The Topeka state journal., 1911-07-26
ALL IS HARMONIOUS.
Clash Between Bryan and Harmon
Factions Is Averted

Fremont. Neb.. July 26.-The Ne
brasks Democratic convention. which
had been expected to place Nebraska
Democrats on record, so far as con-
cerned their preference for a presi-
Dental candidate q year hence, failed
to express itself on candidates or offer
commendations for its own leaders.
For the most part it was a peaceful
gathering, once it was in session, and
the general harmony program which
leaders of various factions had map
ped out in advance, was carried out
an individual delegate ask the con-
vention to go on record as to presi-
dental candidates and being ruled
out OF order by the chairman.
This result was not accomplished
without much preliminary caucus
sing. but the result was satisfactory to
everybody. Governor Harmon had a
personal representative present at the
convention, but he soon made it plain
tc the delegates that his principal
business was to get acquainted and TO
look over the Western field. No at
tempt was made to present the name
of the Ohio governor for endorsement
and Ben w Chamberlain, who came
with credentials from the Ohio eX-
ecutive, stated that he was on the
ground in the interests of harmony
within the party, as we'll as to note
the feeling as to the candidacy of
Governor Harmon.
The gathering was called under the
statewide primary for the purpose of
adopting a platform for the candidates
for state offices, three supreme court
Judges. two university regents and one
railroad commissioner being selected
by the direct vote of the Democratic
electors. Leaders We're in conference
as early as Monday morning and they
were hOpelessly divided. Representa-
E NTax- I
Dahlman. of Omaha. labored long to
come to an understanding and it was
not until ~, agreement was reached to
eliminate mention of all individuals.
that a common ground was found on
which to stand
Hitchcock q Peacemaker.
The influence of United States
Senator Hitchcock was a factor in all
the preliminary negotiations. His
wish was to unite all factions and he
was eminently successful, so far as
the conventions s action was concerned.
Chairman NJ. F. Harrington. who, pre-
ViOuS to the gathering, had indicated
some opposition to Mr.. Bryan, sounded
the keynote of peace in his opening
speech. However, he permitted Charles
Wooster, a delegate from AIerrick county,
to offer a motion when opportunity af-
forded, that the convention vote it's pref
erence for a presidential candidate. In
doing so, he stated to the convention
expected and that he would rule it out of
order because the law provided that the
rank and file of the party should eX-
press that preference in open primary.
The convention was in an uproar for
moment, but 1t soon subsided and Mr..
Wooster was permitted to state that the
federal constitution provided for free
speech and that he was exercising that
fright with wish to embarrass the party
organization.
Although a liberal minority had favored
action on the part of the candidacy of
Governor Harmon, the matter was not
brought up OF the convention floor. A
general nervousness was evident from the
moment the convention was called to or
der and it was not relieved until the dele
gates were permitted to give voice to their
opposition to any action to an endorse
ment of candidates by practically "howl-
ing down" Delegate Wooster.
The platform is confined to national
and state issues on which all factions are
agreed. The name of w. J. Bryan is not
mentioned, nor is reference made to poll
cies he has heretofore advocated. To
reach an agreement on these points the
document was revised no less than three
times Former Governor Shallenbarger
was chairman of the committee, with
Richard L. Metcalfe representing Mr.
Bryan, and Harvey n. Newbranch, Of
Omaha, an avowed peacemaker, caring
for the interests of Senator Hitchcock
and Mayor Dahlman's followers