not to be
ignored. 1t is one OF the signs which the
republicans think are favorable to their
success in November by a good majority
PopuIists Are Hopeful.
"The populists are also hopeful and confi-
dent They are commonly called fusionists,
but in reality the opposition to the repub-
licans in Nebraska is populistic. The silver
democrats keep up separate organization
and name proportion of the local and
state candidates, which are accepted by
the populists. But the political identity OF
the democrats is lost completely There
is also an organization on paper called the
silver republicans, which is alleged to be
part OF the fusion. There is nothing to this
except the name which is kept by the
populists in order to make 1t appear that
there is a silver republican party.
81 dropped into the headquarters OF the
populst state committee to get some ideas
OF the prospects from their point OF view.
The chairman assured me that the organi-
cation was never in better condition for
| contest. Nebraska, he said, was popu-
list state by at least 10000 majority, and
that majority would hold good this year.
! Chairman Edmisten gave the same eX-
planation of the slump last fall that other
populsts give. This was in substance that
the republicans played shrewd politics and
won the legislature by a still hunt. The
populists he explained, were over-confdent
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
A full vote would be brought out and that
would mean a populist victory. One rea-
son for looking for a full vote, he said,
was because county officers would be
elected this fall and that always assures get
ting the votes to the polls, The populists
have 500 out OF the $50 county offices in the
state 1t is assured that their fight
to keep these offices will be more effective
than the fight OF the republicans to capture
them. That raises the old question whether
| the ins ever fight quite so hard as the outs
The populists also claim that Mr. Bryan
is making votes among the Abe Lincoln
republicans by his talks against expan-
sion But as I have before indicated
whether votes are being made or lost on thi:
issue cannot yet be determined.
Local Side of the Campaign.
1.-The campaign naturally has it's local side
"The republicans are attacking the popu'
| list state administration anu they nut
plenty OF material for attack. Governor
Poynter does not seem TO be as good {
politician as was Mr. Holcomb, his populis
| predecessor. The nominees for supreme
judge also inject personal interest into th'
canvass. The republicans are peculiarly for
tunate In Judge Reese, their candidate. HI
represents the best element In Nebraska re
publieanism, and his nomination has tones
up the whole organization. He served on
term on the bench. He has a consistent anti