Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-17
No Voice Raised Against
Vigorous Declarations
on Americanism.
WOMEN LEADERS FEEL
SOME ADVANCE is MADE.
Walsh Quotes Wilson as Con-
sidering 1t Vital That Suffrage
Declaration Be Made.
SUBSTITUTE BADLY DEFEATED
Democratic Convention Then Finally
Adiourns Sine Die at
3:11 =. NJ

ST LOUIS. June 1e-The Democratic
National Convention finished its work
early this afternoon by adopting the
party platform exactly as approved by.
President Wilson and submitted by the.
resolutions committee. including the
plank on !tmercanism and that favorine
woman suffrage. but not until the har-
mony of its three days session had been
disturbed with row over the suffrage
plank.
NO voice was raised against the
vigorous declarations of the AmerI-
canism plank. but at one time it looked
as It the suffrage plank had been lost
After Senator Walsh, of Montana, had
told the convention that President Will
son himself considered it vital to
party success. however. it was voted
into the platform by ballot Of SSs1-3i
to Isl l-2. The entire platform then
was adopted without roll call.
AS 1t went into the platform, the suf-
frage plank stands:
we favor the extension of the fran
chise to the women OF this country,
State by State. on the same terms as
to the men"
The woman suffrage leaders con-
declaration than they got from the
Republican convention at Chicago;
they threw all their force behind it
and won the support OF the administra-
ton leaders. who We're found fighting
for them when danger threatened
Hagsard and worn from an all-night
session, the platform makers were not
ready with their report until after
noon, when Senator Stone, sleepless for
more than thirty hours. took the
speakers stand and. explaining that
he was too tired TO read the document,
gave over this task to Senator Walsh,
of Montana. and Senator Hollis, of New
Hampshire. who took turns reading
the long declaration.
EVERY BODY KEYED UP
For SUFFRAGE FIGHT
The fight on the suffrage plank was
in the air Everybody was keyed up to
1t. The real fight broke when Governor
Ferguson. of Texas, who headed the
minority report against the admins
tration plank. was given thirty min
utes in which to present it,
The plank offered by the minority
was:
The Democratic party always has
stood for the sovereignty OF the sew
eral states in the control and resula.
ton of elections We reaffirm the his.
toric position OF our party in this re.
gard. and favor the continuance of that
wise provision of the Federal Constitu-
ton which vests in the several States
Iol the Union the power to prescribe
the qualifications of their electors"
Besides Governor Ferguson, the re-
port was signed by former Represen-
lot ,,f
Nugent. of New Jersey. and Stephen
B. Fleming. of Fort walnc. Ind
In an .mpassioned speech Senator
Walsh swept aside the smaller ques-
hSht. told the delegates that President
tons which had been injected into the
wilson himself knew the plank was
III the platfrom. and considered II es.
sential for party victory.
MUST SURRENDER SOMETIMES
rO WISDOM OF MAJORITY
Whatever your opinions may be-"
he said, 1--WE shall never be ANYTHING
but discordant and divided marty nm
less we surrend-- some of our con.
victions to the wisdom of a majority.
Here YOU are confronted. as one of
our famous leaders said. with a condi-
ton not theory The twelve suf-
rage states represent ninety-one votes
III the electoral college. Every politi-
cal party has made this declaration In
some form or other II becomes a
simple question OF whether you will
incur the enmity of these women
there is no possibility OF losing
single vote II YOU adopt this majority
plank. because every other party has
done the same
II ask you" he cried, III you're going
10 put resolution IN here that's a. lie.
You can't adopt this minority report
without stultifying yourselves"
Senator Walsh then explained that
the President knew about the suffrage
plank. and added ''He believes 1t vital
To his success that it stay there. +
ask YOU with all the fervor OF my
being. Who is there here who Ia wiser
or more patriotic than he?"
While the fight had been going on a
Thunderstorm burst, and when the row
on the convention floor was at It's
height the storm reached It's climax.
The booming of the thunder. mixed.
with the roaring shouts on thu floor,
and the clatter caused by the rain on
the roof. almost drowned out tho;
speakers. Tho storm cleared just an