The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-29
BRYAN OENOUNC[S
LIQUOR BUSINESS
Tells why He 10 Prohibitionist and
says Democrats or Nebraska
Must Face Liquor Issue.

Lincoln. Neb., March 2S.-William
Jennings Bryan was welcomed back
to Lincoln by a State mass meeting
OF Democrats at the city auditorium.
While the gathering was intended
originally to be a birthday celebra-
ton, the original purpose was lost in
the excitement of politics and the
coming primary campaign.
Mr.. Bryan, who appeared at the
close of the program, fired the first
gun In the primary campaign which
he expects to make throughout the
State In the next four weeks. Ma
tional and local issues were dis
cuseed
Mr. Bryan brought to Lincoln with
him two friends who support the poll
tics which he has never ceased to
advocate, Judge Samuel ID. Weakley.
of Birmingham, Ala, and Rev. Mar
tin Hardin, pastor of the Third Pres
hyterian Church, of Chicago. Judge
Weakley has had no end of expert
ence in Georgia, Mississippi and his
native State combating the liquor In
terests He lis the author of num-
Der of stringent anti-liQuor laws. and
his talk was narrative of what has
ward enlarging dry territory.
Changed Mind.
Mr., Bryan spoke of changing from
high license advocacy to that of pro-
hihition, saying;
IT think that have a right to
change my mind in twenty-five years
I was a young man then. and II / had
it 10 do over again ] might not vote
as did then. We had nigh license
law and thought 1t was the oeEt law
in the Union. The liquor interests
would not consent to the county OPP
ton aw, while other States were
adopting progressive legislation.
The liquor men came in and took
charge of our State committee, and
since that time it has not been a
Democratic committee. but has been
one of the saioonmen and their fellow
ers. Are you willing to let the liquor
interests dominate the party7
Were going 10 vote on prohibit
ton this fall and II looks as though
1t vas going TO be a victory for the
drys If you want Democratic Gov
ernor who represents the liquor in
terests you nominate him, III not
help YOU. This is a question that is
both economic and moral Alcohol Is
poison that weakens man II the
saloons can overcome that they can
overthrow prohibition If alcohol is
too bad for any boy that Uncle Sam
is raising It isn't 1T TO feed to the
hoy that the Nebrask man is rails
ing Uncle Sam will not let it be
used In any of his military schools. II
doesn't help your business. 1t doesn't
help your town. You won't find any
billboard from the Atlantic 10 the
Pacific boaSting about the number of
saloons in a particular town.
Must Help Younger Men.
viii YOU do your part towards
helping the Young men, People
change their opinions on this ques-
ton Opinions have heen changing in
recent years. They tell YOU 1t ts
difficult to enforce tho law Tho H.
quor people arc the only anarchists.
They are the only ones who tell you
in advance that they won't enforce
the law and then ask the Democratic
party to be its Nebraska representa-
tive We are not going to hurt any
body with the laws we pass except
those who hurt other people.
There are nineteen States that
have prohibition now. Eleven of them
went dry In the last two years. Dry
sentiment Is spreading over the world.
The foe on the battlefield Is not as
deadly g the foe at home. European
nntious al war have found that out.
In England with the nation IL its
death struggle the men who sold H.
euor insisted or destroying the eff
r3e:"v ~ I 81 Cto mon every day.
We can't afford to put ths amend
ment in the hands Of men who boast
that they violate the law. I expect
~ make campaign through the
State IN the next month. I viii tell
the people that thew must elect men
to the executive offices and TO the
Legislature who will enforce the
laws. / will appeal to the Democrats
TO take part in the fight
The Democratic party Of Nebras-
ka has 10 meet the issue -