Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-12

To approve a county option bill; and no
where has the World-Herald raised its
voice for the Columbus plan.
THAT plan was in, the nature of a COM
promise between honest-minded men with
out involving sacrifice Of principle on the
part Of either side.
Leaders Held AlOOf.
while every leaGEr to whom spoke was
anxious that Mr.. Bryan should endorse the
plan proposed at Columbus, not one of them
was willing to say that he would give that
plan his support. They were all very anx-
ious for Mr. Bryan to make concessions,
but none of them were willing to yield one
inch themselves.
when Mr. Bryan returned from Scot
land recently again urged him to consider
the proposed method He asked me If this
plan was acceptable to other leaders, l was
compelled to confess that so far as my
harmony efforts were concerned did not
know one among the conspicuous leaders
upon whom 1 could depend for support
went to the trouble making brief In
support of my position and sent 1t to sew
eral democratic leaders whom ! thought
might be open to conviction. told them
frankly that wanted their endorsement,
so that might present it to Mr.. Bryan. /
did not receive a favorable reply. Some
wanted complete silence in the platform,
others wanter a declaration against 30
called sumptuary laws. while others wanted
clear-cut declaration against county OPP
ton
81 was elected as delegate to the county
convention and was instructed to vote and
work for a county option plank. A demo-
cratic willingness to abide by the instruc-
90 l,a ali dAla
gate and not, as you say, personal con-
cessicn to Mr.. Bryan, WAS the first motive
that prompted me TO vote and speak in
the Lancaster convention in favor OF Mr..
Bryan's plan. But there was another
motive / am In favor OF county option
and l hope to see a legislature elected
which win write 1t upon the statute books.
In the Lancaster convention saw the men
who weer in favor OF county option lining
up under Bryan; saw the men who were
opposed TO county option lining UP against
him. Where was my place. Mr. Editor2 Was
II with the men who we're fighting the re-
form 1 believed In or with the men who
believed as l did upon county option, even
/ though had not wholly agreed with their
plan OF handling It SO far as the democratic
state platform was concerned?
II think 1 owe no apologies to anyone
for the part l took in that convention,
IF / had my way today, Mr.. Editor,
would in framing the democratic state plat
form follow the plan outlined in my Co
lumbus address,. But MIR. Bryan has elected
i TO make his fight for county option along
In other lines and l am with him in tina
} fight, first because l am for county op
ton and also because / am for Bryan.
You have no more right To charge mi
with sacrificing my convictions when
take my stand with those who, upon tn
question itself. believe as do than you
critics have to charge the World Heral'
with representing the liquor interests be
cause It's views upon county option. as upoi
the s o'clock closing law, harmonlze witt
the Views Of the representatives of thes
interests.
Whatever l have done. publicly or pri
/ vately, has been with the hope that har
: mony might be preserved among democrat
who honestly differ upon this question
Whatever my views as TO method may hav
been, or may be, l am with Bryan in thi
fight, not merely as q personal conees
, sion, but rather because the ends ne seek
( scored with my own well considered con
victions. RICHARD L. MBTCALF."