The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-20
~FreedOm of Institutions; Sep
aratiOn Church and State."
MILD PREPAREDNESS IN, TOO
Wants World Court and Battle
Fleets "Junked."
Sulzer of New York Leader OF
Anti-CathoIic Faction.

auditorium st. Pdui, MIMI, July -.
The prohibition platform commit
tee. after a bitter internal fight, re-
+ ported a conservative anti-Catholic
plank to the convention today. The
plank on which the fight ragged in
committee for several hours, advocated
freedom of our American institutions
and separation of the church and
stale"
The platform, among other things
\ advocated friendship for Mexico. the
Susan B. Anthony suffrage amend
ment, no surrender of the Philippines.
Preparedness policy for defense only,
being "unalterab1y opposed to the mill
1taristic principles of the Republican
and Democratic parties"
The platform seeks a worlds court,
advocates "junking'' battle fleets in
the event of general disarmament. but
pledges a force sufficient for protec-
1 ton. 1t opposes universal service and
favors using the army in big construc-
tive works of peace. and use of our
navy in times of peace as merchant
ships.
Religious Issue Greatest.
The fight to inject an anti-Catholic
plank in the Prohibition platform was
made in the resolutions committee and
threatened to spread to the convention
floor. For the first time in its ses-
sion. the resolutions committee barred
its doors, and staged the wrangle in
secret. Backed by the faction which
is supporting VIM. E. Sulzer as Pro-
hibitibl presidential candidate. the
anti-Catholics declared that the relig-
ious issue is greater than the prohibit
ton issue.
The American patriotic societies.
which is composed of the A. z. A.
and Knights of Luther and similar or
ganizations. were we'll represented.
L. L. Pickett. Kentucky, one of the
antf-Catholic leaders, insisted upon
the plank's adoption. Conservatives
opposed him on the ground that the
plank would antagonlze the Catholic
dry vote
Demand for Withdrawal of Troops.
The subcommittee on platform is
said to have left the plank out of it's
draft, and the fight began when the
committee reported to the full
committee. The fight continued for
several hours.
Composing the Subcommittee are
". G. Caldervood, Minnesota; Eugene
Chafin, Arizona; Daniel c. Polling,
California, and oliver w. stewart, Chi
cago. The platform draft is said to
include a demand for withdrawal of
troops from Mexico.
Sulzer, seeking the nomination
largely upon an anti-Catholic plat
form, was expected to attempt a STAN
pede of the convention later in I he
day.
Sulzer Arrives.
Former Governor Sulzer of New
York. arrived shortly before II o'clock
and went into consultation with a
pearance before the convention was
delayed by the conference.
The advocates of Immediate con-
sideration and adoption of the plat
Il fI,ofr-
William Shaw of Boston who headed
the effort to expedite consideration
of the platform withdrew his motion.
The convention then recessed until .
p m.
For ten minutes the convention was
in, an uproar, delegates standing on
chairs and shouting wildly, while
Chairman Patton vainly pounded to
restore order. The delegates evidently
desired to have deliberate discussion
of the various planks in the proposed
platform before taking up the ques-
ton of adoption. Governor Sulzer de-
clared he did not come to St. Paul to
seek the nomination but because a
group of his friends in the convention
begged him to come and speak for
the good of the cause
Indorsc Woman Suffrage.
SIR. Sulzer said he did not know
whether he would speak at the con-
vention- The proposed platform led
off with strong declarations for nation
wide prohibition and woman suffrage.
These were followed by anti prepared
ness and peace planks. Reciprocal
tiade treaties with foreign nations
and federal trade commission of
SPECIALISTS were recommended. Taking
uH the Mexican situation, the platform
DECLARED the Democratic party has
Numbered and the Republican party
eVeded responsibility
fMeXico needs not a conquerer but
a good Samaritan" the platform de-
clared. The plank on free institutions
DECLARED for absolute separation of
church and state with an adequate
guarantee for religion and civil lib
cry
The subjects of markets and mar
keting conditions was taken up in a
vigorous clause in which government
owEed and operated terminal elevators
and warehouses were urged, together
with the adjustment of all boards of
trade and chambers of commerce deal