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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1920)
'j-fyztFflWt ,ff-'',l'W'"i "KiifTrsw-i T T -' The Commoner 10 VOL. 20, NO. 5 i "9TT Kit f plemonts in tho Democratic organization which would ubo that organization for undemocratic purposes. , - Men nnd nionoy wore sent to Nebraska to pro yont Mr. Bryan's election. Every available in fluence against him was utllizod. Even, tho in qlomont weathor which provonted a full poll of tho country vote, without oorlously affecting tho city vote, Boomed to millato against Mr. Bryan and yet ho was elected. Mr. Bryan had vory candidly and vory positively said that if, he was instructed as a dologate, to cast his vote for Mr. Hitchcock, also of Nebraska, as a possible can didate ho would rofuso to do so. And yet, Mr, Bryan was elected. It would require tho groon goggles of Intense projudlco to soo in this a "defeat" for that very distinguished' American, tho moro mention of whoso name seems to provoke tho estcomed Now York World out of all poise and falrnOss. Evon if ho had been deprivod of the rights and privileges of a delegate, Mr. Bryan's influ onco would still have been vory groat, and undor cortain conditions which may ariso, would have amounted in effect to an essontial leadership. This no ono roally questions, whatever tho pro fessions may bo. It Is not so long since another Democratic National convention was hold to which Mr. Bryan had not been olectod a delegate, and no ono has forgotten what ho did on that occasion. As a dologato, with a delegate's un deniable privileges, Mr. Bryan's influence will bo still greater, of course, and no one who does not underestimate Mr. Bryan's zeal and courage in the causes that intorest him, doubts that ho will inako the most 'Off ectlvo uso of those privileges. Mr. Bryan's election as a dologato was a triumph tot him but it will undoubtedly moan moro than temporary personal success before tho Demo cratic convention is over. Peekskill, N.- Y., Nbws ' m;i' AVfcTORY FOR PRINCIPLES ' Senator Hitchcock gots tho preferential vote of Nebraska for president over tho former livery man of Lexington, Neb., but the former livery thlviv mfcdb a 'Vory respectable showing against fcno distinguished senator. - '-(Mr. Hitchcock must content himself with that fcnimb of .comfort dolod out to him byNebraska Democrats In Tuesday's primary. " His national committeeman, through whom ho IJiad' control of the Democratic state 'machine, Isboaten; the majority of the Bryan delegates tor'the riattoftal convention, Including Mr. Bryan Himself ilfo elected; the Hitchcock candidate for governor Is "snowed undor. Iri ;sliort tho rout of the reactionary senator ind'Shelk of-the Camels" is fairly complete n OjhJie -pemoctfattc party control In this slate will n'dreafSoV'tipr'dgresslve and dry and for equal ftghlsHnd state's delegation to tho democratic iaational convention will also bo prbgressive and d'r and tor equal rights. Those wero the issues of the Democratic pri mary campaign. All progressive citizens of the state, regard less of political" affiliation, will rejoice over tho tult'. Particularly that this stato's'reprosentn tives in tho San Francisco convention will uot wander about like lost sheep until herded into . tae camp of some boss, but will be, a dominant force undor capable leadership in the interests of progrosBlve policies and a progressive candi date. Forward-looking citizens not only of Nebraska tut of the nation will havo a voice in San Fran cisco which will bo heard and heeded. v Senator Hitchcock speaks of the T.esult as a personal triumph for Bryan. Ho is mistaken. Tho primary vote was a triumph of principles. l Omaha, Neb., News. i A VITUPERATIVE CAMPAIGN DISASTROUS The result of Tuesday's primary wouldi indi cate., that the people decided to rebuke such vin clictivoness as exemplified by tho World-Hprald and Lincoln Daily Star during tho primary cam paign, as applied to Mr. Bryan and his following. Mr. Hitchcock, it will be noted, ran some two "bnndred behind his ticket in this county. His faithful friends, as well as 'himself , may learn that when an issue becomes 'so burdened with misrepresentation, aa shown in this campaign, it becomes self-destructive. Mr. Bryan was With the people in their effort to defeat the purpose of re-opening an issue that is outlawed moral ly. Mr, Bryan carried the state--in fact the Bryan "slate" was successful, and ho, as well as those who believe they wero on the side of right, are to bo congratulated. J y Another victory is the election ,of W. H. Thompson for national committeeman oyer Mr. Arthur Mullen, present incumbent. The Demo crat congratulates tho people upon their victory. In connection with this victory the readers of the Democrat will pardon us if we assume some of the crodit for this grand result. --Hastings, Neb Democrat. ' " ANTJS STAND BY BRYAN A Washington telegram is headed ''Antis Con gratulate Bryan;" but it is a different kind of antis to tho kind most frequently referred to now-a-days tho anti-suffragots, to which Bry an does not belong. He is a wild anti-whiskey man, but no kind of anti-3uffraget not on your life. But Bryan is anti in ono case but the anti- thesis in the other dry in ono case ancL wet in the other., ' ' But to tho telegram, which says: "Tho Anti-saloon League is jubilating over tho apparent come-back staged by William Jen nings Bryan in NebraskaT in his election as delo-gate-at-large to the Democratic national conven tion. " 'Bryan's victory,' says tho league is a body blow to tho beer and wine advocates. "The importance of it Is doubly significant be cause tho majority of Democrats heretofore in Nebraska have been wet. It shows the change of sentiment and the influence of women's vott." . While this Great Religious Daily has gone on record