The Evening Standard

THREE FACTIONS OF DEMOCRATS
FREMONT, Neb., July 24.—With three distinct factions of Nebraska's Democracy represented in the gathering tonight of delegates to the Democratic state convention tomorrow, it was not clear what might be expected as a result of the meeting. No leader would admit the possibility of a disagreement over the platform. Mayor Dahlman of Omaha had his headquarters near those of Charles W. Bryan, who came to the city in the interest of Wm. J. Bryan and representatives of United States Senator Hitchcock, were quartered at the same hotel. While the Dahlman followers were not "looking for trouble," as the mayor put it, "we are here to get in front of any steam roller that comes our way and see whether it can run over us."

Charles W. Bryan announced that the Bryan followers were for peace and declared that any attempt of the Dahlman faction to reflect on the former presidential candidate would meet with a vigorous offensive movement.

Representatives of Senator Hitchcock, who has been allied with no faction, were for peace, and one of his followers declared that there was absolutely no chance for a division on the platform. Perhaps the most significant feature of the anti-convention conditions, the prominence given to the candidacy of Gov. Harmon of Ohio for the presidency. Early in the day the supporters of the governor placarded the town with his pictures. Such leaders as former Gov. Shallenbarger, former Congressman Sutherland, Judge Dean and others declared that there was no organization behind the Harmon boom, and that it was the result simply of the efforts of one individual who has recently been active in support of the Ohio executive. Mayor Dahlman and several other Omaha delegates of prominence arrived late in the afternoon and were soon the center of a group of anxious followers. The mayor and Charles W. Bryan met frequently without exchanging greetings. The mayor, however, declared that the Omaha delegation had no wish to raise any point which might result in the destruction of party harmony. The Douglas county delegation, of which Mayor Dahlman is the leader, did not hesitate to make its position plain in regard to the candidacy of Gov. Harmon. His delegation, at its convention a week ago, gave unqualified indorsement to the Ohio governor, and the mayor tonight gave out an interview regarding that action.

"What we want to know," said the mayor, "is whether Mr. Bryan, in the event of Nebraska Democrats expressing views favorable to Harmon will support him, or whether he will take the same position as he did a year ago on the head of the state ticket.

"Under the Nebraska law, the party will express its preference at the April primaries for a presidential nominee," and the delegate at large, who is elected at the same time, must necessarily be in accord with the action of the party. Mr. Bryan thus far has declined to admit the eligibility of Gov. Harmon. If he is going to maintain that position, we should know it. The party in Nebraska does not propose to signify its preference for a presidential candidate and have its delegate at large enter the convention in opposition to that candidate.

"I believe the Democrats of the state and the nation are entitled to know where Mr. Bryan stands before he is considered as a candidate for delegate at large for his party in Nebraska."