Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-26
4, Nebraska Democratic Conven-
ton Expected TO Make a
Most Notable Speech.
HIS LEADERSHIP IN DANGER
oId Time supporters Are Against Him
on Question OF County
option.

o-,rd Island, Neb.. July ga fgdt
,or supremacy with quarter neither
ION nor asked between the former
s,uowers Of william J. Bryan and their
o,e time leader was the situation pre-
,s,,ed when the Democratic platform
convention was called to order today.
County option was the issue that
diyided the delegations and the In
sistence OF Mr.. Bryan that county
option plank be inserted in the plat
form was combatted by a majority Of
almost 10 OF the 500 delegates.
within the ranks Of those opposed
,o county option many fractional diff
ferences existed. which the candidates
Of various leaders augmented but when
The gavel Of the chairman fell the ma
,prty was solidly aligned against
tine longtime Democratic leader OF
Nebraska who apparently was to meet
Nj. first defeat at the hands of the
Nebraska Democrats.
The attempt OF several friends Of Mr..
pryan TO make him recede from MS
radical stand on county option had
been unsuccessful and the followers
Of Gov Shallenberger and Mayor Dahl-
man. once his loyal adnerents, stood
frmy against the granting of any con-
cesslons to him on the question
corolary OF the county option hght
MAS seen In the contest OF Congress
man Hitchcock and X. L. Metcalfe for
The Democratic nomination for United
states senator. Although the conven-
lion contemplated no action on the
contest il was evident that the political
fortuncs of Mr. Metcalte. the associate
Editor Of Mr. Bryan's publication, were
bound up with those OF his CHIEF,
and that the downfall OF Mr. Bryan
before the convention meant also the
elimination OF Mr. Metcalfe's candidacy
ior the senate, This In spite OF the
iact that Mr. Motcalfe did not share
In the determined view OF Mr.. Bryan on
the county option issue he having de-
claied that the matter would better
be relegatei to the legislature for adj
justment
Many delegations were split on the
question Of endorsement of the
O'Clock closing law and a fight in the
ranks Of the majority against county
option was anticipated.
1t was not expected that the entire
work Of the convention could be crowd
"a into one session and a night session
was planned.
Delerates gathered early about the
tent where Democratic state platform
convention is being held today The
Prominence OF w. j. Bryan, who ar
rived on one Of the early trains, and
The belief that he was to make one OF
the most notable speeches OF his career
N what is regarded as a crucial contest
Tor his political leadership also served
10 draw hundreds OF spectators who
'ormed a great fringe outside the open
tent
With the arrival OF Mr. Bryan, all
The dominant figures OF the conven-
Ton are on the scene.
Mayor Dahlman OF Omaha, now ar
'ayed against his former political lead
q In the pending county option con-
test headed a large delegation from
omaha today which loudly proclaimed
ne candidacy OF Mayor Dahlman as
successor 10 Gov. ShallengbeTger. The
headquarters OF Congressman Hitch
COCK Of Omaha and Richard l.. Metcalfe
oi Lincoln, candidates for the nomina-
uon OF United states senator were |
crowded during the morning and much !
partisan feeling was evinced, although |
Ihe convention will take no action on |
'he various candidates for state and |
nauonal officers. Save for n probable |
.laorselnent Of the administration NJ |
wv shallengenberger the convention |
wv oonhne its efforts TO drafting and |
'nuorsng the platform on which the |
lalV WI make its campaign in the |
'iate this year.
II was Indicated early that the tenn
porary organization of the conven-
luh would be made the permanent
lsc ana that Constantine j. Smith
= Dihaha as temporary chairman
nuuiu denver the keynote speech of /
NE convention The conferences of L
We w, democratic leaders during the /
posnt were attended by several OF the
VPullst delegates whose convention
wv pe held here today and efforts to
i1at platform planks that will not
'vhilct radically were made.
was deemed probable, however,
Fopulist leaders that the county
'puon feature Stunned by the larger
isi planks
,. @L Bryan was reticent after his ar
wa as 10 what form his srreech
'ouu assume. He said IL would be
s sssa on the Developments of the con-