Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-28

Eastern writer Unable 60 Find signs
Of q Political Revolution,

There is no revolution, no radical re-
volt, no prairies on fire in Nebraska
The quoted words express the conclusion
OF the New York Sun correspondent re-
garding the political situation in Nebraska
as affected by the nomination Of W. J.
Bryan. Writing from omaha. July q. 10
the Sun, the correspondent suys. in part
Nebraska at least seems 70 be a state
west of the Mississippi river where one
republican can refer to another without
breaking a commandment or fracturinE
the libel aw. The truth is that by con-
trast with Wisconsin and Iowa the re-
publican harmony in Nebraska is actually
depressing. It Is almost indecently pros
porous also, this state OF Nebraska. and
the local wiseacre wags his head and says
proudly:
IF the wires to New York had been
down last october, we should never have
known in Nebraska that there was a
panic"
Nebraska has morn automobiles per
square inhabitant than any state in the
Union" is another favoNte method OF es-
timating local prosperity. ehviously there
is no stomach ache" in Nebraska politics
which might benefit the democratic cam
paign. IN the contrary, the voter is over
fed to an extent which makes prosperity
as good a republican issue as ever.
Beyond all this mere carnal happiness.
however, there must be placed the spiritual
c|ontentment For although Nebraska re-
publlcans are radical-at least the majority
of them-still they are not bowling about
1t. They lack a La Toilette to fiji them
with the pleasing doctrine that "a demo-
crat is only a democrat. but a reactionary
republican Is worse than a horse thief ="
They have ~ Cummins, either. to preach
tariff revision and sound horrid threats
against the ""standpatter. In a word, there
seems to be no factional disturbance in
Nebraska republican politics.
1t Is interesting to note also that the
republican party in this state has been
radical enough to please almost everybody
without having suffered from It as yet.
1t has put through the legislature a two
cent fare bill and a variety Of other soak
the corporation" forms of legislation which
gladden. the semi-populistic heart of the
local proletariat. Consequently the repub-
lican lunch counter OF radicalism still suf-
fices to keep republican radicals at home.
To be sure, they hate their Uncle joe
Cannon out here in Nebraska quite as
much as they do in Iowa or Wisconsin.
Dollar jim" Sherman is also far from
iNSdl NtiutI On the missouri river. but
no one is terribly worked up about 1t. The
Nebraska republican is not even "het up"
enough to worship La Toilette, whose
presidential boom in Nebraska snuffed out
before the Chicago convention.
In spite Of all this oppressive peace and
plenty in republican circles, the democrat
outside Nebraska at least fondly cherishes
the illusion that Nebraska will be demo-
cratic. The Nebraska democrat. not for
publication, has his doubts, while the Ne
hraska republican who is informed has no
doubts and estimates the state to be safely
republican by about 2o,00O. Admitting this
to be a narrow margin, he politely presents
Mr.. Bryan with a fighting chance and
then eliminates the chance.
There are nevertheless certain elements
In the situation which explain the demo-
cratic hope. Everybody agrees that Mr..
Bryan is regarded as more of an innocent
pleasure and less Of a dangerous and ex-
plosive firecracker than before, and being
regarded as safer to handle is more pop
ular. 1t seems to be more or less Of a
mere excess Of neighborliness, this new
popularity. IL absolutely has nothing to
do with politics or political issues or rad
ical doctrines or corporation domination.
II seems 10 De COmprenended IN the
phrase:
Honor to Nebraska's leading citizen.
William Jennings Bryan and this is a
question of state pride, purely and simply.
The republican critic says of this phase
in passing:
Hes a prize faker on the handshake
business, is MI. Bryan a good deal is
also said about one OF Mr.. Bryan's favor
lite methods Of campaigning, which is To-
cally known as 'chautauquaing.' BY
means of his lectures in churches and other
public places, Mr. Bryan has managed to
cover the ground out here pretty thor
oughly, and Of course every one who has
seen him has heard him.
He tells the obvious truth so forcefuIly
that no one can doubt IT," was one sar-
castle comment which had reference to
that celebrated prince Of Peace" lecture.
The result is, so Nebraska republicans say,
that Mr.. Bryan has at least removed a
considerable part of the unreasoning pref
udice that once existed against him.
Yet emphasis is steadily laid on the fact
that there is nothing political in all this
Bryan progress toward popularity and
toward the refutation Of the notion that
no prophet can have any honor in his own
city. This is none of the radical and
progressive dynamite in It that is suggested
at times in the situation in Wisconsin. It is
worth while to note. too. that up to date
the heart OF the Nebraskan has been more
deeply touched than his pocket in this