Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-09
He Says He Will Appeal From Com
mittee to People.
LIVELY ROW DURING SESSION
Colonel Guffey Calls Congressman
Palmer, His Opponent, a Liar.
STRUGGLE LASTS SEVERAL HOURS
senator stone of Missouri, Lifelong
Friend of Peerless Leader Makes
Speech in behalf of Colonel
Guffey.

|
made threat to appeal to the people"
II orerridden by the committee in his
fight to unseat Colonel James NJ. Guffey.
the national committeeman from Penn
sylvania. This threat. coming immedi-
ately after the Bryan-La Toilette confer
ence OF yesterday renewed gossip as to
the possibility of a third party.
Colonel Guffey hurled the charge of
liar at Congressman A. Mitchell
Palmer. who is contesting his seat. The
latter replied that he had spoken the
truth and that only Guffey's age pre-
vented him from making personal mat
ter of the affair
Mr.. Palmer had freely charged in his
speech to tho committee that Colonel
Guffey had affiliated with Senator Pen
rose, the republican. leader of Pennsyl-
vania, and that he had been disloyal to
his party
bryan Makes Threat.
Mr.. Bryan took up the argument In Mr.
Palmer's behalf He declared that he
had thrice been the candidate of his party
Tor the presidency and that many millions
of the people had expressed their conf
denee in him. II the national committee
declined to listen to lin he would appeal
! 10 tne people, ne Salc,
! The private secretary 10 Senator Cum.
minis, one of the republican insurgent
leaders, was at the hotel where the COM
mittee met and talked with several mem
bers.
The bitter fight in the Guffey case was
unexpectedly prolonged, delaying the se-
lection of convention city indefinitely.
Senator Stone of Missouri, a life long
! ~ M.
| Guffey. Mr. Stone he'd a proxy. His
opposition to Mr.. Bryan was regarded as
significant.
Despite the protest of Mr.. Bryan and
his threat 80 appeal to the people, the
committee voted in favor OF. Guffey 30 to
't1S.
X. t. l.. Mountcastle OF Tennessee was
declared entitled to his seat with only
one dissenting vote, His place on the
committee had been contested by Tohn q.
Vertrees, who was chief counsel for
former Secretary Balllnger I'm the Bal
! linger-Pinchot Investigation.
! When the democratic national commit
tee went into session here this afternoon
William Jennings Bryan at once became
a storm center in an attempt to have
James M. Guffey of Pennsylvania thrown
off the committee.
| The roll call of the states had but
started when the trouble broke James
a. Weatherly of Alabama was recently
selected by the Alabama state committee
to succeed John y. Tomlinson, deceased
When his name was called today Mr.
Bryan asked IL there was protest None
being received, the NebrasKan moved that
the selection be approved.
National Committeeman Brown OF Yer
mont, declared that affirmative action by
the national committee was not neces-
sary; that the matter lay entirely in the
hands OF the state committee. Chairman
Mack sustained this point of order
Il appeal from the decision OF the
chair" shouted Mr.. Bryan.
lie declared that II was plain there
was purpose to head off a protest
against Colonel Guffey and that the mat
ter ought TO be thoroughly discussed At
this interesting, juncture the motion to
go into executive session was carried and
the doo's were closed. The PENNSYLVANIA
fight was plunged into at once. Repre-
sentative Mitchell Palmer. contesting
Guffeys place on the committee. was in
the room, holding the Utah proxy
Bryan Loses Appeal.
Mr.. Bryan's appeal from the ruling IN
the .Nlabama case was defeated by a
vote Of SO to 49, This indici ted that the
committee was celarly against the Nc
braskan in his fight on Colonel Guffey
and that the latter would be retained on
the committee beyond all question.
Chairman Mack apparently had the
backing Of al the "old line" democrats
ON the committee IN making the ruAng
from which Mr.. Bryan appealed. Mack
and Mr.. Bryan dined together last night.
but It was apparent that the men who
have directed the affairs Of the commit.
tee for many years had determined that
Colonel Guffey and Committeeman X. Z.
l.. Mountcastle, whose place also was
contested, would remain on the national
board.
Attempts were made last night 10 dis
suade Mr.. Bryan from making war I'm
the committee and up 10 the time he
went 70 the meeting today his course
was said TO have been undetermined. The
fight was preclpitated. however, with a
suddenness that surprised every one.
Immediately after his arrival today
Governor Wilson set about 10 prepare a
statement explaining the alleged letter
he wrote TO 4. II. Joline several years
ago, suggesting that some method should
he devised Of getting rid OF Bryan"
baltimore Ia Lead.
The committee Set O'Clock as the time
for hearing the representatives Of the va
rious cities bidding tor the convention.
As this time approached Baltimore {
chances seemed increasing. 1t was said
supporters OF Governor " oodrow Wilson
were throwing their strength to Balti-
more. Governor Wilson reached the city
today.
When Mr.. Bryan, holding the Nebraskl
proxy, reached the committee room IA,
was greeted with applause. Each tim,
he moved from one seat to another I,
, greet a friend the applause was renewed