Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-05
FUSION GREED FOR OFFICE
Performers in the Three Hinged Circus Have
Great Mouth for Pie,
SCRAMBLE FOR POSITION AT COUNTER
Great Pressure Brought to Hear to
Secure SenntorshIo and Good
Jobs at the state
University.
SCRAMBLE FOR POSITION At COUNTER

LINCOLN, Dec. 4.-(special) with
chancellor for the State university, a clerk
for the supreme court and possibly United
States senator to select, besides innumer-
able other positions Of minor Importance
to fll, things promise to be rather exciting
in political circles in Nebraska for the next
month or two. In fact, the politicians are
already at work figuring on the various
candidates. Consultations are being held
daily and some talk is heard OF trades and
compromises. Each of the three parties of
the fusion agreement have candidates Tor
the offices and while II would be possible
to divide the spoils among them such action
is considered out of the question for the
reason that appointing power is divided be-
tween the University Board of Regents, the
supreme court and the chief executive of
the state.
In asking for the various Offices the dem
ocrats emphasize the fact that they were
slighted by the governor in the distribu-
tion of his executive appointments the pop
ulsts say that they deserved more than they
got and the free silver republicans COM
plain that they were not thought OF at all
by the governor
More attention is being paid to the pos
sible senatorial vacancy and the various
candidates for the appointment than to any
of the other positions. There are more can
didates for the position OF clerk of the su-
preme court. but the contention is not so
bitter and the fight for that office has been
cast in the shade by the strife for the sena-
Eorial appointment
Anticipating the complicated state OF
affairs that now exists, w. j. Bryan lost
no time in leaving Nebraska and the clam
oring politicians who are endeavoring to
secure recognition from the ones In power
There appears to be no one to take UP the
work Of keeping the fusion parties to-
gether in his absence and the suggestion
that the appointments be passed around Will
probably not be acted upon. The leaders OF
the three parties are drifting farther and
farther away from each other and there is
no prospect of an agreement between them.
Many After the CIerlSship.
So far the many candidates for the posi-
ton of clerk of the supreme court and state
librarian have shown no disposition to wait
until the expiration Of the term of the pres
ent incumbent and as soon as the newly
elected Judge takes his seat a demand Will
be made to have him removed to make room
for popocrat. 1t is generally admitted by
the popocrats that according to the literal
construction of the constitution a clerk OF
the supreme court cannot be removed unless
but it is argued that the existing conditions
make a change necessary at this time.
Should the appointment be postponed until
the expiration of Clerk Campbelps term the
appointing power might rest with the re-
publcans, and in that event the popocrats
would lose the opportunity OF installing a
fusonist in the position.
There Is little doubt that politics will be
a factor of considerable influence in the Sc
lection of a chancellor of the State uni
versity. All of the men urged for this po-
siton by those who have influence with the
newly elected regents are populsts or advo-
rates of some one of the numerous popocratlc
theories Superintendent Andrews of the
Chicago city schools. who is now looked upon
as having better chances of success than any
Of the other candidates, is advocate of the
free silver doctrine, and 1t was because OF
his views on this subject that he left the
presidency of Brown university. He was
subjected to severe criticism for remarks on
the silver question and such strong opposi-
tion developed at the institution that he re-
signed, and later accepted the position at
Chicago He now desires to get back into
the university field again and, considering
the result of the last election and the po-
litical complexion of the Board of Regents
his friends urged him to try for the chancel-
lorship of the Nebraska institution. While
the state house politicians will have more or
less to say about the selection of man for
this position, they are now content with de-
voting their attention to the candidates for
the other positions.
On account OF the probability OF politics
entering into the consideration of the can
didates for this office. it has been suggested
that the present Board of Regents should
make the selection before the newly elected
regents take their seats. There is no fixed
rule or established precedent that such mat
ters should be left over for the new board
and, this being the case. they may decide to
take up the matter before the expiration of
their terms. 1t has been customary in years
past to postpone action on such important
matters for year or more, so that there has
always been ample opportunity to Investigate
thoroughly before taking final action. Act
ing Chancellor Bessey will not serve perma-
nently, and it is desired that his successor
shall be selected by the end OF the present
school year.
Faculty Greatly Interested
,,or,,,, -, tho taorIt, 80 Tho ,n,,,or,i+,
,,at,,ra,,,, r,,,ch intor.stad IN tho doiras
=, ~ poa.5 -, po,ants a,a as,aotaII,, q,
tbo soIectior of chanreIIor Tbev think
that a man for this nosition should have an
ahI,sbad renntotion IN tbo oducotioraI