The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-24
LIQUOR QUESTION MAY CAUSE
A SPLIT IN NEBRASKA AND
DECLARE WAR.
HE ESPOUSES COUNTY OPTION
The Commoner Has Declared War
and May Join With Republicans in
Fight for Prohibition-The State
Convention Begins Tuesday.

Lincoln, Neb., July 23.-Among
democrats who have always hereto
fore been loyal to the cause of w. ].
Bryan there Is an uncomfortable
feeling that he will bolt the demo-
cratic convention at Grand Island
July 26. AMI hold a rump conven-
tion. This impression has gained
currency from the determined eX-
preston given by Mr.. Bryan to his
hostility to the liquor interests at
the county convention in Lincoln,
July 9.
Mr.. Bryan has. with a determina-
ton that is nothing short of feroci-
oua, espoused the cause of county
option on the liquor question and
some time ago started out to commit
his party to its championship. 1t
proved repulsive as a party doc
trine TO most of the old time lead
ers in this state, but their efforts
tended not to dissuade the deter
mined commoner from his course.
When the local county convention
was held, to which Mr.. Bryan was
n delegate, Bryan's friends pre-
dominated and he was made chair
man of the resolutions committee
He brought in platform for A
county option declaration 1t is a
practical certainty that he will in
sist upon a county option plank at
the state convention and it is just az
certain that it will be overwhelm-
ingly rejected. Democratic county
conventions all over the state have
rejected county option and instruct
ed their delegations against its ad-
vocacy in the state platform. Only
three counties have instructed for it..
Manifestly it is hopeless unnei-
taking for even Bryan's spellbinding
capacities to overcome the opposi-
tion to any declaration for county
option.
There is a definite ard outspoken
feeling among democrats that when
the convention rejects his pet doc
trine, for which he has made the
most vigorous fight he knows how
to make, Mr.. Bryan will leave the
convention and, with the county
optioni5t delegates, hold a conven-
ton of their own. This impression
grows out of and is supported by
the sturdlness of Bryan's declara
tons at the county convention.
Don't have any pity on me" he
said. Don't let any consideration
Tor me determine your action on
this question, for | would rather be
turned down in striving for what |
believe to be right than triumphant
III what l believe to be wrong.
I'VE have our fight before us. |
have decided what | am going 10
20. Those who may want to come
with me, come. Those who want
to stay, stay. ! ask you to decide
whether shall fight with you Or
against you
To add color to the fear that Mr..
Bryan may bolt Is the reflection
that iuct hofora ,bo .;,,n ovniroJ
for filing candidates w. X. Patrick
Of South Omaha, a county option
democrat and member of the execu-
tive board of the State Anti.Saloon
League, filed for the democratic
domination. his filing coming as
surprise to the politicians of all par
ties. Also, just before the time for
filing closed Richard L. Metcalfe, as.
sociate editor on Mr.. Bryan's paper.
the Commoner, filed as n county op-
zionist for the democratic senatorial!
nomination, opposing G. NJ Hitch
cock. editor OF the Omaha World
Herald and present member of con
gress. Since then Mr.. Metcalfe has
received the ayowed Endorsement OF
Mr. Bryan.
In Newbraska in the coming cam
paisn the republican party will be
committed in its state platform to
county option, for which Mr.. Bryan
is so strenuously standing, while
the democratic party will be agains;
Il. unless Mr.. Bryan and his follow
ing should manage to organize an
ether democratic party at the state
convention.