Evening star., 1900-11-19
Even His Nebraska Friends Consider
Him Fallen Idol.
HIS DEFEAT THERE WAS COMPLETE
Edward Rosewater Largely Re-
sponsibIe for His Rise and Fall.
CANDIDATE FOR SENATE


the home of Bryan and the birthplace of
fusion, recognizes distinctly the necessity
for reorganization of those forces which
have so long contributed to the advance
ment of the silver leaders hopes and pri-
vate fortunes. That the democratic party
must be reorganiZed before it can hope to
attain success is now recognized by the av-
eraSe member of that party throughout
this section of the west. Some of Mr.. Bry-
ans strongest supporters and warmest per-
sonal friends adcl.; this fact, though re-
luctantly: others assert that their interest
In the preservation of the party is para
mount to their interest in the political fu-
ture of Mr.. Bryan and that therefore they
favor a reorganization of the party, re-
gardless of the views of their fallen leader.
In fact, this situation recognized as
certain to develop long before the election
in the event .lr Bryan was again defeated
for the presidency. His personal friends
during the campaign privately discussed
this problem and the possibilities of its de-
velopment, and even Mr.. Bryan is known to
have had the question forced upon his con-
Slderation by Representative Sulzer of New
York. ex-Gov. Hill, Senator Butler of North
Carolina and other prominent politicians
who visited him at his Lincoln home before
the campaign opened.
Morton Leads the Opposition.
When 1t was certain that Bryan had been
a gain defeat 81 the Nebraska leaders among
that element of the democratic party which
had repudiated Bryan in 1895 Immediately
began the agitation of the question of re-
organization. Not to be out generated by
those astute iticians of whom I Ster-
ing Morton is the recognized head the
leaders among the Nebraska Bryan dem
ocrats at once took active interest in the
new question. They recognized the neces-
Slty for a re0rganZa ton Of the party Ioth
state and national iuI they
have hand in that reorganization. Thev
are opposed to permitting Mr.. Morton Mr.
Cleveland Mr.. Olney and others of that
element to nave the whole credit for the
reorganization. The Bryan leaders in Ne
braska, however. Immediately exhibited a
very friendly spirit toward the Morton wing
OF the party n Nebraska and made over
lures looking TO a reconciliation upon the
basis of reorganization. Nothing has
been said about tha retire m mt Of Mr. i3ryan
from the leadership of the party upon its
ffeorsanlzauon, but 1t appears to be taken
for granted that he will retire gracefully
and yield to what he recognizes is the in
eVitable. One thing is certain when the
convention for the rehabilitation of the
party is called, Nebraska will be found
well represented. and both wings of the
democratic and fusion forces in this state
are expected to be represented
Mr. Bryan has received personally mum.
Der of communicat tions from leading demo-
Gratis In all parts of the country on the
subject of reorganization. Some of these
communications are from men notorious!y
hostile TO him. while others are from his
warmest supporters. who. while deprecat-
ing the circumstances which have made the
reorganization of the party necessary to Its
very existence. still insist that something
should be done, regardless of the fortunes
of any one man or set of men in the party.
Bryan Says Nothing.
If any one hoped to draw Mr.. Bryan out
on this subject they did not know the
said a word in reply to these communica-
tons. 1t is said by those closest to him
that he is only waiting to be certain of the
general sentiment throughout the country
before replying, and that if he is convinced
that his following desires him to enter with
the opposition upon a reorganization he
will do 30, otherwise he will stand upon
the present status and insist that his party
organization is the only democratic organi-
Zation thus splitting the party.
That it is not considered high treason to
seriously question the advisability of Mr..
Bryan's further leadership among demo-
Gratis in Nebraska at present is further
evidence of t. equivocal position the silver
leader now occupies. The time was in
Nebraska that 1t meant political ostracism
to question Mr.. Bryan's policy or to seri-
ously oppose him in the party. Political
ethics have changed substantially since
November 6. 1900, however. There is no
doubt that the rank and file of the fusion
forces in Nebraska would not accept Mr..
Bryan as tnelr national leader IOT announcer
fight, even if the outside states would.
They feel here in Nebraska very keenly the
result of the recent landslide.
That Mr.. Bryan did not carry Nebraska
they attribute very largely to him per-
sonary. They claim he did not give enough
attention to the state. Many of the fusion
leaders in Nebraska could forgive Mr..
Bryan his defeat President If he had
only carried Nebraska. The future of the
party. they claim. was based more upon
this phase Of the case than all others COM
binSd.
With this state showing an increased ma
jority FOR him it might have been possible
for the democratic leader to have recu-
perated and intrenched behind the impreg
nable forces and Notifications of his home
state. to have kibernated and reappeared
for the presidency. This was the sentiment
of thousands of fusionists in Nebraska. He
might even have been forced into the SEN
ate through the Nebraska legislature and
there assumed the leadership Of the party,
thus keeping in touch with that leadership
until 1904
No Chance for SenatOrship.
The defeat Of the fusion legislature fur
ther contributed to the certain retirement
of Col Bryan. Bryan was quick to pro-
claim that he would not be candidate for
the Senate. even If the legislature was of
fusion complexion, but few believed he did
not love the leadership of his party well
fees to be kept in the front Of the political
column Thus Is Mr.. Bryan being slowly
forced to the wall by those very forces in
his home state which contributed to the ex-
traordinary political career he has enjoyed
for the past seven years.
1t is the irony Of fate that the schemes
of the very men whose quick political judg-
ment and powerful fighting qualities con-
tributed so largely to the situation which
later made Mr.. Bryan's fusion forces SO
strong in Nebraska, finally undid the dem
ocratic leader at home and took from him
his own state. This man is Edward Rose
water, editor of the Omaha Bee. and now
active candidate for the United State SEN
ate. 1t was in 1894 that Nebraska first ex-
perienced that extraordinary combination
of the populist and democratic forces which
swept the republican party out Of power in
Nebraska. not to be returned until 1900
This feat was accomplished largely through
the efforts of the Omaha editor.
The same political ability, astuteness and
knowledge Of affairs in Nebraska which
enabled Rosewater to contribute to the
defeat Of Thes. Majors In 1904 incidentally
bringing to the front w J. Brya6. the