Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-10-24
Al NehraaI,a Primary.


as 1t Is In others, and the experience
Of other commonwealth ought to b
q valuable guiae In the conduct Of th'
proposed method Of nominations.
letter from congressman Of Wash
ington state where the primary Law
has been in operation says that tn
law there "tends to disorganize thu
dominant party" He puts it thil
way: at will probably defeat thu
Republicans this year and when thu
Democrats get in 1t will defeat then
them the next year. But the people
want it now and are going to try 4
out"
The nearest example Of the practi'
cal workings Of the primary as ap'
piled to state affairs is in Nebraska,
our nearest neighbor on the north.
The Democrats held nomination the
other day under this system and an
Abilene man who was in Lincoln at
the time and had exceptional oppor-
tunities for seeing the workings Of
the Nebraska system has given the
REFLECTOR an outline Of events as
they transpired.
The meeting was for the purpose OF
making the platform but 1t was not
much different from the methods that
have been seen In Nebraska under the
old plan Of holding conventions. The
resolutions were written In Mr..
Bryan's private library the evening
before after dinner to number OF
mon who the next day (under pri-
mary law we're appointed to serve on
the committee on resolutions. Mr..
Bryan in speech following the adop-
ton of the platform said that Nebras-
ka had written the two last Demo- |
cratic platforms and 1t was intended
that this platform should be the fore
runner OF the National Democratic
platform next year. This platform
was evidently written before the con-
Vention was ever called to order.
When the convention met the Oma-
Ia delegate, George M. Rogers, moved
hat Mr.. McKillop be made the tenn
oorary chairman. 1t was carried. A
secretary was elected,
Mr.. McKillop went to the platform
md made a short address to the dele
rates. He made the statement that
t was very necessary that the state
central committee should be we'll
'hosen this year and be retained for
lext year because Nebraska would
lave a candidate for president next
'ear and gave as reason that they
would want to be In touch with the
Democracy over Nebraska SO that
hey could further Mr.. Bryan's inter-
SITS every way.
In his speech Mr. McKilloP said
he Democrats would not endorse Mr.. |
.oosevelt; that this country would !
ever renominate or reflect man to |
le presidency who was a self-con- I
'ssed liar. He then asked what was :
lie further pleasure of the meeting 9
I'D Mr.. Philpot moved that COM /
ittee Of seven on resolutions be APP
ointed and the motion prevailed. II
hen Chairman McKillop put his b
md in his pocket and pulled out
lper and read off the seven names.
his under q primary law. The
Iairman OF the committee was VIM.
thompson Of Grand Island. The n
mmittee met in the Office Of Mr.. 6
len, brother-in-law Of Mr.. Bryan, II
ID chairman Of the Democratic State q
,ntrsl committee. This Thos. S. W
len was reelected chairman Of the st
ate Central committee and was in Ii
ructed to 60 ahead and perfect the al
for fusion with the ia
pulists where that had not been tr
mpleted in the primaries. So
One delegate, Williams from Cedar st
unity, introduced resolution l
Alust the method Of making the er
storm after the candidates had %
edged their allegiance to the prin. &C
,les Of the party. This resolution nj
Is by motion referred to the COM al
ttee on resolutions and peacefully cc
/ to death. Does this coincide with to
. idea of a primary lawP b
The convention took recess from Al
70 $50 and when 1t reconvened Mr.. di
read the long, carefully he
epared statement Of Democratic sa
inciples which is intended to be the th
ltform Of the National Democratic th