The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-12

LINCOLN Neb., July 1.-THE State
conventions of the Populists, Democrats,
and Silver Republicans are being held
tonight. with the prospect that they will
last until morning. The Democrats Or
ganized by electing T. ]. Doyle as chair
man, and adjourned for several hours until
a contest from Douglas County could be
settled
The Silver Republicans selected George
A. S.haer as chairman, and listened to a
speech from Mr. Towne. The convention
voted down resolutions endorsing the ac-
ton of the Kansas City National Conven-
tion Of Silver Republicans in accepting
Mr Towne's withdrawal and nominating
Stevenson.
There was war In the Populist con-
vention from the beginning. The first
fight came up over temporary chairman.
NJ F. Harrington, lawyer. from o'Neiil.
q candidate to succeed Senator Allen in
the Senate. was put forward for chairman.
Aliens friends determined to trip him up
at the beginning. and brought out the
Senator In opposition. Allen won by
vote OF $40 to 42S. Conference committees
were appointed by each of the conven-
ttons. and while these committees were
out celebrating the conventions listened
to speeches from various leaders.
A big clash is looked for between the
three parties to the fusion alliance. There
are eight nominations TO DE made and Tor
these eight places the candidates number
at least fifty. The trouble will come not
over the nominations, but over the divis-
ion of Offices between the three parties to
the fusion alliance.
Outside Of the Supreme Court and the
board OF university regents. where the
division is practically equal, the Popu-
lists have an overwhelming majority OF
the State Offices. all in fact, save the
Attorney General, who is a Democrat. and
the Lieutenant Governor. silver Republi-
can.
Four years ago the Populists took ad-
vantage OF the Strenuous necessities of
the Democrats. Mr.. Bryan had but
short time before been nominated for
President and to secure the Popu;ist en-
dorsement on the national ticket they had
to sacrifice the candidates for State Of
fees. The Populist candidates thus chosen
were renominated and reelected two
years later.
The Democrats and Silver Republicans
now demand a more equitasic division of
the ofic.s. The Democrats say they VIII
be content if they are given State Treas
ueer in addition to Attorney General. The
Silver Republicans want the Lieutenant
Governor and Land Commissioner.
considerable number Of Populists are
opposed to granting either favor. They In
sist that as Towne is to decline a Vice
Presidential nominee, they must. IL order
tn ;rsA -.
having as many Offices as before.
Then there is a still less numerous but
ncisier body who insist that the Popu-
lists shall have all OF the Offices or they
will walk out of the convention.
At midnight the three conventions were
deadlocked over the division Of Offices with
little prospect OF early settlement.
Mr.. Bryan paid a visit TO each of the
three conventions between 10 and il
O'Clock and urged On them the necessity
OF making some concessions in the in
terests Of harmony. Among other things
he said to the Democrats:
This year We go before the people with
better reasons to appeal to them than in
any previous campaign. Take the plat
form adopted at Kansas City and compare
il with that of the Republicans. There
is nothing in the latter document which
appeals to a great agricultural State like
Nebraska. There Is nothing in IT which
appeals to either the interest or the aspi-
rations OF our people.
"A distinguished Republican said four
years ago that Nebraska would go Repub-
lican by 1000 no matter what the platform
might be. / say that this year II will 60
Democratic by % 5000 because of the Re-
publican platform. am glad the Democ-
racy OF Nebraska is IN accord with the De-
mocracy OF this Union, ana that upon the
Kansas City platform we can unitedly go
forward to victory. There was time
when the Democracy Of this State was
riven In factions. Most OF those who let
US In 1896 have. come back to US, and we
are now united.
The Kansas City platform declared one
issue to be paramount in this campaign.
/ want you to go home and present this
truth. that when a Government once aban-
dons the doctrine that 1t exists only by
the consent Of the governed. it can con-
tinue to live only by brute force. have
enough faith In the patriotism and the IN
teliigence Of the people Of this State to
believe that all OF the elements OF the re-
form forces Of the great majority OF the
Republican party will be united In support
OF the principle that has made us the
greatest among nations, and that when the
people are brought face to face with this
great question they will come to the sup
port Of the Democratic platform and make
Il plain that in the future no party may
dare to throw discredit upon the Declara-
tion of Independence"
To the Populists Mr.. Bryan said that the
fusion forces would enter this campaign
under circumstances more favorable than
in 1896 because they have issues that
reach deeper and because there are more
counts in the Indictment against the Re-
publicans. No difference in principles
exists. he said. and nothing ought to be
permitted to prevent harmonious action.
He said he knew that the Populists had
not supported him because OF personal
admiration. but because they believed that
through him they might secure the enact
ment OF laws that would redress their
wrongs. When once the question had
been settled, that governments come from
but one political source, the consent Of
the governed. and are responsible to the
peoples will. then other scores may be
settled
In his speech to the Silver Republicans
Mr.. Towne reviewed Steyenson's record
in order to show that Stevenson ought 10
be acceptable to Populists.