Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-25
DEMOCRATS IN MERRY WAR
Discovery Westoveris Petition Was
Padded Kindles Lively Fire.
BRYAN-HITCHC0CK FEUD ALAREs
Coming OF Secretary Fisher to Ne
braska for Two Speeches Expected
to Aid Materially Candidacy
of President Taft.
(F4om a san Correspondent,)

(FTpm a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN. March A-CSpeciaI The
discovery of a number Of signatures, ap-
parentiy bogus. on the petition Of Judge
w II. Westover. candidate for delegate
at.large 10 the democratic national con-
vention, has started. or rather given vent.
20 a merry war within the democratic
party.
westover was one Of the four men en-
Sorsed at the recent meeting Of the pro-
gressive democrats on the afternoon pre-
ceding the Bryan birthday banquet. As
this meeting was absolutely in the control
Of the Wilson men. the endorsement
means that westover Is 3 trusted Wilson
man. Outside Of the four endorsed By
this meeting there are only three other
candidates for delsgates-at-large TO repre-
sent the Clark and Harmon forces, and n
action taken late yesterday works out as
intended these men will be certain OF At
least one representative on the state dele
cation 10 Baltimore. for two protests were
left at the office OF Secretary Wait
against putting the name Of Westoyer on
the ballot.
Lacks Enoash Names.
One was presented by T. J. Doyle OF
Lincoln and the other BY Chris Gruenther.
the sponsor of the Harmon boom in Ne
brsska. The allegation Is made that,
eliminating the names improperly put on
the petition. westover Is short Of enough
10 entitle him TO = place on the ballot
Secretary Wait under the law Is required
10 send the copy Of the ballot TO the vari-
Gus county clerks Monday and the ballot
IS all ready - ne printed. the prof on II
having been read yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Wait ID inclined TO re opinion that
the protest on MISSIONER Is too late. as II
was not filed within three days after the
filing Of the petition He will not make
a definite ruling. however, until Monday.
There "a still another feature to this af-
fair which Is commented on and that Is
that Judge westover. particularly In view
Of the position which he holds. that OF
judge OF the district court. cannot afford
10 60 TO Baltimore, even II selected at the
primary. on a petition which on It's face is
tainted with fraud, and II is likely he
viii be called upon TO decline the nomina-
tion and voluntarily withdraw from the
ballot.
Democrats, n talk where they assemble
Is any criterion. arc plainly worried over
the fight for leadership within the party
between Senator Hitchcock and william J.
Bryan, for that Ia what II Is considered
10 be regardless OF the ostenslbie differ
ences between the two, Such sharp
contest. coming on top AZ the party DIFF
fsrences OF two years ago. has materially
modified the optimism which character
ixed them a few weeks ago.
The coming Of Secretary OF the In
terror Fisher for two speeches is counted
on By the Taft men materially to aid the
president in the primary contest In spite
OF their claims u 10 plainly 10 be seen
the Ia Toilette and Roosevelt men are
worried and their anxiety h evidenced By
the efforts they ARE making To induce
both Roosevelt and La Toilette to
yfsit the state before the prtmariss, one
thing. however, "a noticeable and that
So the bitterness which characterized the
earlier days Of the contest for the dele
cation to Chicago Is passing away. At
least such Is the condition around LIN |
coin. where both OF the committees have |
their headauartera
New rifles for Guards.
The Board Of Public Lands and Build !
ings visited the penitentisry and the first
result was the purchase o. an outfit OF
new rifles with which to arm the guards
and also an outfit of automatic pistols
for the use OF inside men. TO take the
place Of the antiauated and cheap re-
volvers with which they were previously |
equipped. 1t was decided that those who |
are to carry the arms will be required TO
practice their use 80 that In an emergency |
such as existed q little over a week ago |
they may be enabled to hit something |
smaller than the wide world. The now
rifles are Of the so-so high power pattern. |
IT was also decided 10 purchase at once |
new mattresses for the prisoners and also |
some new utensils for the kitchen and
dining room, AT the quarterly letting Of
contract for supplies. which will be Mon
day. purchases will be made which will
enable the authorities 10 give the prisoners
a little more Of a variety IN food. The
present food. 20 far as quality goes, was
found 10 be good. but there was too much
Of . samensss in the meals.
Railroad officials we're busy today send
ing out men and dynamite TO protect rail-
road bridges from anticipated Ice gorgrs
when the Ice breaks IN the streams. which
It is realised must soon occur. Great
damage Is anticipated If the snow goes
of with q rush. as appears likely, but
every preoeution possible Is being taken
In advance.