The Red Cloud chief., 1912-08-08
GATHERING Of
ALL PARTIES
TAFT MEN HOLD A SEPARATE
MEETING.
DEMOCRATS ENDORSE Mr.. BRYAN
RspubIleans and Prohibitionists Meet
In Lincoln, Democratic at Grand
Island, and the Popuilsts
at Aurora.
DEMOCRATS ENDORSE Mr.. BRYAN

Lincoln-The republican party In
Nebraska Is divided into two
branches, each with a platform of its
own, much differing in tone. each with
q state committee Of entirely differ.
ent personnel, and each with officials
to conduct the campaign. The one
branch will be known as progressive
republicans, the other as Taft repub-
leans
The Taft branch left the regular
convention, held separate conven.
tion, passed resolutions endorsing the
national platform and ticket, agreeing
to support only those state candidates
who make a like endorsement, and
deprecating the refusal Of the regular
convention 10 give them q chance to
present Taft resolution before they
retired. The progressive republicans
adopted a platform in which an ex-
tensive declaration of principles is set
out, but refused to endorse any can.
didate. national state or congress.
sionai, for office. The Taft republi-
cans endorsed the president and vice
president as candidates for re.elec.
ton. but no others.
The two conventions were q fore.
gone conclusion even before the dele
gates began to arrive. The question
merely WAS which faction would leave
the auditorium and hold its delibera-
tions in another hall. The progress
sives were in full control, with a safe
margin Of delegates. unless the ex.
ecutive committee, empowered to hear
contests and decide them so far as
the vote on the temporary organiza-
ton was concerned, would listen to
the argument that the progressives
who controlled in SO many county con.
ventions were not real republicans in
that they did not endorse the national
ticket, and were to all intents and
purposes hostile to the candidacy Of
Mr. Taft.
The committee listened for many
hours to the arguments of the oppos.
ing sides In contests from eight or
nine counties. In each case the con.
testants were Taft supporters with
the exception Of Douglas county,
where the Taft men held the regular
credentials. Finally sort of compro-
mise was reached, and all but Jefferis
Of Omaha voted to seat the progress
sive republican delegates from every
county where the test Of republican
ism was the only ground Of contest,
but no headway could be made look.
ing to the withdrawal Of any of the
presidential electors.
searis Taft Leader.
Thus ended the long.drawn.out con.
test. Immediately the Taft forces ar
ranged their program. 8. A. Searle
was made the floor leader. II was de.
cided that the signal for withdrawal
should be an adverse vote on reso.
luton endorsing the national admin.
istration and ticket. The Taft dele.
gates who had been refused seats by
the executive committee waited on
the outside for the boilers to appear
and Joined them a. once In their sep
arate convention. Likewise the pro.
gressive republican delegations from
the four counties where they had
been turned down on the temporary
roll waited for their chance at seats
which It was known would come %
soon a. the credentials committee had
got In is work.
The vote on the Taft endorsement
was never taken, owing to the rulings
OF the chairman. When many efforts
had been made and each frustrated
the bolt took place regardless. Nc
test vote was taken In either conven
tion to indicate how many left with
the boiling Taft delegates. Douglas
county led of and It is known wal
followed by Saline, Colfax. Madison
and johnson entirely, and probably by
other complete delegations. Dodge
Cunning. Cass and partial delegations
from other counties where complete
Taft victories had been won. remained
and took part in the regular conven
tion. Individual members in many
delegations, supporters OF the presi
dent, also left with the boiling fac
tion. but how many Of these did leave
was never ascertained. All votes II
both conventions after the split, were
by reclamation.
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION