The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-04-18
NEBRASKA CONTEST
i WAS CLOSED TO-DAY
State Primary Election in
Bryan's State Was
Hard Fought.
(National News Association

LINCOLN, Neb., April 18.-The null
titude of candidates for public office
in Nebraska closed their speaking
tours today and the lines were drawn
tight for the statewide primary to-
morrow, which is to determine the
complexion of the ballots in the cleo
ton next fall. In the primaries the vot-
ers of all parties will record their
preferences for nominees for the presi
dency, for United States senator, for
governor and other state officers, for
nominees for representatives in con-
gress, for delegates-at-large and dis
trict delegates to the national conven-
tions, for presidential electors and for
. minor officers. In addition, five con-
stitutional amendments for adoption
as party measures will be submitted
to the voters. The ballots are the larg-
est ever used in Nebraska.
The constitutional amendments are
: to be voted upon by each party sepa-
rately to determine whether or not
they will be indorsed by the party. The
vote on presidential and vice presiden-
tial preferences, the election of ma
tional committeeman and delegates
and alternates to the national conven-
tions, are additions made to the pri-
mary ballot by the last Legislature.
Taft People Quiet.
: Forecasters generally confess them
selves at sea and unable to give a
definite idea of the probable results
of the preference vote in either the
Republican or Democratic party. The
names of Taft, Roosevelt and La Fol
lette will appear on the Republican
ballot and those of Wilson, Harmon
and Clark on the Democratic ballot.
Nebraska is a strongly Progressive
state and the Taft people, while hope
full, are not making any definite claims.
Their chief reliance rests on the posi-
bility that the strength of Senator La
Toilette may draw heavily from the
Roosevelt vote. The Roosevelt man
ayers, on the other hand, are conf
dent that neither Taft nor La Toilette
will head off solid delegation for the
former President
On the Democratic side there is also
little basis for a clearcut and readily
defensible forecast on the presidency.
The Clark managers appear to be the
most optimistic. One interesting
phase of the situation is the position
of William j. Bryan Mr.. Bryan is
| named as delegate on all the tickets,
as special honor, but his friends are
little apprehensive that with the rad
ical strength split between Clark and
Wilson and the conservative Demo
cratic vote banked solidly behind Har-
mon, the Ohio man may possibly win
on plurality and thus give to smil-
!. ing political world the spectacle of
Mr.. Bryan going to Baltimore instruct
ed for Harmon, whom he bitterly op-
poses.
Race for Senator
The contest for the United States
senatorship is arousing considerable
interest. Senator Norris Brown, Re
publican, whose term will expire next
March, is a candidate for reelection.
His opponent on the Republican side
is Congressman George w. Norris of
the Fifth district. The contest be-
tween the two is closely connected
with the Republican presidential race.
ognized leaders of the Republican cir
surgents" in the House and an out
spoken opponent of President Taft and
his policies while Senator Brown is on
friendly terms at the White House.
The Democratic aspirants for Senator
browns toga are former Governor
Ashton G. Shallenberger, w. III.
Thompson of Grand Island and Willis
e. Reed of Madison.
All the present representatives in
Congress are candidates for renomina-
tion with the exception of Norris of the
Fifth district, who is a candidate for
the senate. S. r. Barton and w. A.
Prince, both of Grand Island, are the
Republican aspirants for the Fifth
district nomination and r. d. Suther-
land is the Democratic candidate.
Governor Chester H. Aldrich is
candidate for denomination. Two
Democrats are contesting for the gu
bernatorial nomination.
In addition to the governorship the
state offices for which nominations
will be made are those of lieutenant
governor, secretary of state, auditor,
state treasurer, state superintendent
of public instruction, attorney general,
land commissioner and railway COM
missioner.
To add to the complex political stu
ation in Nebraska. the Socialists of
Ihe state are planning this year to
wage the most aggressive campaign
they have ever made. They have nomi-
mated full state ticket, candidates
for United States senator and con-
gressmen and candidates for the
state legislature in many of the dis