Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-28
ALL HINGES ON HITCHCOCK
Democrats at Columbus Are Atingle
Over the Prospects.
ENDORSEMENT MAY MAKE MIX
wording of Resolutions Must Not
he HHIf-Hearted As 10 Praise
for the AdminiHtrh-

| COLUMBUS, Neb., July T-CSpecial
Telegram. .)-Delegates are rapidly gather
ing fromall parts OF the state for tho
democratic state convention to be held
here tomorrow. 1t is conceded that w.
II. Thompson OF Grand Island Is to be
reelected chairman of the state commit
tee. Most OF the counties have Instructed
their delegations for him
q w Bryan, brother OF the Commoner
!, the city early and established heao-
, o,,artkrs at the Evans, Tom Aiien'
hro,ber-in-law Of w. ]. Bryan, Ia to be
here before morning. Allen and Charles
w. Bryan will guard the interests OF the
antI-Hitchcock wing of the convention
II one should develop Of any proportions
Although harmony is the talk OF all the
various delegations that have already ar
rived, It is conceded by all that there
is a possibility for a fight on the endorse
ment OF Senator Hitchcock in his career
as United States senator. Several Hitch
cock resolutions are already drawn up
and beins carried around in tho pockets
of his admirers.
At the same time. c. w Bryan and his
friends are determined that II such a reso-
lutlon comes up and is not worded to suit
them, II ia to be fought This Is the one
point. leaders Of the party say, upon
which fight could be precpitated.
IF they let the resolutions go through,
endorsing Hitchcock and endorsing the
administration, all will be well and good"
said one of the leading delegates from
Douglas county. But II one jumps up
and makes an objection on the floor OF
the convention. and II he does not guard
his language well, he may say something
that will knock the lid off at once"
Convention All AtinEIe.
This is the thing that will precipitate
the fight. There is plenty OF anti-Hitch-
cock sentiment to be found. Everywhere
In the Hobbies of the hotel is whispered
the question as to whether his attitude to-
wards the democratic administration poll
cies should be endorsed Perhaps a ma
jority Of the delegates feel that for the
sake OF party harmony It should be.
Others, however, feel that an endorse
ment of Hitchcocks record would be al
fight on the administration, since his
principal activities in the senate In the
last two years have been along the line
OF opposition 10 everything big that the
administration has tried to put across
Corey Chairman
M. l.. Corey OF Clay Center Is TO be tenn
porary chairman of the convention. II
he Is allowed to choose the resolutions
committee, according to ordinary parlia-
mentary usRges, It viii be a straight
Hitchcock committee. There is some talk
IA possibility that fight will be made
on the floor along the line OF an effort
10 taket he appointment o fthe committee
out OF the hands of thetemporary chair
man and make It the business of the
convention at large,
This is contrary to ordinary usage, but
1t is a possibility. and not outside the
power of this convention. However, II
Corey is allowed to choose the commit
tee. John Outright OF Lincoln is slated
for chairman and the majority OF the
delegation will be for Hitchcock. There
is a possibility then that the Bryan ele-
ment will bring a fight upon the floor in
an effort TO defeat a Hitchcock endorse
ment
Bert Sprague and Il. c. Kemble are the
two candidates for the position as secre-
tary OF the state committee. spFague is
a Hitchcock man and Kemble a Bryan
man.
The first fight in the convention will
probably be in the election Of the secre-
tary. as this will be in the nature Of
test OF strength OF the Hitchcock element
and the Bryan element.
Governor Morehead arrived late this
evening and began shaking hands. Ted
and Lee Metcalfe are on the ground maxi
ing acquaintances, shaking hands and
boosting for the candidacy OF their IA
ther. Richard Lee Metcslfe. for governor.