Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-16
NEBRASKA NOT DEMOCRATIC
Governor Sheldon Makes a Prediction
and Gives His Reasons.
REPUBLICANS MUST NOT BE IDLE
of Direct Vote for Senator
Has Been Largely solved by the
Republicans by Means of the
Direct Primary.

Has Been Largely Solved by n
Republicans by Means of the
Direct Primary.
Nebraska Is not going democratic this
fall, and l feel sure that we can carry the
state for Taft with an overwhelming ma.
tority IL We do our whole duty. l was
never more sure OF this than I was
Wednesday at the notification OF Bryan.
When Bryan came home from his trip
around the world a great concourse
of people gathered in Lincoln to welcome
him. The crowd in the cspital city two
days ago was not nearly as large and the
enthusiasm was very much less. We can
and we will carry this state for the repub-
lican party, but we must get out and
carry to the homes and the firesides the
great principles involved and impress them
upon the people, who have been too busy
in these prosperous times to pay a great
deal Of attention to politics"
Speaking In an earnest. sincere and
straightforward manner. Governor Sheldon
at the Mckinley club banquet Friday night
convinced the 200 young republicans there
gathered that the favorite son proposition
will not be the paramount issue In the
coming campaign and told them the state
could easily roll up its accustomed repub-
lican majority II the party members do not
rest on their oars, but will instead get out
and work for the principles in which they
believe.
The issue, as It has been marked out
for us by our friends. on the other side,
is: Shall the people rule p " continued the
governor. But this lie not the issue. for
the people do rule. Never has there been
a time when the affairs of the nation have
been more equally distributed and never
before has a man occupied the White
House who has stood closer to the people
than now. This Is true in state affairs. 1
feel that we have a representative govern
ment and that no fault can be found with
the republican representatives in legisla-
tive or state positions. II there is fault to
be found in the representation from the
Second district 1 hope then that the people
will rectify 1t.
Real Issue in Campaign.
Our friends do not mean, Shall the
people ruler They mean, Shall the demo-
Gratis rule?
II do not intend to enter into any
lengthy discussion of the two platforms,
but there is a great difference between
the platform OF tie republican party and
the platform OF the democratic party. The
republican platform is the platform of the
people and made by the people, but the
democratic platform is the work Of an in
dividual, for an individual.
The democratic national platform de-
clares for the election of United States
senators by the direct vote of the people,
and Mr.. Bryan pledges himself to bring
this condition OF affairs about ~ he is
e~lected-which he will not be. But let me
tell you, an amendment to the constitution
of the United States can not be passed in
four years. And in passing. let me add
that the republicans of this state have long
been pledged to the election OF United
States senator's by direct vote. But the
direct primary meets the issue as we'll as
by the direct vote OF the people. Under the
direct primary the legislature becomes
nothing more than an electoral college
when voting for a United States senator.
IT cannot feel that It can be Justly
charged against the republican party that
it does not stand for equitable and rep
resentative government, and It seems
doubly strange that the man who retreated
from his stand of 1896. and again from
his stand of 1900. should charge the re-
publican party with treason.
IF free silver in 1896 was the best means
for solving the currency question, why do
not our friends consider It a good thing
now, when financial matters are largely
in the ascendancy? If government owner
ship was a good thing when Bryan got
home from Europe and made his speech In
New York, why do not our friends con-
slider 1t a good thing now, when there is
much agitation about the railroads and
freight rates?
Comparison of Men.
Two years ago when l was honored with
the nomination for governor of this mag
nificent state. Mr.. Bryan said that Sheldon
was a good man, but that shallenberger
was better and would make a better gov
ernor. 1 therefore feel at liberty to say
that our distinguished neighbor is a good
man, but that Mr.. Taft Is better and
would administer the affairs of the ma
tional government more judiciously and
equitably than would Mr.. Bryan"
G. w. Wattles and John L. Kennedy also
spoke briefly, Charles E.. Foster. president
OF the club, presiding. Mr.. Wattles, who
returned earlier in the day from a six
months trip around the world, spoke
mainly Of his journey and of the conditions
abroad as he viewed them. He told Of the
evidences of friendly feelings for this coun-
try in all the old world countries, which
were enhanced by the recent trip Of Mr.
Taft, and said that a letter of introduction
from the former secretary proved an open
sesame for him everywhere. Mr.. Wattles
learned of the nomination Of Judge Taft
while he was in Siberia and enroute home
learned OF the promotion of William Hay
ward to the secretaryship Of the rational
committee through a Marconigram received
in mtd-ocean. He said that Nebranka
ought to be proud of Mr.. Hayward on ac-
count OF tho high honor paid him and also
the state ought to be proud Of Victor Rose
water, honored not only by being made
natiorJal committeeman from this state, but
also by being made a member OF the ma
tional executive committee.
Mr.. Kennedy told Of his close personal
friendship for MI. Taft. which came about
when he was in congress and which friend
ship taught him the frar-kness of the repub-
lican candidate and of his wonderful grasp
on important affairs. He also spoke Of
Mr.. Bryan and his oratory and expressed
the belief that the platform orator has not
the power OF former years, but that this has
been supplanted by the power OF the press,
which can more succiEctly and lastingly
present TO the people the issues Of the cam
paign.
The Mckinley club dinner was served at