Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-30
No Worse Than Its Predecessors in This
Res-sot, However
FUSIoNISTs PLAY POLITICS ENTIRELY
Party Lash Pied Numerically to Get
Members in Line
PURELY NEGATIVE FORCE IN SESSION
hnch Noise hut Nothing Done by II.
Members when Action would
Have Resulted In Good
to state.
From a staff corresponhent.l !


ent legislature finds i'selt in many re-
speets in the same lredlcament as ita
predecessors. Like those which have gon,
oetore the present legislature will not COM
plete It's business within the sixty DAYS
Whloh are supposed to comprise the ses-
sion. As the members draw no nav for
these extra days II is certain that in fx-
ing the date Of adjournment al April 10
no more lime was taken than will be necea-
sary to complete the most pressing busI-
ness. That many useful measures will die
with the session for lack OF time for con-
sideration Is certain. No Legislative ses-
sion ever adjourned with its iles clear
OF pending business, There is no doubt,
however that the more important bills will
be disposed Of
Ths revenue bill, which has passed both
houses. is now pending in the lower house
for action on amendments made TO Il In the
senate. IT Will come up for consideration
tomorrow and there is every Indication that
1t VIII be promptly disposed OF by con-
currence In tho senate amendments and the
Dill sent TO the governor for signature.
Tho appropriation bills have made good
progress in the house and the next two
days should see most IL not all Of them sent
over 20 the senate. Here the expense bills
are likely to meet with material change
before they are sent back to the house.
While the senate is considering the ap-
preparation bills, the house VIII have plenty
to occupy its time with bills sent over from
the senate. and altogether the few re-
naming days OF the session will be de-
cl1edly more strenuous than their prede-
cessors.
FusiOniHts Play Politics.
In looking back over the record of the
Ion 10 fr
bers of both houses have been more in
dustriously engaged in playing politics than
in active work for the good Of the state
One of them stated recently: 1--WE will
cP9;ure the state of Nebraska at the next
election; our success is inevitable" Just
what there is in the record OF the fusion
representatives to give them such encotir-
agement Is not apparent. They have done
nothing throughout the session except oc-
cupy an attitude Of negation and their
votes have never been disposed where they
would be OF any service for the benefit
of the state. but given with a grandstand
flourish when making a record play.
Outlined by Outsiders.
This attitude OF negatioi was outlined
at the beginning OF the session. not by
the men who represent the minority In the
house and senate. but by those men on the
outside OF the legislative halls who are
preparing material for their campaign in
1904. Indeed. II may Je recalled that
few weeks after the session started II be-
came apparent that the fusionists In the
legislature were not aggressive in pursuing
partisan policies; they were too much In
clned to vote as their consciences die
tated, unmindful Of the selfish designs Of
party leaders, permitting campaign thun-
! der to take care OF itself What was the
result? The big chiefs out In the state
came to Lincoln. swooped down on their
! representatives In the legislature, held
! few conferences or social gatherings" as
they were then advertised, and pounded
into them the necessity Of getting to-
gether" for the purpose of carrying out the
/ plans OF the managers. The chief organ OF
! fusionism nearly twisted its crank OF be-
cause there was no fusion member who
| could be depended on TO assume an ag-
| gressive, pugnacous leadership In either
| house. This and other organs, in a heart
less manner. went after men in the ranks
| OF the minority whose standing. politically
and otherwise. was above reproach. eharg-
! ing them--one OF them in particular-with
being plant corporation tools, etc. After
beating and cufing these members over the
head in this manner for a while these
politicians succeeded In getting them into
| line-succeeded in some cases Ia making
them reverse their own action. thus injur-
| ing their regulations and influence. But
there was an end to be accomplished; fu-
! sion thunder must be manufactured Thus
| this relentless, merciless bombardment
against individuals who chose to do what
they believed to be their duty was kept
up until in desperation. perhaps, or disgust.
they yielded their high ideals and bowed
in subservient humility to the crack OF
the party whip" So II these men were
J derelict at the outset in STOPPING to this
level OF political expediency, most of them
may be forgiven by their dietators. asffhsy
have since followed the course mapped out.