The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-09-21
"THAT GREAT cOMMONER" SAYS
HE WILL NOT SUPPORT
PARTY's CANDIDATE,
LIQUOR NAMED AS ISSUE
Most Consistent Loser Ever Produced
by Presidential Handicap Lays Aside
Political and Personal Friendship OF
Long Standing to Garry on Temper.
snee Crusade.

Lincoln, Ncb.. Sept. 20>+ In Il state.
n,eht IN which lie declares that the
crusade which he feels impellel to
wage against the liquor interests or
the state and nation overshadows ii
personal ana political friendship OF 20
years. William J. Bryan this evening
announced that hc had boltcd the head
of the democratic state ticket In Ne.
braska and would not support james
q. Dahltnan for governor. Mr.. Bryan
says he regrets that he liz compelled 10
take the stand he docs-hs first de-
parture from political regularity-but
says that he feels 1t his duty to do
50 because Of the position taken by the
democratic nominee on the liuuor
question.
Apologize.
The statement. which, Ia n way, Is
apologetic In tone does not Indicate
that Mr.. Bryan will support the can
didatc Of any other party. but an
nounces that he Is II pronounced ad-
vocatc Of county option and the early
saloon closing law. both Of which he
insists are menaced by MIR. Dahlman's
candidacy. The statement follows:
4 am just leaving for Missouri and
shall be absent practically all Of the
time for about IL month campaigning
in Missouri. Kansas, Iowa. Indiana
and Illinois. After that / shall be at
liberty to speak for Mr.. Hitchcock. the
democratic candidate for congress. and
Tor the state Ticket In Nebraska
In speaking for the state ticket,
however. shall not he able to pre-
sent any arguments In favor of the
election of Mr. 'Dahman. His posi-
tion on the liquor question makes that
impossible. / regret this exceedingly.
for he has been political and per-
sonal friend for 20 years and 1t would
give me pleasure to speak for him
II could indorse the policy for which
lie stands, but he has chosen to make
the liquor question the paramount is
sue and make his appeal on that is
size.
In spite Of the fact that the last
democratic state convention voted
down declaration against county OPP
fion by Il vote of Gas tn 202. he says
that he will veto county option bill
II passed, and In spite of the fact that
the state convention indorsed the eight
o'clock closing law BY vote OF TO
10 1853. he announces that he will sign
bill repeating 1t II such IL bill is
passed,
Liquor Is Issue.
He Is making his appeal on non
PARTISAN lines with the liquor aucs-
ton as the sole issue. His courage
Is to be commended II is an honest
way OF making campaign. although
It compe's him 10 separate himself
from friends who do not agree with
him and to rely for speechnaking up
OH those democrats and republicans
who take this view on the subject
Possibly II is just AS we'll to have the
issue clearly presented SO that 1t may
be settled this year instead Of two
years hence. Troublesome as the
question Is now. II would he even more
embarrassing " presented In 1912.
when we have a presidential election
on hand
III Mr.. Dahlman Is elected. 1t will be
declaration Of the voters of the state
against county option and against the
8 O'Clock closing law. II he Is de-
featcd, II will be a declaration In favor
of the o'clock closing law. In other
words. the voters have now an oppor-
tunity to decide whether the state
shall go backward or forward on the
liquor question.
'"ro present arguments in favor of
going backward would not only con-
tradict what | have always said on
the subject. but would embarrass me
in the fight that I expect to make
hereafter to save our party from the
odium of being the representative of
liquor interests"