The evening times., 1900-03-19
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
ENCOURAGING Fusion.-Mr Rrya,

Encouraging Fusion.-Mr Bryap,s
home town is today.th liveliest political
storm centre in the country. The Demo-
Gratis Pcpulists, and free silver Republi-
cans are holding State conventions at Lin
coin to elect delegates to the National
Conventions. 1t is expected that Mr.. Bryan
will make a speech to each assemblage
The free silver Republicans of Nebraska
seem stronger numerically and in spirit
than they were four years ago. There is
no disposition among them to go back to
their old party. The passage of the Single
Gold Standard bill has completely alienated
them from the Republican party. They
appear to be anxious to cooperate with
the Democrats in the national campaign
There is still a good deal of discord in the
ranks of the Nebraska Populsts. The ex-
treme element-the middle of the readers
insist upon independent action this year.
1t was they who forced the snap conven-
tion at Sioux Falls. S Oak. But it is con-
fidently believed that they will be over
borne by the fusionists in today's con-
Vention at Lincoln. In this event bolt
may be expected. The extremists know
their business too well tamely TO submit
to the will of the majority. Fusion means
nc occupation for them in the campaign.
The Democrats would not need their ser
vices OH the stump, and even if they were
needed the Democratic managers would
have no money with which to pay them.
Hence, ii behooveS the extremists to be-
gin their bolt now in order to the better
be able TO organize an independent ma
tional movement. This means good wages
for their leaders on the stump all through
the campaign. Mr. Hanna undoubtedly will
see to that part of it. The three sets of
delegates elected at Lincoln, in all proba-
bility, will be instructed for Bryan. 1t is
thought that perfunctory instructions on
the platform and Vice Presidency also will
be given. But il is not believed that the
Sioux Falls convention will nominate q
candidate for Vice President. The second
place on the ticket will be left vacant for
the Democrats to fill at Kansas City. This
is known to be the game of the conserYa-
tive Populist leaders a means of placa-
ting the mass of Populist voters.
The Game Opens.-SOoner than was
expected the Administrations great game
of now-you- see and now -you-don't on
Imperialism has been started for the pub
lie edification. 4 certain Mr. Herbert My
rick. styling himself Chairman of the
League of American Producers. has held a
mass meeting and issued an address in de-
fence of the Porto Rican Tariff bill. lie
says his league represents 5000, 900 voters,
all of whom are either farmers or day la
borcrs. These voters, he AYERS, are against
free trade with the insular possessions be-
cause that policy would mean the immedi-
ate destruction OF the home market for la
Dor and all the products of labor He de-
clares that the Sugar Trust and other SINH
lar octopuses are behind the deyilish
scheme to pull down the tariff walls that
are now causing starvation in Porto Rico.
Also that the way to kill the Sugar Trust
is TO build up the beet sugar industry b.
keeping Porto Rico sugar out Of this coun-
try. The masterfu Henry Oxnard left
Washington Immediately after the passage
by the House of his Porto .Rican Tariff bill
Ii is naturally thought that he is now in
New York and that he was the other men,
ber of Mr.. Myrics's great mass meeting.
Il is also thought that before attending the
great mass meeting he and the Sugar Trust
magnates. with whom he is ''at war" held
a conference and chuckled merrily over the
progress of the little game that they think
is working finely. II now remains for
Senate to take up the cry of Chairman
Herbert Myrick's League of Domestic Pro-
ducers and make it ring through the land