The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-24
BRYAN IS PARTY
REFUsr - SUPPORT DEMO-
G CANDIDATE FOR
/GovERNoR.
Dec< es That County Option Belief
is Sole Reason for Breaking Per-
sonal and Political Friendship.

AhSolH, NeD. sept. ZU.-ln a state
ment in which he declares that the
crusade which he feels impelled TO
wage against the liquor interests of
the State and nation overshadows a
personal and political friendship Of
20 years, William J. Bryan, this even
ing announced that he had bolted the
head of the Democratic State ticket
In Nebraska and would not support
James c. Dahlman for governor. Mr..
Bryan says he regrets that he is COM
PEELED to take the stand he does-his
nrst departure from political regu-
larity-but says he feels 1t his duty
to do so because of position taken by
the Democratic nominee on the IL
quor question. The statement, which
is, IN a way, in an apologetic tone.
does not indicate that Mr.. Bryan will
support thes candidate of any other
party, but annouces that he is a pre-
JUDGED advocate of county option
and the early closing saloon law.
both Of which he says are menaced
by Mr.. Dahlman's candidacy. The
statement is as follows:
Will Support Others.
i am just leaving for Missouri and
shall be absent practically all of the
time for about a month campaigning
IN Missouri, Iowa Indiana and Illi-
nois. After that I shall be at liberty
to speak for Mr.. Hitchcock, the DEM
cratic candidate for congress, and for
the State ticket in Nebraska.
II regret speaking for the State
ticket. however, shall not be able
TO present any arguments in favor Of
the election of Mr.. Dahlman. His
position on the liquor question makes
that impossible. / regret this ex-
ceedlngly, for he has been a political
ana personal friend for 20 years and
1t would give me pleasure to sneak
lor him ii I could endorse the policy
1or which he stands, but he has cho-
senFto make the liquor question the
paramount issue and makes his an
peal on that issue.
Against Convention.
I'm spite Of the fact that the last
Democratic State convention voted
down declaration against county
optlon by vote of eSS to 2O2, he
says that he will veto a county option
Dill II passed, and in spite Of the fact
that the State convention indorsed
the O'Clock closing law. by q vote
OF 71o to 162 he announces that he
Will sign bill repeating il if such
Dill is passed. He is making his an
peal on non partisan lines with the
ilquor question as the sole basis His
courage is to be commended. II ia
an honest way of making a campaign
although it compels him to separate
himself from friends who do not
agree with him and to rely for sun
port mainly upon those Democrats
and Republicans who take his view
of the subject.
May End Fight.
Possibly IT is just as well to have
the issue clearly presented Sc that IL
may be settled this year instead of
TWO years hence. Troublesome as the
question is now, it would be aver,
more embarrassing if presented I'm
1912, when we have a presidential
election on hand. If Mr.. Dahlnan is
elected 1t will be a declaration by the
voters of the State against county on
ton and against the o'clock clos
ing law. If he is defeated it will be
declaration in favor of county on
ton and in favor of an 8 O'Clock clos
ing law. In other words the voters
now have an opportunity to decide
whether the State shall go backward
or forward on the liquor question. To
present arguments In favor of 90
ing backward would not only contra
dict what 1 have already said on the
SUBJECT, but would embarrass me I'm
the fight I expect to make hereafter
10 save our party from the
odium of being the representative OF
the liquor interests"