New-York tribune., 1910-07-25
POLITICS IN NEBRASKA
Republicans United and Conf
dent of Victory.
BRYAN SPLIT DEMOCRACY
Majority of Delegates Opposed
to His County Option Plan-
Nav Step Down as Leader.

1
to His County Option Plan
May Step Down as Leader.
Omaha, July q (SpeciaD. - Not since
| 1896, when so many Democrats deserted
the standard hoisted by ". j. bryan ann
went over to Republicanism or refused u
vote has the Nebraska Democracy been so
split into factions as it is to-day. Anu
probably not since that time has the he
publican party in the state been so sollqi-
| fed and united and SO confident OF victory
as at present
| Complete success for the Republicans this
fall means the election of Governor TO
succeed the present executive, A C. Shallen-
berger a gain of three congressman out or
the six Representatives of this state, giving
Nebraska a solid Republican Delegation IN
the House; a state Legislature of Repuoil-
can principles. and last, the reelection TO
the United States Senate of E j. Burketta
whose term expires on March 3, 1911.
Burkett is having little opposition IN
seeking reelection. His only opponent Is
| c. O. Wheedon, of Lincoln, who is out aft .r
the insurgent vote, but is meeting with
small success Senator Burketts Washing
ton record of insurgency has won for him
the support of Nebraska Progressives, while
| his course in Congress has kept all the
'stand-patters" lined up. Wheedon has
| filed his application as a candidate for the
Senate, and some months ago created
considerabl stir but this has ceased ana
Burkett is practically in control OF the STU
alton. He has succeeded in building up ole
| of the strongest organizations ever knoN n
| in Nebraska politics, and his reelection Is
predicted by many competent observers
| Opposed to Burkett on the Democratic
| side are Congressman Hitchcock and W. b.
| Price, each striving SO strenuously tor the
Democratic nomination that the followers
of the defeated candidate will largely re-
| fuse to support the man who gets the nom
ination.
In the race for Governor the big hghe
which Shallenberger and Mayor Dahlman
of Omaha are waging for the Democratic
nomination presages the defeat of the sue
cessful candidate at the hands of the fol-
lowers of the defeated one. Dahlman
stands on a liquor plank, while Shallen-
berger is asking reelection on an O'Clock
closing law for saloons. Dahlmans sup
porters will never vote for Shallenberger,
and the ShalIenberger men, many of whom
are Prohibitionists who are supporting the
s O'Clock law because nothing better or
more radical can be obtained at present,
will oppose Dahlman in every way should
the Omaha Mayor receive the Democratic
nomination W. r. Patrick, Of South
Omaha, is the Bryan candidate for the
place.
Bryan Dividing Party.
And over all as the cause Of che conten-
ton and dissatisfaction among Democrats
looms the figure of Bryan with his county
option bill and his rule or ruin policy.
The split in the party is due in most part
to Mr. Bryan By injecting county option
and prohibition into the campaign he has
practically eliminated all other questions
and has made an issue which IS most un-
satisfactory TO the party at large in the
state. Returning from his trip to South
America some months ago, Mr. Bryan
found the Democratic party in Nebraska
thoroughly organized and confident of suc-
cess. In the few months of his activities
he has practically wrecked its chances of
electing its nominees and has sown discord
where he found only peace and harmony.
To the discord created by Mr.. Bryan, as
well as to the internal fight in the Demo-
cratic party, Republicans largely owe their
prospects of victory ---=--
The Democrats will hold their rlatfern,
convention in Grand Island on Tuesday
Opposed TO Mr. Bryan and his friends are
Congressman Hitchcock. of Omaha, and
Mayor James c. Dahlnan, also Of that
city, supported by Governor Shallenberger,
who are fighting the effort TO secured a
declaration for county option
The sttuatio-l IS an unusua! one because
the men who at present are most actively
opposing Mr. Bryan were formerly his
strongest supporters. Congressman Hitch
cock has stated his position as being op-
posed to county option until the people
Of the state, under an initiative and refer
endurn law, shall declare specifically for it.
There is little doubt that the anti-courty
option men will present such a plan, and
that It will be heartily opposed by Nr
Bryan and his friends. II is believed there
will be an overwhelming majority opposed
TO him on the question of county option
and that he will carry the fight TO the floor
OF the convention and there make plea
for a straight county option plank Sig
hundred Of the eight hundred delegates TO
the convention are either instructed or are
known 10 be opposed to such plank, and
extreme interest centres on what effect
Mr.. Bryan's speech on the convention floor
will have on the majority
Richard 7. Metcalfe associated with Nr
Bryan in the publication OF the latter's pa
per, announced his candidacy for United
States Senator at the last moment, in op-
position to Congressman Hitchcock He has
received the unqualified Endorsement of Mr.
Bryan, who expresses the belief that Met
calfe poll more votes than any other
Democrat, himself not excluded Bot?
Bryan and Metcalfe were formerly en-
ployed by Mr. Hitchcock. All three have
been closely associated in the political
world until now, and by many Democratic
leaders it is believed the coming state con-
vention will mark tthe parting of the
ways"
There still remains in Nebraska a great
number or prominent Democrats who have
always styled themselves ''Gold Democrats
and who have eever been reconciled to Mr.
Bryan. These leaders, one of whom, Con
stantine J. Snyth, an Omaha attorney and
a forceful orator, will be temporary chair
man of the convention, are apparently in
control of the state organization and have
made common cause with Congressman
Hitchcock. Governor Shanenberger and
Mayor Dahln1sn Many of them believe
that Bryan should no longer attempt 70
control the party in this state. and openly
declare that he will be invited to step down
from the position of party leader.