Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-20
STATE COMMITTEE
WAR WITH BRYAN
REFUSE TO ENDORSE CATO
SELLS, HIS CANDIDATE FOR
COMMITTEEMAN
Nebraskan Forced w. w. Marsh Out
of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF For.
mer Congressman Wade is Taken 40
Move Against the Nebraskan.

Des Moines, Nov. 17.-The demo-
cratic state central committee has
served notice on William j. Bryan
that he must not assume to run the
democratic machine in this state. Tho
committe met to take action in the
matter Of recommending successor to
Charley" Walsh as Iowa member Of
the national democratic committee.
This was made necessary by the with4
drawal Of Wilbur w. Marsh, of Wat
erloo, from the contest for the posi-
ton. There is little story connected
with this action on the part of Mr..
Marsh which indicates the probable.
ity of serious outbreak In the ranks
of the Iowa democracy.
Bryan Buttons In Evidence.
At the Waterloo convention, Marsh
was one of the leading managers Of
the Bryan presidential boom. He
opened barrel, not Of money, but OF
Bryan buttons, at committee head.
quarters, and every delegate and visit
or was asked to put one on. The COM
vention went wild over the mention
OF Bryan's name, and the resolutions
endorsed him heartily as the next
democratic candidate for the presiden1
cy. The ceatral committee, however,
was practically under control Of the
conservative democrats, and 1t was
unanimously in favor Of Mr.. Marsh az
national committeeman.
Then the campaign be ran, and Mr..
Marsh became one Of the advisers Oh
the state committee, and gave up =
good share of his time to active work
for the Porter ticket.
AS soon as the smoke of battle had
cleared away, Mr.. Marsh's friends
again took up his campaign for COM
mitteeman, believing that he had won
by his services to the democratic state
ticket the support of Iowa democrats
for that position.
Bryan Opposes Marsh.
| Soon rumors began to be circulated
that Bryan was opposing Marsh. These
reports were finally confirmed by Me.
Bryan himself. A few days ago the
| Nebraska candidate called UP the DEM
ocratic headquarters in this city by
long distance telephone, and issued an
ultimatum to the effect that Mr. Marsh
must not be the national committee
man from Iowa. In vain were the SER
vices Of the Waterloo man during the
past campaign urged in his behalf.
Bryan was obdurate and would not
listen to any proposition for his selec-
ton.
| Finding they could do nothing with
the man at the other end of the long
distance wire, the committee laid the
matter before Mr.. Marsh at Waterloo
and his letter of withdrawal followed.
1t was given out that he withdrew in
the interest Of harmony" but those
on the inside knew that he was forced
out by Bryan. who has determined to
be the autocrat of his party.
A Declaration of War.
The action Of the state committee
in endorsing Martin J. Wade Is prac-
tically equivalent to declaration of
war by the party organization In the
state against Bryan and Sells, the lat
ter being the Bryan candidate for COM
mitteeman. 1t is stated that Mr.. Sells
does not popose to give up, but will.
push his candidacy, relying on the.
Byan influence to land the plum.
/ Toe stength of the factions will be
measured in the contest for control OF
the next democratic state convention.
and fight to the death may be ex-
Ipected.