The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-12-27
PRESSURE ON BRYAN
FRIENDS MAY COMPEL HIM TO TAKE
A NEBRASKA SENATORSHIP,
Fusion Deal May Go ThrOugh-He's
the Only Democrat in the State
"a Who Has q Ghost of a Show.
Especial to The Journal.)

Especial to The Journal.)
OMAHA, Neb., Dec. 19.-In spite Of
the protests Of the Republicans to the
contrary, the Nebraska friends Of Col.
Bryan are very active in their campaign
to make him senator. The logical re-
suit Of the situation right now is that
Of the vacancies than any man in the
state. He has refused to take an active
part In the plans to combine the fusion
vote with the strength Of one of the Re-
Republican and one fusionist in the posi-
tions, but he has said he would not re-
fuse his assent to such combination,
provided his friends arranged the details.
Mr.. Bryan says it is not any pretensions
of modesty that prevents him from TAX
ing an active part in the campaign. He
says he gave his word to number OF
Democrats and Populists before the
election that he would not be candi-
date for the senate in the event he was
defeated for the presidency, and he can
not now do anything that could be con-
sidered violation of that promise. His
friends, however, insist that the situa
ton is so different from what was ex
pected by all concerned at the time Mr..
Bryan made the promise that the Dem
ocrat leader is absolved from any vows
he made.
In the first place it is absolutely out
of the question to figure on a combina
tion with any other fusionist than Mr..
Bryan. That Is no secret. Everyone IA
miliar with the present political situa-
tion in the state knows that the Popu-
list minority in the legislature is divid
ed between Senator w. V. Allen, William
Thompson, of Grand Island, and Edi
tor Gilbert M. Hitchcock, of Omaha, for
one OF these three men. That is settled.
The Republicans have a working ma
jority on joint ballot Of eight votes. II
the fusionists sit supinely by the inevit-
able result will be the election of two
Republicans to the senate. OF course
a deadlock extending into the last days
of the legislature is certain In the event
the fusion minority makes no effort to
combine with q Republican candidate,
but this deadlock will not help the cause
of the fusionists in Nebraska. Thomp-
son, Allen and Hitchcock are thoroughly
familiar with the situation, and knowing
their own cause to be hopeless have
urged Mr.. Bryan to come forward ana
arrange a combination with the fusion
lists and weak Republican candidate
that will result in placing him in the
senate. This will not be a difficult
thing to accomplish with Bryan as the
fusion candidate. A word from Mr..
Bryan will start the ball rolling. The
two candidates must be voted upon at
the same time. If the plan is carried out
the vote of Bryan for his Republican
allies and the return vote of the Republi
can candidate for Bryan can be made SO
nearly simultaneously that there will be
no opportunity for treachery on either
side.
The statement Of Mr.. Bryan to the
press that he would not be candidate
for the senate Is not final. In truth,
Mr.. Bryan will be forced into the va
cancy even without his consent. The
deal can be arranged without Mr. Bry-
ans consent, and, in fact, in the very
face Of his protests. The Democratic
forces of the state assert some right III
the premises. At present they are hope
lessly demoralized. After Jan. /, bar
ring the three fusionists in congress,
Silas A. Holcomb and Judge Sullivan
retain their seats on the supreme bench,
with this exception the fusion forces
have been swept out of power by the
party which for eight years has been
unable to rally corporal's guard in the
state of Nebraska. Now the fusionists
have a chance to place Mr.. Bryan in the
senate and they are determined to do it.
Mr.. Bryan is receiving and has been re-
from prominent Democrats all over the
country urging him to do his best to
arrange a fusion by which he may be
sent to the senate. These communica
tens point out to him that he will thus
be enabled to retain the leadership of
his party which needs his services at
this time Bryan realizes this as well as
any man, but he is being held back by
the fact of his anti-election promises.
His friends will go right along, how
ever, regardless Of Mr.. Bryan's passive
position, and when the time comes where
Mr.. Bryans mere consent is necessary TO
complete the deal, that will be forthcom-
ing without doubt.
The division of the Republicans makes
this combination possible. The Repub-
iican forces are almost equally divided
between Assistant Secretary of War
George D. Meiklejohn, Edward Rose
water, editor of the Omaha Bee, D. E.
Thompson, of Lincoln, Ex-Governor Lor-
EMO Crounse and John L. Webster, Of
Omaha.
Each of these candidates 10 deadly