The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-13
WILSON TO HAVE
FULL CHARGE OF
THE CONVENTION
Statement of Hughes Puts the
Democrats on Defensive.
May Bring Change in Policy
Toward Mexico.
BRYAN WILL HELP PRESIDENT
I. r.. Withdrawal Fraught
With Peril to Administration.
Strong Effort Needed to Placate
Irish and Germans.

Washington. June 13.-Polftical de-
veIopments are moving rapidly. Nu-
merous conferences at the White
House and capitol disclosed these
facts
/. The ge of Charles E.
Hughes, accepting the Republican
nomination and his charge of Demo-
regard to foreign affairs, has put the
Democrats on the defensive.
:. President Wilson personally will
direct the ST. Louis convention and in
large measure will personally manage
the coming campaign.
8. If Hughes takes the stump, it
has been decided that Wilson must
follow his example, follow him in a
Swing around the circle and meet
the Republican criticism of his adj
miniStration.
4. Confronted by a reunited party,
Bryan has let it be known that he
will support the president and aid in
the campaign.
5. President Wilson has determined
that hereafter he is to be taken seri-
ously. The policy of 'twatchful wait
ing is to be abandoned and when he
declares a policy that declaration is to
be followed by action.
6. Efforts are to be made to corcil-
late the German and the Irish vote
z. Definite action of a character not
y
spect to Mexico intended to meet
American demands and arouse enthu-
siasm for the flag and American
ism
Platform in Three Sections.
That Democracy is on the defen-
sive and laboring to put itself in read
mess to meet Republican roadsides
was shown by the many conferences at
the White House during the last IS
hours
The vital planks of the st. Louis
platform are still subject to change.
The platform was started to st. Louis
in three sections. the last leaving for
a final interview with the presid lent
before he went to West Point
The last section deals with Mexico.
1t is in the personal charge of Secre-
tary of War Baker. who talked lonS
with the president about it.
The foreign relations planks are
now in charge Of Senator Stone. who
left Washington last night and Sena-
tor James of Kentucky, who is to be
permanent chairman.
Danger to Democrats.
Prominent Democrats admitted that
the refusal of Roosevelt to accept the
Progressive nomination and the rapid
disappearance of inharmony among
Republicans, presented siuation
fraught with peril for Democracy.
Democratic leaders concede that it
will take energetic efforts to placate
the German and the Irish vote. The
German vote normally is about 40 per
cent Democratic and the Irish almost
entirely so. The German vote has re-
scented the alleged proBritish policy
of the administration. Political ext
gencies may compel the issuance of a
sharper protest to Great Britain.
Irish Are Antagonistic.
The sympathies of many influential
Irish-Americans while not with Ger
many, are not violently pro-British.
This element has severely criticized
the president for not dealing with
England as firmly as he has with the
central powers. The antagonism of
the Irish-American sentiment has be-
come pronounced since the Dublin
revolution.
Direct wire communication between
the st. Louis convention hall and
Democratic headquarters in that city
and the White House were made to-
day. Nothing will be done without
the presidents approval. So anxious
is the president to keep in personal
touch with the situation he did not let
Secretary Tumulty accompany him to
West Point. Mr.. Tumulty always goes
with the president. This time he re-
manned at his post to keep his finger
on the political situation and issue or
ders.
Representative McLemore of Texas
intimated that the president may be
contemplating some step with regard
| to Mexico to remove the stigma Of
Republican denunciation. He said:
Il see Mr.. Hughes takes a running
jump at the presidents policy. Well,
perhaps, President Wilson will get
busy before long and rob him of that
/ Issue