The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-08
BUILDING PLATFORM
Action Entrusted to Sub Com. mittee of Seventeen to Be
 Appointed by Chair.
HE IS A BRYAN MAN
Full Committee Hears Gompers, Hob- son and Others In Support of
 Their Pet PIanks.

Denver, July Hmm ldiately after being called to order at 5:S0 the plat form committee of the democratic na- tional convention proceeded to carry out the wishes of Mir Bryan by elect ing Gov Charles N. Haskell of okla loma as permanent chairman. The comittee then decided to entrust the details of the preparation of the plat form to a subcommittee of seventeen members to be appointed py the chair: but before these appointments were announced the full committee listened 10 arguments in support of various blanks which wil be offered for adop- ton.
 The first of the hearings was on the subject of the improvement of the inland waterways and on this subject arguments were made by Congressman Ransdell of Louisiana, president of the recent national rivers and harbors congress; H. r Clarke of omaha, and Governor Rroward of Florida. Mir. Broward took the posi- ton that a liberal pronouncement in favor of the improvement of the wa ter courses of the interior would prove the means of obtaining many votes in such states as New York, Illinois and Ohio. and therefore urged the proposition as a matter of prac- tical politics Mir Clarke asked for the approval of a plan for the im- proyement of the waterways which contemplates the issue of $500, ,000, 00C in bonds for that purpose
 Richmond Pearson Hobson. congress man from Alabama, presented plea for the increase of the navy and In do- ing so declared that this country is in Imminent danger of war with Japan. He predicted that this war would takt place during the next presidential ad rninlstration and believing that thu democratic party will then be in power he said that if 1t did not make proper preparations by additions to the navy the party will be ground to powder.
 After a recess of two hours for din ner, the committee resumed its hear. ings, taking up the labor question Samuel Gompers, president of Feder. ation of Labor. John Mitchell and oth. CT labor leaders were present.
 The republican injunction declaration he declared to be an indorsement of tho existing abuse of law" he asked tho democrats to either leave the subjec entirely out of the platform or adopt { real remedy for the wrongs complain ed o' '"
 He reviewed the decision of the su preme court in the hatters' case. hold ing labor unions to be trusts or illega combinations in restraint of trade un der the antitrust law, and made al earnest plea for an amendment of tha law He declared that it had never beer contemplated that the sherman law should apply to those who toll, bu that on the contrary 1t was intended to control combinations dealing witl the products of labor
 He contended that the law In it's or dlnary operation was sufficient to pro tect the public against the crimes c laboring people.
 When MT. Gompers had concluded George Fred Williams of Massachusett asked him how far the principles h had been arguing for had been endors ed by organized labor. The reply wa that they had been endorsed In cor vention after convention of organize labor, and that every branch of labo had adopted resolutions urgnb the 're forms.
 MT, Gompers said the blanks also rer resented the views of the executly council of the A. F. L.