Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-06

ceded that he aspired TO be one of the
delegates-at-large from Nebraska,
Primary Law Interpretation.
Under the primary law, as Mr. Walt
informed AFTER, Mr.. Bryan's name can
appear only once on the democratic bal
lot as the presidential filing takes pre-
cedence by reason Of being the first
made Bryan cannot be a candidate for the
coveted office. No one of course believes
the Fairview man would not prefer to
be president but then there have always
appeared to be some obstacles in the
way of gratifying that ambition.
The crux of the whole situation comes
in the peculiar wording Of the primary
law. In every other office except presi-
dental preference the acceptance OF the
candidate is necessary to make a filing
by petition effective and even then the
party can withdraw from the race II he
desires. In this case the name can only
be withdrawn by consent of the party
who filed 1t. If Mr.. AFTER so desires he
can keep Mr.. Bryan's name on the bal
lot whether the latter Wills 1t or not.
May BE Covert Attack.
It is this state of facts which leads
some to believe the move is one made
with the deliberate purpose OF keeping
Mr.. Bryan out of the democratic conven-
| ton.
W. ]. Bryan is out of the city, but his
| brother, Charles Bryan, said that Mr.,
AFTER was undoubtedly a friend of w. j.
Bryan and that his motives were good,
but that the filing was without the
knowledge or consent Of w. ]. Bryan.
Charles Bryan said he heard of the move
to file the petition and had been trying
for some time Intellectually, to get into
communication with Mr.. AFTER, pre-
sumably to head off the filing. though
Mr.. Bryan did not say so. There Is no
| question but the filing has disconnected
the plans Of the Bryan men and that
every effort will be made to procure the
withdrawal of the petition.
S. d. Mast of Frontier county has
asked the secretary OF state how to get
his name on the primary ballot as repub-
lican candidate for representative from
the Frontier-Gosper district. Mast was
member of the previous house.
AIdrich Would he Delegate.
! Governor Aldrich indicated today that
he desired to be a delegate to the repub-
lican convention. In this matter he IS
up against the same proposition which
confronts w. ]. Bryan since the filing
OF the latter's name for presidential pre-
ference. The secretary OF state has CON
| strued the law that no name can go on
the ballot twice for any office and that
| this includes delegates. The governor is
CT the opinion however, that a delegate
/ to q convention is not an office within
the meaning of the decision of the su-
preme court on the ballot law, and prob
| ably will ask the attorney general for an
| opinion on the question. Whether he goes
as a delegate or not the governor will
attend the convention but he greatly de-
/ sires to be a delegate that he may have
something to say on the matter Of plat
form. .
James POntius Discharged.
James Pontius of Indianola, who has
been before the federal court on the
charge of sending obscene matter through
the mail, the same being printed In a
newspaper, was discharged today. the
opinion being that II would be difficult,
In not impossible, to show that the matter
lin question was obscene within lac mean
ing OF the law.
Donovan Opposed Deal.
]. +. Donovan, one Of the retiring d.
rectors Of the Union Fire Insurance COM
lpany. who was paid 5000 on reslgning
said today that at no time was he In
favor Of the transfer OF the company and
that he contested the move on the day
the organization disposed OF his office
without his consent; that his name il not
on the contract and that he never con
scented to the deal, but that after the
transaction was competed he felt that
under the present arrangement he could
be OF no further service 10 the Union and
took the t2,OOo.
Date for Patterson Hearing.
After a conference with Attorney Gen,
eral Martin, Auditor Barton today agreed
TO fix a date for hearing on the claim