Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-13
McCombs' Statement

we expect a short session of the COM
mittee, said Chairman .IcCombs. The
convention arrangements are all perfect
ed and the contests before the committee
should be speedily settled. We have made
a change in our convention program. The
first session will be held Wednesday,
the keynote speech and the committees
will be appointed. The next day the CON
vention will hear the speech of the per-
,manent chairman and addresses of prom
inent Democrats.
ION Friday there will be a morning ses-
sion. when the platform will be read and
adopted, and on Friday night we will
name the ticket
National Chairman McCombs held a
conference with Senator William j. Stone.
who will be chairman of the resolutions
committee. Senator Stone brought. with
him from Washington certain drafts of
more important planks that have been
sketched in some detail by President Will
son and his advisers in Congress and in
the cabinet.
Prospective Planks
The principal panks that await pre-
Seltdtloi W tiie pidtlcI Ill committee are
foreign relations, the Mexican situation.
preparedness and the tariff The foreign
relations plank will set forth the unprec-
edented conditions that have arisen as a
result of the war. and it will be pointed
out that while President Wilson has kept
this country from strife, he has also
maintained neutrality both strict and
honest
The plank on the Mexican situation will
develop that this question has been APP
preached with the idea of keeping peace
not only with the Mexican republic but to
maintain peace within her own borders.
On the question of preparedness the
platform will assert that the party has
met the demands Of the worldwide situa
ton by an advanced stage of prepared
ness of the navy and the enlargement of
the army and the reorganization of the
national guard.
The tariff plank will point out thar
the reduction of tariff duties so that the
income from that source in normal times
would meet the needs of the government
is an achievement Of the Democratic
party.
AS the people Of ST. Louis. principally
! those who expect to benefit from the
| convention crowds, have given s10a.0
for the meeting. it is contended that
! they should have four days in which to
/ gather their returns.
| "All the expedients adopted by George
w. Perkins and his fellow workers at
| the ghost dance convention in Chicago
last week, to prevent preciptate nom
! ination. are likely to he resorted to
| here" said one of the Democratic man
| ayers.
! The convention managers realize the
necessity of keeping their delegates in
| terested.
1t was understood that at some time
| during the speech making William J.
Bryan might be invited to address the
| convention on party achievements. Mr..
| Bryan would speak at time when
! there was no other business before the
convention. There We're no Indications
! today that he intends to take part in
/ the actual proceeds by proxy.
| Henry Morgentnau. former amhaSsa-
| dor to Turkey. who resigned to go into
| the campaign. and who probably will
| handle the national COMMITTEES sfinances
| today revived boom for Secretary
Baker for vice president. Mr.. Morgen-
| than said he expected to take the boom
! into the convention.
Baker Represents President
Secretary Of War Baker will be Pres
! ident wilson's personal representative
| at the Democratic national convention
; He will leave tonight for St. Louis. car
F; rying with him a practically complete
| draft of the platform. including several
Of the more important planks written by
the President himself. for the consider
| alton of the national committee.
| 1t had been planned to have the Pres
| ident represented by the man chosen to
! succeed William F. McCombs as chair
| man of the National Democratic COM
mittee, This selection has been de-
| layed, however, and it was decided to
| send Secretary Baker.
The President completed the tentative
! draft of platform planks in which he is
particularly interested, yesterday. Cab
| met members already have sent to St
Louis drafts of rlanks relating to mat
tiers involving their respective depart
| ments.
n n