Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-08
THE PoPocRAT1o MESS.

Norfolk News: Since w. II. Thompson.
the fusion candidate for governor, is a
leading attorney for the Burlington rail-
road. Il is probable that the fusionists will
not make much ado about what they term
the railroad influence in republican con-
ventions. They will experience suf1cient
difficulty In keeping the pronounced anti
corporatlonists OF the fusion parties in line
for their railroad candidate for governor.
Falls City Journal: w. J. Bryan did not
win a victory for the fusion forces by ap-
pearing personally at the Grand Island con-
vention. He simply succeeded in getting
the contending forces to recognise his flag
OF truce and suspend hostilities for the
time being. To use his own words. 1.-THE
battle has Just begun" and is not due to
end until next November. And the fight
will not present the spectacle Of the united
forces of fusion presenting a solid front to
a common enemy, but will partake Of the
nature OF a civil war more desperate be-
cause OF wrongs that we're done and ad-
vantages taken under the cover OF the flag
Of truce that Bryan caused to he displayed.
st. Paul Republican: The nomination OF
w. H.. Thompson as the fusion candidate
Tor governor seals the death warrant Of
populism In Nebraska. The Overwhelming
defeat suffered last year by Conrad Hollen-
beck. who was nominated under much more
taVoraole conditions, BODIES no good for the
miniature giant of Hall county. The cleo
tion Of Mickey and the entire republican
state ticket is almost as certain as II the
ballots had already been counted and a
clean majority found in their favor. Defeat
for the fusion candidates being practically
assured, there is little left In life to cheer
the dropping spirits Of the average populist.
With all his theories Of government ex-
ploded. his calamity wall abandoned and
the nope OF office extinguished from his
heart by the sacrihcial nomination OF a
democrat, he is in a badly demoralized con-
clifton and Will scarcely be able to ac-
complish the results In next falls election
to which he was accustomed in his days
Of pride and power.
Holdrege Citizen: II Is probable that
some OF the populists are wondering where
they are at" since the Grand Island con-
vention. When the populist party was
rounded the men in II said they were found
ing a new party because both the two old
parties were rotten and corrupt. A few
years later they Joined forces with the
democrats and silver republicans under the
head of fusion and styled themselves the
allied forces OF reform. Their excuse was
that the democrats had promised them half
a loaf and that was better than nothing.
Since then silver republicans have dropped
by the wayside. The democratic party is
being r~eorganized by the eastern demo-
Gratis and the populist half loaf Of bread
has developed into a stone. The late popu-
list party has developed into a democratic
annex" II the populists were sincere
twelve years ago when they soundly de-
nounced both old parties. are they sincere
now when they follow the democrats in an
annex" We fail to see how the old time
populist can cay he was honest then and
honest now II he follows his party leaders.
II he follows his leaders into the demo-
cratic camp he must admit that he was in
sincere in his earlier position or mistaken.
II he was mistaken In his earlier position,
what assurance can he have that he is
right now? No wonder 80 many are hesI-
tating to accept the democratic party with
all the mistakes 1t has made during the
last fifty years. The wonder is that when
the populists see how they have been be-
trayed into the democratic camp by leaders
anxious for ONCE, some still continue to
follow those leaders and expect people to
respect them politically.