Evening star., 1934-07-29
BRYAN FACES TEST
IN NEBRASKA VOTE
Arthur MuIIen's Forces to
Oppose Governor in
Senate Fight.
ep.elsl pssp.seh 70 N. star.

Special Dispatch TO The star.
OMAHA, Eebr. July 20 (NAEAO.
Whatever may be the results Of the
election in Nebraska this year. it E
apparent that they will be only re-
motely related To the issues which
divide the Democratic and Republican
parties nationally.
Ever since the time that William
Jennings Bryan leapeo into prom
inence with his cross Of gold and
crown Of thorns" speech 80 years ago,
political events in this State have
been Influenced more by personalities
than by issues. and this Is even more
Gtrikingly so today.
On the Democratic side are Gov.
Charles w Bryan. still sticking 70
the tradition OF the Great Commoner.
and. opposing him. Arthur r Null
len. who was second only to james A.
Farley as a field general In the Roose-
welt administration until the Presi-
dent issued his blast against Demo-
cratic national committeeman who
we're practicing law in Washington.
Norris Still a Factor.
An even more potential factor in
the election, when It comes TO the
final showdown may be Senator
George w. Norris. Republican in
name, but, since 1882, an ardent sup
porter OF the new deal.
That the name OF Roosevelt is still
something 10 conjure with in Ne
braskA Is indicated by the fact that
all but one OF the six candidates who
are seeking the Republican and DEM
ocratic nominations for Senator in
the August IA primaries are protesting
support of the Presidents policies.
The Democratic candidates are Gov.
Bryan Ed r. Burke, present Congress
man from Omaha, and Willis Reed
of Madison, q former State attorney
general. The battle is generally re-
Rarded as being principally between
Bryan, who is seeking 10 retain his
hold on the party organization in the
State, and Burke. who is backed by
Mullen and Kieth Neville, Democratic
national committeeman.
The Republican aspirants are Ken
meth Wherry of Pawnee City and Rob-
ert Smith of Omaha, both running
as supporters OF Senator Norris and
Roosevelt, and former Representative
Robert Simmons of Lincoln, who is
assailing the new deal and all its
works.
Bryan In Spotlight.
BY far the most interesting con-
test at the moment is that between
Bryan and Burke, or, stated more
accurately perhaps, between Bryan
and Mullen.
Charles Bryan through the years
has been almost as completely an off,
OK in Nebraska politics as Senator
Norris. He first ran for Governor in
1916 and 1918 on an anti-war plat
form. In 1920, following his more
distinguished brother, he bolted the
Democratic ticket of James Nj. Cox
and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Democratic convention at
Madison Square Garden in 1924
named him as the vice presidential
running mate Of John w. Davis, in
an all too obvious attempt to hold
william J. Bryan in line for the
ticket.
Up to that time Charles Bryan's
political record was one Of unbroken
defeat, but in 1926 he won the Demo- |
cratic nomination for Governor and |
was elected. He was defeated in the
Republican landslide of 1928, but he
staged q comeback in 1890 and was
reelected in 1882.
During his latter two terms as Gov
ernor it appeared the antagonism be-
tween Bryan and Mullen had been
removed. A new break came, how
ever, when Senator Robert Howell |
Republican, died In 1888 Mullen
wanted the late Gilbert o. Hitch
cock appointed to I'LL the vacancy, but
Bryan, obviously with the purpose of
setting the stage for his own present
senatorial candidacy named the aged
nonentity william H. Thompson of
Grand Island.
100 Per Cent Backers.
Both Bryan and Mullen's man,
Burke, are running this year as 100
per cent supporters of the Roosevelt
administration, but both OF their rec
ords with this regard are somewhat
tarniShed
Bryan strongly opposed the tnstruc- !
ton Of Nebraska delegates for RooSe-
welt in 1882. Mullen then led the |
ASOOoCNN4b ACANNo dAAN4 A1C NoS SON(Coo- /
ful in carrying the State for his can |
didate.
Since March 4, 1888, Bryan has |
disagreed with the administration at |
Washington on several occasions, the |
most conspicuous instance being his |
support of the Farmers Holiday AsSC- |
citation in its effort to upset The Presi- !
dents plan of farm relief. He was
one of a number of Western Gov |
ernors who sent a committee TO VAST
ington for this purpose. Bryan also |
has claShed frequently with Secretary |
Ickes over the handling of public works
projects IN this State.
Burke generally has voted for the |
Presidents measures in Congress but |
his claim to the Roosevelt label is |
being challenged because of nis close |
association with Mullen. The Bryan |
group are making much of the fact |
that the President asked Mullen to |
resign as national committeeman from |
Nebraska
AS a matter of fact, it appears Presi- |
dent Roosevelt is keeping completely |
out of the contest. If there Is any
basis for claim to his support on either |
side, it is that Mullen has continued |
to be the administration principal |
patronage dispenser in Nebraska. |
When he resigned as national COM |
mitteeman he was succeeded by Kieth |
Neville. a man of his own choosing. |
and the Democrats here say the place |
TO go TO get Federal job still is the /
Mullen law Office in Omaha.
Plan Drew Criticism.
BryanS handling of the liquor sit |
uation has caused much criticism. He |
refused to sign the bill passed by the |
Legislature to authorize the sale of |
beer but permitted it to become law
by default. The effect Of this was to /
delay operation of the measure for
four months, much to the diSpleaSure i
of the vets, while the dryS were angry
because the Governor failed TO veto it. |
Similarly, Bryan consented to a vote |
on repeal Of the constitutional pro- !
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