The Republican journal., 1909-12-02
BRYAN FOR PROHIBITION.
Will Force the Issue, which Threatens to
Divide the Democracy.


The new issue which William ]. Bryan
is preparing to force on the Democratic
party is prohibition. Within month he
will make an announcement which Will
plunge the party into bitter strife, and
will bring about complete reallgnment
of the present factions. Ii the attack
on the liquor interest is successful, and
the rank and file follow him, Mr.. Bryan
expects to find himself at the head OF a
party with living issue.
The announcement will be made in a
series of articles which Mr.. Bryan has
already prepared, and which will soon be
published, in which he makes an attack
on the saloon and whisky interest. By
those who have been permitted to read
these articles it is said that Mr.. Bryan
has used the strongest language at his
command in his characterization of the
liquor trade While these articles are
appearing in print Mr.. Bryan will be in
South America, and so will escape per-
sonal participation in the trouble which
will follow.
At the outset Mr.. Bryan's efforts for
prohibition are to be confined to Nebras-
ka, but afterward they are to be extend
ed to other States until the National
party will be involved With the SOUTH
the stronghold of Democracy, already
largely on the side of prohibition, Mr.
Bryan will wage his chief battles in the
north and west.
Mr.. Bryan lays his defeats in former
campaigns to the liquor interests, which,
he believes, have made use of the Demo-
cratic party whenever it was needed and
at other times have 'knifed" its candi-
dates. For the sake of party harmony
he has never taken a stand, but now he
has determined, even at the risk Of being
accused of attempting to ''get even, to
come out in the Open Mr.. Bryan says
he is not now candidate for any office,
but Nebraska party leaders think he ex-
poets the new movement to make him
senator, if:not President.
In this State Mr.. Bryan's action will
simply tear the Democratic party to
pieces. He has contided in many OF the
leaders and has been told by the wheel
horses that they cannot follow him.
Just as soon as Mr.. Bryan has left for
South America the fight on him will be-
gin. Men who oppose him say this trip
was planned because Mr.. Bryan realized
what strength would be arrayed against
him, and wanted to be beyond the reach
of any influences which might cause him
to discontinue his attacks.
1t is said that Mr.. Bryan will make
the fight in Nebraska on the insertion of
a county option plank in the Democratic
platform. On that he will lose the sup
port of Gov. Shallenberger, who is stand
ing on the present daylight saloon act
and expects reelection on platform
affirming the efficacy of that law. An
other man who will be against him is
Mayor James Dahlman of Omaha, who
has, for years, been known as Bryan's
''closest personal and political friend. "
He stands on personal liberty plank
and will be candidate for the governor
ship on it.
The Omaha World Herald, which has
supported Bryan in his every campaign,
in recent editorial, announced that the
position of the party on the liquor ques-
ton would be determined by the entire
party and not by any one man or set of
men, and gave as its judgment that the
Nebraska Democracy could, under no
circumstances, be brought to adopt the
county option plank.
When the last article of the series
which Mr. Bryan has prepared is print.
ed, it will be seen that he has burned all
bridges behind him; that he has staked
his political existence on the outcome.
He will put this issue above tariff,
finances, trusts, and every other ques-
tior