Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-27
Overwhelmingly Beaten in His
Fight for County Option in
Liquor Crusade.
TEST CAME ON HIS
PROTEST TO gag RULE"
Nebraska Convention In TumnIt
as Leader for Twenty Years
Is Turned Down..


William Jennings Bryan, three times
the Democratic nominee for President
and for twenty years leader of his
party in Nebraska, stands today a de-
throned chieftain. He is overwhelm-
ingly beaten in his fight for county
option in-the liquor crusade
The Democratic State convention, m
session here, rejected his leadership
amid a. tumult of cheers. "The Boy
Orator of the Platte" Of the olden days
is now but broken idol
Bryan's elimination, the first step of
which was brought about in test
vote concerning the conventions pro-
cedure on resolutions, was virtually
completed today. AS the convention
reasembled it was apparent that his
voice would have no sway over the
delegates; it was plain that new or
der of things had arrived.
The test vote was on a motion by
Representative G. M. Hitchcock, a cam
didate for the Democratic nomination
for the United States Senate, which In
effect eliminated the introduction of
platform planks, with accompanying
speeches, unless submitted by the COM
mittee on resolutions.
Bryan, seated as q member of the
Lancaster county delegation. was on
his feet at once with protest and Of
fered an amendment that would modi-
fy the original motion. A dozen dele
gates made as many motions and heat
ed speeches on the subject, the Bryan
adherents denouncing the Hitchcock
motion as gag rule" and their oppon-
ents asserting that individual rule"
must not prevail in the convention
Defeated IN Protest Against "Gag Ruler
Chairman Smyth ordered roll-eall
on the amendment and the gathering
was silent as the vote Of the counties
was called that would determine the
strength Of Mr.. Bryan. When two
thirds had been called the foes Of Mr..
! Bryan realized that he was defeated,
and wave of cheers began. The re-
suit was 4s5 against the amendment to
s94 in favor Of it. The original motion
of Mr.. Hitchcock was then adopted.
Chairman Smyth made brief speech
at the opening of the convention in
which he referred to- Bryan. without
mentioning his name, as follows:
sIt may be necessary today for some
of us to refuse to follow a leadership
which for almost twenty years has
given lustre to our party in the State
and the nation. If 1t should. let no
man say that it. argues any abatement
in the esteem of him who embodies
that leadership"
While the committee on resolutions
was drafting It's report, Governor
Shallenberger and Mayor Dahlman, of
Omaha, rivals for the nomination for
Governor, addressed the convention,
and hurled verbal shafts at each other.
The Omaha Mayor said he welcomed
a fight in the convention, as trip of
several hundred miles to a harmonious
gathering was not worth the expendi-
ture of car fare.
Governor Shallenberger also asserted
his eagerness for a battle, and an
nounced 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 Governor also promised the dele
gates that If reelected, together with
Democratic Legislature. he would give
them opportunity, through legislative
action, to settle the saloon question
definitely.
"Years Ago Bryan Dodged option.'
Governor Shallenberger pointedly re-
ferred to Mr.. Bryan. saying that at
the time years ago.. when he (Shallen-
berger) was signing liquor restrictive
LEGISLATION, some who are now charg-
ing that fnsidious brewer influences
are working in party councils were
lodging the liquor question. At that
time Mr.. Bryan refused to help coun-
ty option bill through the Legislature.
Mr. Bryan insisted that a county
option plank be inserted in the plat
form. Attempts of his friends to make
him recede were unsuccessful, and the
followers of Governor Shallenberger
and Mayor Dahlman, once loyal Bryan
adherents, stood against the granting
Of any concessions.
Although the convention contem-
plated no action on the contest for the
United States Senate, it was evident
that the political fortunes of Mr.. Met
calfe, the associate editor Of Mr..
Bryan's publication. were bound up
with those of his chief. and that the
downfall Of Mr.. Bryan meant also the
elimination of Mr. Metcalfe's candi-
dacv for the Senate.