The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-03-13
NEBRASKA WILD
FOR COMMONER
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION CON-
SUITS sRYAN's WISHES ON
EVERY MATTER.
ENTHUSIASM IS VERY MARKED
At Every Mention Of Favorite
Sons Name The Delegates
Cheer.


OMAHA. Neb., March although
William Jennings Bryan appeared only
as a spectator at the opening session
OF the Nebraska State Democratic
Convention this afternoon. the pro
ceedings were filled with a spirit or
loyalty to him that left no doubt as to
the attitude of his party members in
this. his home State. At the time that
Chairman H. H. Hanks made his first
reference to Bryan as the next Pres
ident of the United States" in the
opening address, until the Convention
took its recess every mention of Bry.
ans name or principles was greeted
with roaring applause.
The tedious work OF selecting dele
gates at large to the National Con-
vention of the party, which is to meet
at Denver in July, could not lessen In
enthusiasm, the members Of the con-
vention shouting themselves hoarse at
each mention of their leader made
by NJ. A. Miller, a member Of the Ore
gon Legislature, and Raymond Rob
bins. of Chicago, who filed in the time
while the secretaries were canvassing
the votes with short speeches on
Democratic subjects.
Harmony was the keynote of the
proceedings, and the only semblance
of a contest came when the task OF
choosing delegates at large to the Ma
tional Convention was reached. Five
candidates were known to be in the
field for the four places before the
| Convention met, but the unexpected
nomination CT Felix J. Hale, member
Of the Legislature, rather upset the
| programme. One of the other cand1-
dates withdrew, and many delegates
called on W. H. Thompson, of Grand
Island. to follow this example. The
latters friends, however, insisted that
he hold his position and formal bal
lot by counties resulted. Hale de-
feated Thompson by seventy six votes.
Nominations for all the other places
at the disposal of the Convention were
practically settled before the proceed
ings began.
James Dahlman, Mayor Of Omaha,
had announced week or more ago
that he did not care to serve again
/ as National Committeeman for the
State, and DR.. P. L. Hall, of Lincoln,
was chosen to succeed him.
Mr.. Bryan took no part in the after.
noon session. He entered the hall
iuts before Mr. Hanks began his
speech, but took a seat in the space
reserved for spectators far back under
the galleries. Later he moved over
to the other side of the building to
consult with members of the Commit
tee on Resolutions, but the delegates
we're engrossed in the selection OF
delegates-at-large When he arose
and left the building with the mem
bers of the committee, however, those
in the rear of the hall caught sight
of him and started to cheer. The
meaning of the yells was not to be
mistaken, and in an instant the hall
was in an uproar. They ceased as
the party leader passed through an
exit.
One of the features Of the gather
ing was the effort of the newly-organ-
lied Nebraska Bryan Volunteers" to
spread its propaganda among the del
egates. A searching canvass of Dem
ocrats who were willing to join the
organization, which Is formed prin-
cipally for the purpose of raising
funds for the use of the State Central
Committee, was begun yesterday and
a number of additional members were
enrolled today.
The report of the Committee on
Resolutions was the first matter to
come before the evening session. Al
ter the cheers which greeted its read
ing had subsidized the report was
adopted as, the official expression OF
the convention Three former mem
beers of the party, who have died re-
Gently, were remembered by resolu.
lions.