Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-23

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leamong the members as to the planks
but the trouble arose over the phrase
ology and the sub-body was not ready
to report to the full committee until
nine o'clock Friday morning after
% hours continuous session.
1t was President Wilson's American
ism plank that caused the principal
delay in the agreement of the commit
tee on the platform.
Condemnation of the activities of all
persons, groups and organizations in
the United States that conspire to ad-
vance the interests of foreign power
are contained In the Americanism
plank.
1--WE charge" the plank declares,
"that such conspiracies among the lin
tied number exist and have been In
stigated for the purpose of advancing
the interests Of foreign countries, to
the prejudice and detriment of our
own country"
Considerable time also was given to
the suffrage plank. The committee
fought out the equal ballot pledge for
four hours. 1t defeated, 20 to %.
plank for straight-out declaration in
favor of q federal constitutional
amendment to give women the vote.
1t then adopted, by a vote Of rs to
20, the following statement:
"We recommend the extension Of
the franchise to the women of the
country by the states. upon the same
terms as to men,"
Unexpectedly there was clash over
a proposal for prohibition plank.
When William Jennings Bryan, an ad-
vocate of dry nation. declared Tues
day that he would make no fight for
a prohibition plank, 1t was believed
that the committee easily would vote
down any attempt to insert such a
principle into the platform.
There was lengthy discussion also
over the labor planks. including the
child-labor question, some members of
the committee being for an out-and-out
Endorsement of the Heating antichild-
labor bill. now before congress.
Wilson for Americanism Plank.
Members of the committee were in
constant communication with Presi-
dent Wilson over the telephone wire
to the White House until finally the
Americanism plank was whipped into
satisfactory shape and the mainstay
of the party's declaration Of princi-
pies was agreed upon. The word from
Washington was that President Wilson
had been aroused by opposition to the
Americanism plank, and had made 1t
plain that 1t must be incorporated, and
that 1t must meet his ideas.
The plank dealing with the Mexican
situation. second in Importance only to
the Americanism declaration, was
more easily agreed upon. but the presi-
dent was consulted twice before 1t
finally was passed.
After reviewing the Mexican situa-
ton and commenting the course adopt
ed by the president with relation to
the affairs of the country south of the
it is the duty Of the United States to
hold Its forces In Mexico until danger
to American interests from Mexican
unrest are no longer probable.
The draft of the platform as work
ed out by the subcommittee of nine,
submitted to the full committee con-
tanned about rs planks and 1000
words.
Real Enthusiasm Displayed.
The convention opened Wednesday
with bang. Notwithstanding the
fact that almost everything It was to
do had been settled upon beforehand,
1t gave display Of real. unalloyed en-
thusiasm that was In marked contrast
to the first-day demonstrations in the
Chicago Coliseum the preceding week.
Everything and everybody that was
anybody was cheered to the limit, and
the cheerers evidently meant 1t. They
called the speakers by their first
names. joshed them at time-, applaud
ed them always. The most democratic
spirit prevailed, not only on the open
ing day but at the following sessions,
and while at times 1t may have seemed
undignIfied. II actually was rather re-
freshing.