The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-05-18

The guiding hand of political
bass, such as the republicans found
so convenient in their recent gath
ering, is absent from the demo-
cratic state convention this after
noon.
The republican convention was
held and ended the night before
so far as results are concerned, but
the democrats haven't settled it yet
and the fighting's fine every way
you look.
Last night the delegates got to-
gether on a general understanding
of what they might be willing to
do in order to grease the wheels OF
organization, but the morning
brought the signal sounds of
strife. The delegate states went
glimmering for the most part
through decision to add the al
ternates to the regulars and send
20 to the national convention, evil
IDENTIFY on the theory that twice as
much noise for Bryan could there
by be generated. Out of the crash
that ensued at noon the Third dis
Gilman Fred Baldwin, of Spokane,
for delegate at large and jerome
Drumheller for district representa-
tive.
T. A. White, of Whitman county,
was the other nominee from the
Ssistrict and If no harsh hand inter-
feres alternates will be added TO the
regular list. Dan Curry, of Everett,
was conceded as a district delegate
from the First.
w. H. Dunphy, of Walla Walla,
seemed at noon to still have the
lead over c. G. Heifner, Seattle, for
national committeeman. The rest
of the world Is mixed up in al
liances and misa,liances enough 10
mark 1t a royal affair instead of an
outpouring of the common people.
It'll all come out in the wash, but
the rubbing will be hard and
heated.
Prohibition bobbei up strong
this morning again after the politi-
, cal engineers figured they had its
ghost laid to rest under the initia-
tive and referendum. Whitman
county is for prohibition and so Is
Walla Walla and several other
counties are distressly dry from the
saloon standpoint. They favor 60
Ing the republicans one better on
the local option business and de-
claring for prohibition.
'Sumptuary laws unduly limiting
the liberties Of the people are I'M
Inn a
1t comes to the proposition that our
neighbors shall say what we shall
eat or drink, II ought to be declared
un-American and un-democratic."
In the above words, ex-U. s. Sen.
George Turner this morning at the
state democratic convention at the
armory, sounded the keynote of the
position which the democrats of
the state will assume with rela-
ton to local option.
One OF the objects of the demo-
cratic leaders in securing George
Turner for temporary chairman was
that he might present In particular
to the convention his views on the
question of local option, as we'll as
the views Of the leaders who have
In hand the perfection of the plat
form.
Eight counties have delegates
who are pledged to local option and
hot fight is anticipated before the
platform committee, which consists
of one member Of each delegation,
Is ready to report this afternoon.
AS now framed up, 1t is proposed
TO leave out all reference to local
option In the platform, the argu-
ment being that with an initiative
and referendum plank instead those
pledged delegates may go back to
their constituents with the infor-
nation that the initiative and refer.
endum reaches the same end and
goes farther In behalf of the peo-
pie than the republicans dared go.
1t has already been argued that