Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-29
Nebraska
IN ROW OVER THE GOVERNOR
Democrats Very Nearly Split on the
Shallenberger Endorsement.
FAMILY FIGHT IS GETTING HOT
nstesIfe slips I'm Plank PIedKinE
Party 90 Initiative md Refer
endum, and the wheel
horses Are Rampant.

- ~ ~
LINCOLN. July 2s-(special)-The very
uncertain Enforcement Of Governor Shall
lenberser and the democratic legislature
by the democratic state convention yester-
day was brought about only after three
members OF the resolutions committed had
begged and pleaded with the majority Of
the TO be allowed TO insert the
plank in the platform. The paragraph
that was allowed to be put in the platform
was accepted by the majority Of the com
mittse after several stronger ones had
been rejected and then II was favored only
by three members of the committee, Rich
ara L Metcalfe. Harvey Newbranch and
GEORGE c. Gillian.
At ore time during the proceedings the
committee MAS given the information that
unless Il endorsed the administration. Gov
ernor Shallcnberger would make a fight
on the floor Of the convention for an en-
dorsemsnt.
-Four members Of the cornmittee. Edgar
Howard, " H. Thompson, Judge Covan
and NJ J Ludi, favored the fight. but
Newbtanch. who held that regents com
mission safe in his pocket, Joined with
Metcalfc and Gillian in a plea not TO dis
grace the party by refusing some crumb
OF satisfaction to the first democratic
governor Nebraska has had in years" and
80 the majority consented 70 put in the
plank
One Plank a Surprise.
The platform vas strictly a Metcalfe
affair. notwithstanding Chairman Loomis
named a wet resolutions committee. But
the majority of the committee was asleep
at thc switch and Metcalfe threw in his
initiative and referendum plank and it
was voted for unanimously. The report of
the committee was held back so long that
many OF the delegates had gone home
without waiting for IT and so when the
initiative and referendum plank was read
those in the hall who had been entrusted
with the care Of these matters permitted
Metcslfe TO put one over them.
After the convention was over and some Of
the delegates discovered what had been done
10 them, they we're free to express their
dissatisfaction Harry Hayward OF Omaha
and others did not mince matters in their
denunciation OF the initiative plan. Can
didates for supreme Judge through their
friends were put out because the platform
was not limited to the endorsement Of the
nonpartisan judiciary and they discovered
too late that they had been out-generaled
by an older hand at the business.
Another Blow TO Governor.
But the worst bomb Of all that was
thrown into the Shallenberger camp was
the declination of Chris. Gruenther OF the
position OF chairman of the state com
mittee. That many of the Dahlmanites
knew Gruenther would not accept the place
there is not the least doubt. Gruenther
had expressed himself before the conven-
ton and his statement had been published
in The Bee. But ~Shallenberger. to make
peace. insisted that Gruenther should be
named and the convention helped him out
only to see the job thrown into the face
of the governor.
The program for next year has already
been mapped out by the opponents of the
governor. and II includes the election of
Chris. Gruenther for chairman and the
nomination of Dahlman for governor, or
his nomination.
The new viaduct on North Tenth street
will be started Thursday. 1t will cost