Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-17
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT
Leaders Of the Party Decide on Their
Proposition to POpulists.
THEY DO NOT EXPECT ACCEPTANCE
Local Democrat Scheme to Postpone
County NominntiOns-Republican
Candidate for District JuGge
May Not BE Opposed.

About a dozen leaders of the democratic
party in Nebraska. including Supreme Court
Justice Sullivan, met in Omaha last week
TO formulate plans for the democratic and
populist state convention at Grand Island
June "a. and the program arranged is not
considered favorable to fusion.
1t was decided that the democratic con-
vention should propose TO give the popu-
lists either the gubeTnatorial place or all
the other places on the state ticket. THIS
proposition is to be made with the idea
that the populists will counter with a prop
osition to take several places on the ticket,
including the top. To this the democratic
leaders have decided no! to give serious
confederation. but TO insist upon the &C
reptance or rejection OF their original prop
Osition. ,
II the populists accept the plan and
nhoose the gubernatorial place on the ticket
the democrats will be more than surprised;
they will be shocked. As the populists have
numerous candidates for all the places on
the ticket and each Of these candidates Is
bound to have steadfast friends in the con-
y%ention, It is not considered possible Tor
them to pass up to the democrats all the
nominations. excepting that for governor.
II the populists decide to allow the demo-
rrats the gubernatorial position, taking for
themselves all the other places on the
ticket, there will be some surprised lead
ers in the democratic camp because the
populistic candidates for governor are not
expeced to give in to any such arrange
ment.
prospects for fusion are very slim,
said one of the leaders, who was in last
weeks conference. Il am sure the demo-
Gratis will have only the one proposition
- z.h..gt O.. A., nornItgte and that will hp
for them to take the head or the remainder
Of the ticket or go it alone. l am almost
as sure that the populists will be unable
to accept our proposition for fusion and
that the democratic and p~opulist conven-
lions will each nominate a full state ticket"
There is a possibility that the program
outlined by the democratic county commit
tee and embodied in its call for a conven-
ton to be held June 81 will be modified.
The call provided for the nomination OF
candidates for the county offices, as well
rs for the selection OF delegates to the
state, congressional and judicial conven-
tions, and until Saturday night there was
no thought Of change in the plans. Ac-
cording to a story told by certain members
of the party some Of the leaders saw a
light that night which they had heretofore
overlooked and concluded that June p
would be too early a date for nominations
and that the convention which would select
delegates to Grand Island and the judicial
convention would have too much work for
one day anyway; so they concluded to have
the selection Of delegates attended to and
have the convention adjourn then until time
to select delegates to a congressional con-
yention, and at that time to be guided by
circumstance as to whether candidates
should be nominated then or to adjourn
the convention until September, when II
would finally meet to nominate county can
dldates.
The report had hardly gained currenc!
until there were two forces claiming credl
for the alleged change IN plans. The popu
lists were the first in the field, saying tina
the determination Of the members OF tina
party to nominate a complete ticket II
September in case the democrats nominated
one previous to that time had caused tn,
leaders Of the democracy to avoid a contest
"Why. il we could not elect a man our
Selves said one Of the MEMBERS OF thu
populist county committee, 1--WE could a
leas. make 1t impossible for the democrats
to elect a man. Elmer E. Thomas, II. F
Mcintosh. George Magney, Laurie ]. Quinby
all would accept q place on that ticket
We could have put up one OF the bes'
tickets ever presented to the voters: ant
with such a ticket as that we could hav'
divided the fusion vote almost equally will
the democrats"
The other reason assigned was by
friend Of Lysle Abbott, candidate for count!
attorney on the democratic ticket. Thii
man said: "The suggestion for an earl!
nomination cam from VIII Herdman AM
some OF his friends. They thought tina
by an early convention they could defea
Abbott's nomination. Since the call was is
sued they have been hearing from tn,
ranks and find that Abbott will have NOR,
votes to go in with than they expected
Now they are asking for longer time il
which to make their fight. 1t really make
little difference TO Abbott, for every mai
he will have on the first day he will hav
on the last, as long as there is any hop
for his nomination. and the postponemen
will cut little figure"
One of the friends OF VIII Herdman, VIII
is credited with the plan to postpone nomi
nation said. 81 really know Of no plan {
postpone nominations. 1t has always been rec