The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-27
Party leadership Wrest-
ed From Peerless One
in His Own State.
LOSES ON ISSUE
OFCOUNTY OPTION
Makes Impassioned Appeal, but
Delegates Register Their I'm
belief in His Policies-De-
clares He Will Be in Poll
tics. for Many Years
to Come.

Grand Island. Neb.. July 2s.-Sebraska
Democrats tonight wrested the leader
ship of their State organizatto from
William j. Bryan on the issue of coun-
~ option BY decisive votes they reg
istered their unbelef in his present
policies, after listening to an impas-
sioned appeal from Mr.. Bryan. who de-
ciared the liquor interests were In an
organized attempt to secure political
control of the State. The minority
plank. submitted by Mr. Bryan, was
brief. and his opponents declared was
an effort TO recede from his former
radical attitude But the workers
against the county option plank were
unappeased and stood firmly against it.
The minority plank offered by Mr..
Bryan read:
We favor county option as the best
method OF dealing with the liquor
question"
Mr. Bryan. speaking in behalf Of the
minority plank, presented by him. was
greeted by shouts OF applause He s,sio
In part:
not good for the State. let me feel
your wrath. II you find l have done
anything that is not for the good OF
the Democratic party, ] do not ask
your mercy
who less than I could desire to dis
rupt the Democratic party? Am / not
aware what Reputation at your hands
viii mean TO me? II has been said that
] am making this fight because l am
not q candidate. Nothing could be
more untrue.
VIII Not Remain Silent.
Continuing, ne said u have been
called a dictator for expressing my
opinion Your candidates here day
have expressed their sentiments BY
what law am compelled to remain
silent. when ! feel that the good name
OF my State is at stake? 1t has been
said that / am aggreved because
have been sold out by the liquor inter
ests in my own State. have been sold
out by these liquor Democrats in my
own State, and saved by the votes of
self-respecting Republicans, who re-
fused TO aid in 1t.
II expect to be IN politics for many
years yet / expect to aid in the work
of the Democratic party. but l will
not remain silent when band OF po-
litical assassins attack me-
The speaker then attacked the seat
cd delegates of Douglas county, in
which Omaha is located, declaring that
they We're not the choice of the Demo-
Gratis of the county II am not willing
to admit that this Is a final settle
ment of this question: continued Mr..
Bryan, and on a moral question / am
not AFRAID to express my opinion and
stand on 1t, II l have to stand alone
Mr.. Bryan said he had learned on
his return from South America of the
plan to betray Nebraska into the hands
OF the liquor interests. He said the
election of United States Senators and
State officials was part of the con-
spiracy and that he felt called upon
to prevent the political burglary of
the State.
THE Republican party and the
Populist party OF this State have
adopted county option said Mr.
Bryan in conclusion. "If you do not
adopt 1t. II becomes an issue. Your
sneakers say the tide is turning to-
ward Democracy In national issues; !;
then make your fight on them, not in
defense of the liquor traffic.
Leadership is Lost.
Amid tumult of cheers from the
former followers of William ]. Bryan
Permanent Chairman Emyth, of the
Democratic platform convention, to-
day read the result of the test vote of
the gathering. practically taking from
Mr.. Bryan the Democratic leadership
of Nebraska, which he has maintained
for twenty years.
The vote came on a motion made by
Congressman G. NJ. Hitchcock, u can
didate for the senatorial nomination,
and In effect was to eliminate the Idea
of platform planks, with accompany
ing speeches. unless submitted as a
section Of the majority or minority re-
port of the committee on resolutions
Mr.. Bryan, seated as a member OF
the Lancaster county delegation, was
upon his feet at once with q pro-
test, and proffered an amendment that
would modify that intent of the origi-
aln.,.tes made
as many motions and heated speeches
on the subject. the Bryan adherents
denouncing the Hitchcock motion as
gag rule" and their opponents as
serting that individual rule" must
not prevail in the convention.
Chairman Slnyth ordered roll call
on the amendment, and the gathering
was silent as the vote OF the counties
was called that would determine the
strength of Mr. Bryan. When two
thirds had been called, Mr.. Bryan re-
allied that he was defeated, and a
wave of cheers that drowned the roll
call began. AS Chairman Smyth final
ly announced the result, ass against
The amendment to 394 in favor of 1t,
the delegates sounded fresh volume
of cheers that seemed to indicate their
relief from the uncertainty that had
sxisted as to the strength which Mr..
Bryan might develop in the conven-
tion. The original motion OF Mr..
u Hitchcock then was adopted.
The convention came to order In a
lent packed with perspiring delegates,
and surrounded by throngs of specta-
tors, eager to hear the oratorical bat
lie that had been predicted. Instead
ST calling for the orators, the dele-
yates began to speed Up the action OF
lhe convention to a gait that pronl-
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