The New York herald., 1921-06-12
NEBRASKA MACHINE
BRYAN'S NEMESIS
Changed Law Governing Elec-
ton of Delegates to Balk
His Ambition.
HITCHCOCK IN CONTROL
Bitterness of Struggle Sends
Peerless One to Seek Other
Political Haven.

Special Despatch to THE NEW York I1ETALD
LINCOLN, Neb., June 1.-THE belief is
strongly held by Nebraska politicians
that the chief reason why w. J. Bryan
formally severed his political relations
with the State and taken out citizenship
in Florida is that he finally tired OF the
fight that followed his every attempt 10
represent Nebraska Democrats In the
national convention. From 1910, when
he first took his stand against the domi-
nance of the liquor interests in politics
and was steam rolled at a State conven-
ton, he has had a precarious hold on
any support.
Three times since then he has been a
candidate for delegate at large. In 1912
and 1920 he was elected in the direct
primary by comparatively small majori-
ties, and in 1916 he was beaten by more
than 5 900 votes. Each time he has had
to make a personal canvass of the State.
and in 1920 in several of his speeches he
expressed his sense OF humiliation over
the fact that he had TO fight for an
honor that he felt should freely have
been accorded to him as the man who
had three times been the partys candi-
date for President.
Senator Hitchcock newspaper has
been particularly virulent and violent.
depicting Bryan as a rule or ruin die
tator," a selfish political tyrant and an
impossible leader Its sentiments have
been echoed by the only other three
Democratic dailies in the State and by
a considerable part of the weeklies. The
Democratic party in the State always
has been opposed to prohibition in any
form, and that made 1t an uphill fight
for him each time,
Primary Lnw Changed.
The last legislative session took away
from the direct primary the power to
select delegates to the national conven-
ton and placed it again in the hands
of the State convention. AS the State
machine is controlled by the Hitchcock
faction, BRYAN would have an almost
hopeless fight to obtain his old honors
as delegate Although this law is sub
ject to referendum, 1t Is believed 10
have had a part in making up Bryan
| mind to sever all political relations with
| the State.
| Only within the last dozen years has
| Lincoln received Bryan into Its fold
| with open arms. Democrats VINO cdtne
to Lincoln in it's earlier days found a
peculiar situation prevailing. Credentials
| as Democratic leaders elsewhere were
| Il discredit in Lincoln, which took Its
Republicanism seriously and had no use
| for a Democrat. Ioeing a Democrat was
a presumption against character
Bryan came 10 the city in 1887. III
wore an extremely glossy. heavy blacl
beard, mainly TO conceal his youthful
ness. He soon shed this when he go
into politics. His ability and eloquenc
drew to him large following of youni
men. and the jealous leaders among tn
older Democrats thought 10 bury hin
politically by giving him congressional
nomination in district that had over
whelmngly defeated the party's ables
man. J. Sterling Morton. later Secre
tary Of Agriculture in President Cleve
lands Cabinet.
Bryan eagerly accepted the nomina
ton. beguiled his less adroit opponen
into n series OF debates and was elected
by above 5000. BY 1892 the Republi
cans had effected a gerrymander of tn
state and had made the First District
as they thought. hopelessly Republican
They were almost right. Bryan pullet
through by only a few hundred, ant
two years later refused the nomination