The Penn's Grove record., 1911-08-04
Beer xs. Democracy

Bryan's Commoner, July q.
The Douglas county (Omaha) demo-
cratic convention, held July 10th,
adopted the following resolutions:
ssThe democrats of Douglas county,
in convention assembled, send greetings
to the loyal democrats of the state OF
Nebraska, about to assemble in dele
gate convention at Fremont. Standing
on the adamant foundation OF demo-
cracy that in the party councils the
majority should rule, we deplo1e and
condemn the action of William Jen-
nings Bryan, who, having repeatedly
received the loyal support of the demo-
cratic party of Nebraska, turned treach-
ery upon it in the hour of need and
accomplished its defeat.
"The Douglas county democrats, be-
lieving in the principles of the national
constit ution and knowing the patriot
ism and loyalty of that great leader OF
democracy in the state of Ohio, and
with profound belief in his ability, his
integrity and his patriotism, send
greetings to him and to the people of
Ohio, who on his second election OF
governor gave him 10000 majority
over his opponent. With "Harmon
and Harmony" Is the slogan the DEM
ocratic host will march on to glorious
victory in 1912"
This is an echo of the Nebraska cam.
paign of last year. Mayor Dahlman
was nominated for governor at an open
primary by the aid of SWEET" republi-
cans. He did not receive a majority of
the democratic votes cast at the pri-
mary; he repudiated an important plank
in the platform adopted by the con-
vention and announced that he would
veto a county option hill if It was pass
ed by the legislature, although the con-
vention, by an overwhelming majority,
rejected the demand made by the
Douglas county delegation that county
option be condemned. He ran his CAM
paign on the liquor issue entirely and
although he had the support of the
liquor interests without regard to party
he was not only defeated, but ran be-
hind his ticket.
MI. Bryan opposed him and has no
apologies to offer for his conduct dur
ing the campaign. He is not willing
to be a partner to the unholy alliance
which the Douglas county democracy
has made with the liquor interests. He
feels complimented that they should
recognize him as hostile to their pur-
poses and methods.
Fortunately the real aus of the
hatred expressed by the Omaha brew.
ers through the Douglas county democ-
racy is emphasized by the resolution
endorsing Governor Harmon for the
presidency. The brewers, speaking
through the Douglas county democracy
and fault with Mr.. Bryan because he
refused to support a democratic candi-
date for governor lie supported all the
the rest of the state ticket and at the
same time they endorse Governor Hal-
MOI who bolted the democratic national
ticket in 1896. Mr.. Bryan was the
choice of the democratic convention
endorsed every plank of the democratic
platform and yet Governor Harmon,
then a cabinet officer, boiled and used
his influence to help elect MI. McKin-
ley, the republican candidate. Now,
the Douglas County democracy, speak
ing for the brewers, in a campaign
in which tariff reform seems likely
to be the p; ramount issue, favors
the nomination of Governor Harmon
who helped to elect the high priest of
protection.
Boiling does not seem to be so bad
in national politics-it is only in a state
campaig n that it isan objectionable sin.
1t is a small matter, it seems, for a
cabinet officer to go over to the enemy
when the common people are engaged
in a life and death struggle with Wall
street, but if a Nebraska democrat pro-
tests against the d~ebauchery of his
party by a non partisan group Of brew
ers he is denounced as a traitor.
Well, we shall see whether beer is the
only thing in which the Nebraska de-
mCcracy is interested.
No attack is made upon MI. Bryan's
views on national politics. What do
atiOnal politics count for with those
who put the pecuniary interests of
brewers, distillers and liquor dealers
above everything else?
There is not time to present the issue
to the democratic voters before the pri-
maries and conventions now being held,
but there will be time before the phi
mary of next April.