Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-16

aside to make 9 nonpartissn holiday. h
limited number OF visitors from Omaha and
other towns and cities Of the state had no
difficulty in finding room In the hotel lob
bies, where they talked state politics ana
personal affairs until time to catch their
trains from home. The attendance must
have been a distinct disappointment not
only to the democrats in charge OF the at
fair, but to the citizens OF Lincoln who. re-
CARELESS OF politics, had done their best
to make the event q memorable one.
The significance OF the slim attendance
and the lack OF enthusiasm were the sub
jects OF much comment and speculation by
politicians in Lincoln. Democrats naturally
argue that there was no particular reason
for enthusiasm, as the notification was q
purely formal affair and was not calcu-
lated to arouse any hurrahs, They argued,
too, that the nonpartisan character Of the
notification ceremonies naturally worked
to the suppression OF partisan demonstra-
lions, but they have little TO offer in ex-
PLANTATION OF the pFomptness with which the
democratic masses aeauiesced In the policy
OF silence. The developments ef the day
failed very signally TO harmonic with the
reports that are being persistentty circu-
lated hat the town OF Lincoln and the
n W hNh ~ AhO Will
asm for Bryan and that neighbofly love
and state pride are being relied upon TO
take Nebraska out of the republican col
umn this year. The ~ovations that were
started at different times during the day
for Governor Sheldon, and which were sup
pressed largely through the efforts OF the
governor himself and his republican friends.
were significant Indications of the fallacy
of the claims Of the B~ryanites.
Another explanation of the lack OF at
tendance is that the farmers and business
men of the state have their hands full
right now. with the best crop prospects
the state has had for years, the farmers
are taking every precaution to care for
their 95-cent wheat, their 75-cent corn.
their b0-cent oats, their 7-cent cattle and
their 61S-oent hogs, and the merchants are
engaged in getting new goods in stock to
provide for the record-breaking trade that
must come between this and election day.
These folks are not deeply concerned about
Mr.. Bryan and his policies. The record
shows that the farmers interest IN Bryan
decreases as the price Of farm products
advance.
The lack Of attendance OF enthusiastic
democrats from other parts OF the country
must have been more disappointing 10 thu
Bryan managers than the failure of Me-
braskans 10 be present at the ceremonies.
Less than a score Of members Of the noti-
fication committee were present and there
was absolutely no democrats OF prominence
there from any part of the country. The
visitors from Iowa, Illinois. Kansas. wy
oming, Colorado, Montana and Idaho. the
states which the Bryanltes are claiming.
could have all come in a special car, while
Norman e, Mack, the chairman OF the
democratic national committee, and
Humphrey o'sullivan. secretary OF the no
ufication committee, were the only visitors
from the east. No democrat who has even
state prominence in New York or New
England came OF his own account and nc
greetings came from the absent leaders.