The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-07-09
HASKELL HEADS
PLATFORM BODY
OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR CHOSEN
AT MR.. BRrAN's REQUEST.
sU5-coMMITTEE is NAMED
Arguments Heard for Plank on Water.
ways Improvement = Hobson,
Fearing Japanese War,
Urges Bigger Navy.


Denver, Col, July S.-Immediately
after being called to order at $50
o'clock Tuesday the platform commit,
tee Of the Democratic national conven-
ton proceeded to carry out the wishes
of Mr. Bryan by electing Gov. Charles
N Haskell of Oklahoma as permanent
chairman
The committee then decided to in
trust the details of the preparation of
the platform to a subcommittee of II
members to be appointed by the chair;
but before these appointments were
announced the full committee listened
to arguments in support of various
planks which will be offered for adop
ton.
5 Waterways Plank Asked.
The first of the hearings was on the
subject of the Improvement of the in.
.land waterways and on this subject
arguments were made by Congress
man Ransdell of Louisiana, president
of the recent national rivers and har.
hors congress; r. T. Clarke of Omaha
and Gov. Broward of Florida. Mr.
lBroward took the position that a lib
eral pronouncement in favor of the i'm
iprovemenL of the water courses of the
interior would prove the means of OBJ
ltaining many votes in such states as
New York, Illinois and Ohio, and there,
fore urged the proposition as a matter
of practical politics. Mr.. Clarke asked
for the approval of a plan for the i'm
,proyement of the waterways which
contemplates the issue of $500, 900, 900
in bonds for that purpose.
Mr., Ransdell contended that as the
government controls the rivers and
lakes 1t should improve them, and he
asked for the Endorsement of a plan
looking to much more liberal appro.
this interest. He said that the cost of
transportation of the great lakes is
only one-tenth of the cost of transpor-
tation by rail-. N
Hobson Fears War with Japan.
/ Richmond Pearson Hobson, con
gressman from Alabama, presented
plea for the increase of the navy, and
in so doing declared that this country
is in imminent danger of war with
Japan. He predicted that this war
would take place during the next
presidential administration and, be-
lieving that the Democratic party will
then be in power, he said that if il
did not make proper preparations by
additions to the navy the party will be
ground to powder. He declared that
Japan is covetous, not of the Philip
pines alone, but of Hawaii and our
own Pacific coast country. Regarding
Japan as great fighting machine, he
said that it was absolutely necessary
that proper provision should be made
to guard our interests against that
power. Mr.. Hobson said that he based
his statements upon inside informa-
tion.
At the conclusion Of Hobsons hear
ing at 1920 p. m. the committee took
a recess for dinner until $3.50 o'clock
Hearing of Contests Begins.
The credentials committee met at
five o'clock in Fraternity hall. Chris
topher G. Callahan of Holyoke, Mass,
was elected chairman and d. H. Line
baugh of Atoka, Okla, was made Sec
lretary. Five states and the District of
Columbia gave notice of contest. The
state notices were received from Penn
sylvania, Idaho, Illinois, Ohio and New
York. 1t was decided that all COM
mitteemen in whose states there were
contests shoul3 be excluded from the
proceedings until adjudication was
made in the fights in which they were
interested. The first case taken up
was Idaho.
Caucus Of New Workers.
The New York delegation will hold
its third caucus late Wednesday af-
ternoon to reach a long-delayed de-
cision as to which candidate for the
presidential nomination shall receive
the big block Of rs votes from the EN-
pire state. The caucus has been called
by Charles T. Murphy. leader of Tam
many Hall and chairman of the delega.
tion. The adherents of Mr.. Bryan
still claim that New York will vote
for the Nebraskan, while the oppos-
ing forces are hopeful that the de-
cision Eiay help them in their effort
to block nomination on the first bal.
lot. Mr.. Murphy maintains a sphynx.
like silence.
b