Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-27
BRYAN DEPOSED As PARTY CHIEF ON
COUNTY OPTION ISSUE IN NEBRASKA;
REPUBLICANS |NDORsE HIS VIEWS
CommOner Beaten in Conven-
ton, Lashes Former Friends
as Political ASsassinS
w. Us CANDIDATE is JEERED
Leader IntimateS He viii Stand
with G. 0. P. and PopuIists
on Liquor Issue

GRAND ISLAND, Neb., July 26.-
Amid a tumult of cheerings Permanent
Chairman Smyth of the Democratic
state convention today read the result
of test vote of the gathering which
practically took from William j. Bryan
the Democratic leadership of Nebraska
which he has maintained for twenty
years.
The vote came on a motion made by
Congressman G.. S. Hitchcock, a can
| didate for the senatorial nomination,
and in effect was to eliminate the in
| PRODUCTION of a platform plank, with
| accompanying speeches, unless sub
mitted as a section of the majority or
| minority report of the committee on
! resolutions.
Mr.. Brya ', seated as a member of
the Lancaster county delegation, was
upon his feet at once with protest
and offered an amendment that would
modify the intent of the original mo-
| tion. A dozen delegates made as many
motions and heated speeches on the
| subject, the Bryan adherentS denounc-
| ing the Hitchcock motion as gag rule
and their opponents declaring that 'in-
dividual rule" must not prevail in the
| convention. Chairman Smyth ordered
a roll call on the amendment and the
| gathering was silent as the vote of the
counties was called that would deter
| mine the Bryan strength. When two
thirds had been called foes of Mr..
| Bryan realized that he was defeated
and a wave of cheers that drowned
the roll call began.
CHEER BRYAN's DEFEAT
AS Chairman Smyth read the result,
465 against and 394 for the amendment,
the delegates sounded a fresh volume
of cheers that seemed to indicate their
relief from the uncertainty that has
existed as to the strength which Mr..
Bryan would develop in the conven-
tion. The original motion of Mr..
! Hitchcock was then adopted. The cons
Vention came to order in a packed hall,
the delegates surrounded by spectators
eager to hear the oratorical battle that
had been predicted. Instead of calling
for oratory the delegates began to
speed UP the action of the convention
to gait that promised to transfer the
anticipated long drawn out contest to
two brief and busy sessions.
The temporary organization was
made permanent and Chairman Smyth,
after a brief speech, selected a COM
mittee on resolutions. Mr.. Bryan was
among the first two of the committee
of seven named. Congressman Hitch
cock made his motion to restrict dis
| cussion. The opponents of Mr.. Bryan
asserted that if individual introduc-
tion of platform plankS had been per-
| mitted with q speech or speeches on
each one, it would have materially de-
layed the progress of the body. While
they asserted their willingness that he
should speak on the minority report
which it was expected to introduce,
| the action practically prohibited any
other speech from him in the conven-
| ton. While the committee on resolu-
tions was drafting it's report, Gov
ernor Shallenberger and Mayor Dahl
man of Omaha, rivals for the NOM
ination for governor, addressed the
convention and hurled verbal shafts
at one another. The Omaha mayor
said he welcomed q fight in the con-
vention, as a trip of several hundred
miles to a harmonious gathering was
not worth the expenditure of car fare.
EAGER FOR BATTLE
! Governor Shallenberger also asserted
| his eagerness for a lively battle and
| announced his willingness to stand for
a selection on the Endorsement of the
| daylight closing law, the operation Of
which had been attacked by Mayor
Dahlman and his followers. The gov
ernor also promised the delegates that
If reelected together with a Demo-
cratic legislature he would give them
| opportunity, through executive action,
to settle the saloon question definitely.
Dissension among the members of
| the resolutions committee delayed the
presentation of the divergent reports
until long after the hour at which
they were to report at the evening
session. A disorderly crowd that
| packed the tent prevented many of
the delegates from occupying their
seats and also delayed the proceedings.
| The differences of the Shallenberger
and Dahlman factions on minor points
of IT, platform did not prevent a solid
front by them against the county op-
ton issue of which Mr.. Bryan was
the only sponsor.
| At the opening of the evening session
| former Senator w. r. Patrick, the
Bryan candidate for governor, took the
! platform and defied the opponents of
Bryan. He declared that failure to
adopt the county option plank meant
certain defeat at the polls. Despite
the howls and shouts of the delegates
he began an attack on Shallenberger
and Dahlman until cautioned by Chair
man Smyth. He declared that Bryan
was the only man who did or could
lead the army to Democratic victory,
and stood with folded arms and defiant
mien as the convention again tried to
shout him down.
JEER CONnIONER'S FRIEND
Shots of "Sit down." were Intellectual
Chairman Smyth vainly sought to still
the disturbance in the tent.
"Hear him out" he pleaded. "You
don't have to vote for him, but at least
give him a hearing"
The combativeness of the speaker
finally won the audience and he was
given round Of applause as he con-
cluded.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported at the close of Mr. Patrick's
speech and the majority report was
read.
rrbo ,,1o4fo,.. s.5ouzas A. a..i.,i.
tration of Governor Shallenberger, and
favored the giving to metropolitan
cities and cities of the first class the
right to make their own charters.
1t was declared that there was unan-
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