a few times as being anti-liquor and anti suffraget, it will feel almost like forgiving Aunt Susan Carrie Catman and others for what they have done, if tho suffrage! s of Nebraska have really voted for Bryan, and' in, that case they have shown they are on the right .side of the big moral question. For that act they are' entitled to all crodit and proper consideration. Jack son, Miss., Clarion-Ledger. THE LAST SMILE The fellow who smiles last gets the most sat isfaction out of it. The spurious Democrats, like Senator Hitchcock and other champions of the whisky interests in Nebraska and elsewhere were very' hilarious when the first returns came in indicating that W. J. Bryan was defeated for ,delegate-at-large to the national convention. Now that the returns are all in showing that the great commoner is elected they refuse to be ' comforted. Their smiles have all turned to tears and profanity. The-combination against him was a powerful one which seemed almost ir resistible, but the good people of that state, to their honor and glory, stood by Bryan. Sena-, tor Hitchcock entered tho presidential race for the sole purpose of keeping Bryan out of the national convention and received the humilia tion he deserves. Senator Hitchcock says that as a result of Bryan's election as a delegate to tho Democratic national convention, "Hell w.ill bo a poppln' " in San Francisco. Well, Bryan does generally raise more or less trouble with evil doers in these national conventions. -It is safe to say this will be no exception. Clay Center, Kansas, Economist. HITCHCOCK'S INOPPORTUNE TION DEOLARA- York News-Times: Bryan won eleven of the six teen delegates, from Nebraska. Hitchcock's in opportune declaration in favor of a modification of the prohibition law gave Bryan his chance and his eloquence did the rest. It was what the boys call "a bonehead" on the senator's part, but possibly he thought he hatlto do it to head Gov ernor Edward3 off in this state. He may have found himself between the upper anct nether mill stones. But you cant tell. One thing is certain if you give Bryan a .text he will preacli" a per suasive sermon. .tending the Democratic convention as a delegate and still ho won out. Its a hard Job to keep a good man liko Mr. Bryan quiet while the poll ticians -are endeavoring to put somethinK crooked across. Greenfield, Iowa, Free Press. NOBLESSE OBLIGE The doctrine of noblesse oblige, as thrust into the lulo" campaign by the Hitchcock democracy deserves moro thorough attention than was pos sible when the hUrly burly was in progress. Tho Hitchcock democracy, comprising in the main an element in politics that has regarded the vote as something with which to effect a result and Which they would just as soon exorcise under Republican auspices as Democratic, insisted that it was immoral for the Bryan democracy to lure tho womonvote, not yet tied to any party, into the Democratic primary. They said, in offect, that good men owe a duty to their class, the class of good men, the transcends all other duties, and that it is to do nothing that would shock the moral sensibility of any one, and ob ligation to be noble at all times without regard to what should happen to them for pursuing that course. Tho hypocrisy of that is apparent. They cared nothing tor the good or their good ness. They were trying to enforce on the good a codo of ethics that the bad knew was quixotic and falsely bottomed but which if the good would adopt would enable the wicked to 'have their way. In short, it was a political trick. The wet Democrats have never been Democrats when the party was dry, but they insisted that loyalty to democracy forced every dry Democrat to support the ticket when the democracy was wet. The dry Democrats, fought the wets with '.their own weapons, and they whipped them. The result certainly justified the means. Not the least of the joys connected with the result was that while the wets were preaching to the dry the virtues and beauties of keeping Repub licans out of the party primaries enough of the wets .were streaming into the Republican pri maries to leave the dry Democrats in the ma jority. Lincoln, Neb., Evening State Journal. , MR. BRYAN CAME BACK And W. JV Bryan came back. The "Peerless Leader" will be a delegate to the San Francisco convention. Ho will write a dry plank in the platform to offset the wot-one Gov. Edwards will offer: -'The breweries,, Wall street and the ad $ ministration forces fought against Mr. Bryan at- ' NEBRASKA AT "SAN -.FRANCISCO (A Prophecy.) Day melted into twilight gray When up "from San Francisco bay A v.aliant youth a banner bore,' That all might read the single score . Bryan!" v : ; His manly features bore, a smile That lit the street for half amile;v . His eye was clear, his step was strong, And this but burden of his song "Bryan." "Stay," said a maiden, "rest yqur -head Upon my shoulder Bryan's dead'-" - ' He slyly winked the other eye, ' , " ; Passed proudly on and made "reply-4 '..'I "Bryan." ' ;,s. . An olu man with a. grizzled beard . uj$S Gave admonition as he neared, "" ,' "Tho anti-prohibition crowd , -., Are near at hand cry not so loud.-, ; BryanI ' " "Beware the tumult of the sea; Beware the Hitchcock sni6korsnee!" . The pallid patriot spake no more; The brave lad answered as before "Bryan!" r There broke about his neck and. chest Eggs that had lon0 profaned the nest; But, all undaunted by the smell, He sent back this triumphant yell "Bryan!" With confidence and not affright That youth tore here and there all-night; And those who tried to sleep wduld hear His voice and. answer with a cheer . "Bryan!" . Two days of party fire and smoke And then the huge convention broke,;'" Into a storm of loud, acclaim. ' 'a' . Who, was.. the' hero, what his name r ' -t-A. L, Bixby, in Nebraska State Journal. fv. jjfarteh'uiiafei'j