The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-08-03
BRYAN LOSES IN HIS STATE
COUNTY OPTION PLANK BADLY
DEFEATED BY CONVENTION.
The COmmOner Pleads His Cause
MagnificentIy, But Shallenberger
Controls the Situation.


MagnifcentIy, But Shallenberger
Controls the Situation.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-William
Jennings Bryan, thrice the national
standard-bearer of the democratic
party, was overwhelmingly defeated
in the state convention early this
morning when by vote of 647 to
19S the delegates defeated his county
option plank.
The vote came after an impas-
stoned speech by Mr.. Bryan on the
floor of the convention. He was
cheered by his supporters, but the
volume of sound made by them was
small as compared with the mighty
cheer that followed the announce
ment of the vote that took the leader
ship of his party in Nebraska away
from Bryan.
The defeat for Bryan was espe-
cially bitter, in that it was his former
friends who, cheering wildly, Wrest-
ed the leadership from him when
they registered their disbelief in his
policies
The principal figures in the fight
in the state convention were Bryan,
Governor Shallenberger and eX-May-
or Jas. c. Dahlman of Omaha.
Bryan asked for the adoption of
a county option plank, the initiative
and referendum and the elimination
of the brewers from politics. He
got only the initiative and referen-
DUN.
Shallenberger in Control.
Shallenberger opposed county OPP
ton, asked an Endorsement of his
administration, the initiative and
referendum and an Endorsement of
the s o'clock closing law. He got
everything he asked for.
Dahlman asked for a specific stand
against the county option law, but
failed to score a point.
AS matters stand Shallenberger
was complete victor. G. J. Smith,
who was named for temporary chair
man, forecasted Bryan's fall in his
speech, when he said:
1T may be necessary for some of
us to refuse to follow a leadership
which for twenty years has given
luster to our party. If that should
be let no man say that it argues any
abatement in the esteem of him who
embodies that leadership
The platform indorses the admins
tratiOn of Governor Shallenberger
and favors the giving to metropoli-
tan cities and towns of the first class
the right to make their own charters
Il,
platform in behalf of the minority
plank presented by him, was greeted
by shouts of applause by his support
ers, He said in part:
Bryan Pleads His Cause.
IF I have advocated that which
is not good for the state let me feel
your wrath. If you find I have done
anything that is not for the good of
the democratic party l do not ask
your mercy Who less than l could
desire to disrupt the democratic par
ty? Am ! not aware what a repu-
diation at your hands will mean to
me?
TT has been said that am making
this fight because l am not a candi-
date Nothing could be more I'M
Grue"
Mr. Bryan here referred to the po-
Iitical battles he had waged, and de-
clared he had been fearless when his
own future seemed at stake. Con-
tinuing, he said:
Il have been called dictator for ex-
pressing my opinion. Your candi-
dates here today have expressed
their sentiments. BY what law am
compelled to remain silent when I
feel that the good name of the state
is at stake?
1T has been said that I am ag-
grieved because | have been sold out
by the liquor interests in my own
state. | have been sold out by these
liquor democrats in my own state
and saved by the votes of self-re-
speeding republicans who refused to
aid in it,
Still in Politics.
81 expect to be in politics for many
years yet | expect to aid in the