The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-07-23
Republicans, Democrats and Pop
ulists to Hold State Conven-
tions Next Week as Re-
quired by Law.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPLIT UP
Republicans Will Present Solid Front
--Insurgent Movement Has Not
Made Much Progress in Me-
braska Thus Far. BE

will reach the boiling point I'm Ne
braska next week, when Republicans,
democrats and Populists will hold
their state conventions on the same
day, as provided by law. The Re-
publicans will meet in this city and
the Democrats and Populists at Grand
Island.
Interest centers i'm the conventions
OF the Republicans and Democrats,
although the work will be confined
TO the adoption of platforms and the
selection of state central committees.
Nominations. of course, will be made
by the direct primary to be held next
month, but the conventions next Tues
day are bound to have an important
bearing on the selections to be made
at the primaries. ils
Harmony in G. o. p. Ranks.
The Republican state convention
promises to be n harmonious affair.
The so-caled "insurgent' movement
is only an undercurrent in Nebras-
ka. sort of n half-suppressed mu-
tiny as compared with the open in
OF Iowa. 1t is true that the party here
is divided on the question of indorse-
ment of the new tariff law, and the
attitude of one or two congressman
may come in for criticism, but the
differences are not so great, IL Is be-
lieved as to threaten a party split
or lead to criticism OF the national
administration. The platform liz ex-
pected to confine itself largely to Na-
tional issues, and If the late factional
fight at Washington enters into the
declarations at all 1t will not be ad-
verse to the Insurgents.
Local Option an Issue.
The Democratic convention at
Grand Island is expected to furnish
the fireworks of the day. The liquor
issue is the rock that threatens to
split the party and the situation has
been made none the less interesting
by William ]. Bryan's recent activity
IN behalf of county option. Mr..
Bryan dislikes the saloons because,
aside from his strict temperance prac-
tices. which are well known. he be-
lieves that the brewery and saloon ele-
ment supported Taft in New Yor''.
Ohio, Indiana and Nebraska at the
last presidential election. and. on the
other hand, supported the Democratic
candidates for governor in these
states.
w. J. Bryan Leading Figure.
Within twenty -four hours after his
arrival home from Europe few
weeks ago Mr.. Bryan ma 1t plain
that he intended to carry he fight
for county option into the itate con-
ventlon and threw down the gauntlet
TO all those opposed to his views.
That he Is going to meet with hard
fight at Grand Island is already evil
dent. The opposing forces are mar
shalling for the fray. They include
nearly all of the prominent Democra-
tic leaders and aspirants for office
i'm Nebraska. Governor Shallenber-
ger and Mayor Dahlman OF Omaha,
Il candidate for governor, and Hitch
cock and Reed, rival aspirants for the
seat of United States Senator Bur-
kett. have for the time being buried
their differences and agreed to fight
Bryan and his county option plank In
the state convention. Unless there
10 sudden turn of the tide II APP
pears inevitable that Mr.. Bryan VIII
meet defeat. The sage of Fairview,
however. holds one trump card in his
hand. If forced to II, Mr.. Bryan can'
to hn m
the senatorial aspirants into line for
county option by threatening to enter
the senatorial race himself IL they
refuse to accede to his wish.
PopuIists to Help Bryan.
The Populists, who will meet 81
multaneously with the Democrats, but
in separate hall, are expected to
stand by Mr.. Bryan, no matter wha'
sort OF program he maps out. IL they
stick to their present intention ard
the anticipated fight comes in the
Democratic convention. IL may result
In non-fusion between the two par
ties, a contingency not at all to tho
liking of the candidates for office IN
either party
To add to the complex situation tht
Socialists of the state are planning
this year to wage the most aggressive
campaign they have ever made. Ger
tain lines of political action have al
ready been determined upon. one o
these Is that the efforts of the So
cialists are to be directed hencefortl
more to extending the organization
and developing the membership int
an efficient working force than tina