New-York tribune., 1910-07-26
BRYAN BOOKED FOR
COMPLETE ROUT TO-DAY
Nebraska Democrats Confident
of Defeating His County
Option Plan.
REPUBLICANS WILL ADOPT IT
Similar Plank May Also Form
Part of Populist Platform
Bryan Fails to Show Up
at Night Meeting.
rsy telegraph to The Tribune !

[Sy Telegraph TO The Trihunel
Grand Island, Neb-, July 25.-On the eve
OF the Democratic State Convention. at
which William ] Bryan will be turned
down by his former friends and supporters,
nothing Is heard but Death to Bryan
not in so many words, bur with the same
meaning The town is hlled with delegates,
and practically all are opposed to Bryan
and his county option plan When the
vote is taken on Tuesday Bryan will proba-
bly, be the worst beaten man that ever went
INTO Nebraska convention. Anti-Bryan
leaders are claiming $50 votes out Of the
SSe delegates Bryan did not appear in
| Grand Island tonight
Bryan has not given UP the fight His
| brother, c W. Bryan, tonight said: NY
brother will insist on the convention insert
ing county option plan, and he will do
everything possible to that end. He has no
Set speech, but will At his argument to
conditions as he finds them"
The antt-Bryanites are so sure of their
victory that they have agreed to place Mr..
Bryan on the committee on resolutions and
permit hin, to bring in a minority report,
winch he can place before the convention
and argue to his hearts content. Then.
according TO their plans, the convention will
turn in and snow him under with votes
Mr.. Bryan is expected to make three
propositions to the convention. The first Of
these will be that the convention adopt an
out-and-out county option plank When
this is turned down he will demand that
the platform contain an executive district
local option plank, and finally he will de-
mand that the convention pledge all gov
ernorship candidates to sign any county
option bill which may be passed in the
ej1
down each Of these propositions, Mr.. Bryan
is expected to bring to bear his oratoTy and
attempt TO stampede the delegates to his
way Of thinking. The delegates are not
expected to stampede TO any noticeable ex-
tent.
a large county option meeting that had
been planned for the evening, with Mr.
Bryan as the principal speaker, was aban-
doned when it was learned he would not
arrive until Tomorrow morning. = smaller
gathering was hastily arranged in the
Methodist church, at which ex-State Sen
ator w. F. Patrick, the candidate Of the
Bryan following for Governor, was leading
speaker. There were just seventy-two
persons in the hall when the meeting was
called to order, and this number was de-
creased as the speech continued. Mr.
Patrick asserted that the present county
option fight had been brought about by
the evasive policies Of Governor Shallen-
berger, who had refused to permit direct
presentation Of the initiative and referen-
DUN on the saloon question TO the voters.
He severely attacked Shallenberger's can
didacy.
The Populst convention, which also will
be held in Grand Island tomorrow, may
lend complications to the Democratic situa-
night 1t was indicated that county option
plank would form part Of the platform,
The leaders also declared IN favor of the
initiative and referendum on the matter.
Lincoln. Neb. July 25.-rhe principal
questions that will receive consideration at
the hands OF the delegates TO the Repub-
lican State Convention at Lincoln to-nlor-
row are insurgency and the control Of the
liquor business by the county option plan.
From all appearances tonight the insur-
gents and optionists control the situation
To a great extent the two ideas are sup
ported by the same people. and a victory
for one carries with II the success Of the
other
The temporary organization of the con-
vention is in the hands of the regular"
anti-option wing OF the party, through the
state cenIfa! coInflllllee, WHICH mas vd!!!eu
United States Senator Norris Brown, of
Kearney. for temporary chairman That
side is expected to make strong effort TO-
morrow TO make the temporary orsaniza- |
ton permanent.
The opposition will, however, according !
to the present programme, endeavor to |
supplant the Senator in the chair with |
George w. Norris, of ATcCook. Congress
man from the 9Th District, who gained |
prominence in the fight against the So
called Cannon rules during the last reg
ular session Of Congress
OF the s55 delegates in the convention 366
only fewer than a maiority--are in
structed to support county option, While
only 165 have instructions against il.