The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-06-21
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CLOSES WITH ADOPTION OF
PARTY PLATFORM.
Body Finally Adopts Suffrage Flank
~ EsvOrcd by Administration
Leaders After Fight-Amcricanism
Part Readily Accepted al Prcsi-
dents Wish.

fart kscadAy Accepted a8 Prcsi.
dents Wish.
st. Louis. June 16.-The Demo-
cratic national convention finished its
work today by adopting the party
platform exactly as approved by Pres
ident Wilson and submitted by the
resolutions committee. including the
II'lank on Americantsm and that favor
ting woman suffrage. but not until the
hirmony OF it's three day sessions
had been disturbed by row over the
Isuffrage plank.
/ No voice was raised against tho Wig
orous declarations of the Americanism
plank, but at one time 1t looked as IL
the suffrage plank had been lost.
After Senator Walsh Of Montana had
told the convention that President
Wilson himself considered 1t vital to
party success, however, 1t was voted
into the platform, sss 1-2 to is1 Ia.
The entire platform then was adopted
without roll cali.
AZ adopted the suffrage plank
stands:
I'VE favor the extension Of the
franchise. to, the women Of this coun-
try. State by state. on the same terms
as TO the men,, s,syg
The suffrage leaders considered Il a
much more favorahle. declaration than
they got from the Republican conyen-
ton at Chicago: they threw all their
force behind. # and won the support
Of the administration leaders, who
were found fighting for them when
danger threatened. eS
Haggard and worn from an all
night session. the platform makers
were not ready with their report until
after noon. when Senator Stone. sleep
less for more than 80 hours. took the
speakers stand and, explaining that
he was too, tired to read the document.
gave over this task to Senators Walsh
lof Moptana and Hollis Of New Hannp-
shire. They aiternated in reading the
long declaration.
Tho fight on the suffrage plank was
In the air. Everybody was keyep up
to II and when at the conclusion of
the reading OF the platform Martin
Lomasney Of Boston. a., delegate
claimed the attention Of the chair:
Iit was thought he was ,openins the
light, and n: was several minutes be-
fore the shouts Of approval ana cries
| &C disapprovaI cduld be .stllIed ) q r.
Iflciently I'd hear that he wanted. 10
fpdt tho doilVention on recoxd, ssr SYM,
lrathising with ''the people of Ire-
Hand"
IRA q NIT 'im," roared q Baltimore
delega, and, the convention rocked
with laughter.
The real fight broke Immediately
after when Gov. Ferguson Of TEXAS,
who headed the minority report
against the administration plank. was
given 30 minutes In which to pre-
sent 1t.
The plank offered by the minority
was:
The Democratic party always has
stood for the sovereignty of the
several States In the control and reg
ulation OF elections. We reaffirm the
historic position OF our party in this
regard and favor the continuance OF
that wise provision Of the federal
constitution which vests In the
several States of the Union the powe,
to prescribe the qualifications of their
electors"
Hesides Gov. Ferguson. the report
was signed by Former Representa-
tive Bartlett of Georgia. James r..
Nuaent OF New Jersey and Stephen
b. ITeming of Fort Wayne. Ind.
The burden Of Gov. Ferguson's
argument was that suffrage being
purely a State right question, the
wording of the majority plank was a
presumptuous recommendation to the
States on how to conduct their cleo
tions.
Anti-suffrago delegates on the floor
piled, the governor with questions
which brought out fresh arguments
against the administration plank.
When Gov. Ferguson had finished the
convention was In confusion and the
tone of the uproar In. the delegate
sections was indicative of sympathy
with the opponents Of the majority
plank.
| When Senator Stone took the
speakers place to defend the plank