The Washington times., 1916-06-16
TWENTY-FIVE HOURS
PLATFORM BATTLE
Suffrage Plank Beaten, A.
though Favorable Amend
!. ment Was Adopted.

= ST. LOUIS, June 1s.--The complete
n harmony program for the Democratic
national convention was busted"
wide open today. Harmony reached
its climax near midnight. when Presi-
dent Wilson and Vice President Mar
shall were renominsted by acclsma-
tion,
II At o'clock this morning. when the
n resolutions committee was putting
the finishing touches on Its report.
after twenty-five hours continuous
4 sGSsion. II was apparent that at,least
(. ono night OF that long grind would
be carried to the floor Of the con-
vention.
This was in relation to woman suf-
frase. The committee fought out the
equal ballot pledge for hours. II de-
feated. 30 to 20, plank for q
stralght-out declaration In favor OF
Federal constitutional amendment to
give women the vote.
y II adopted. by a vote Of Is to 20,
the following amendment: -.-f'
I'VE recommend the extension OF
the franchise to the women OF the
N country by the States. upon the same
terms as to men,"
This substitute was entirely unsatis-
factory to the suffrage workers. IT
i.was regarded by them as a mere sub
terfuge-a passing q the buck" to
1.-THE States on the matter which was
y1ust a lot of words meaning nothing
In particular.
b The workers for q straight. out usf.
/. and openly voiced their declaration
I Of offering from the floor substi-
Stute which would commit the party to
fopen and complete accord In a con-
!! stitutional amendment granting ex-
Il tension of the ballot.
10 hit at Hughes with, the plank
4 bring hyphenism, to make II appear
1e Democratic party outdoes the Re:
M publican party on Americanism, and
II to seek to make the Republican nom-
inee disavow support Of German.
II objects Of the political strategy which
President Wilson has been directing
(. ! over ne phone from Washington to
the resolutions committee and the
Under the surface for twenty -four
hours there has been a night involv-
ing the language to be used In de-
born citizens to participate in politics
and Influence foreign and domestic
affairs in the interest Of foreign gov
The President and Senator Stone
conversed several times last night
over long distance. President Wilson,
according to some reports. .threatened
matter up in the convention unless
Z I his wishes, were--followed. 1892
Secretary Baker. Secretary Daniels,
+. /. Secretary Houston. and other person
the sround, are said to have oSjseted
y to having the plank weakened.
II It was a motley crowd Of politicians
d t Tho wopnS up their pos
II on the second floor Of the, Planters
Hotel in which they met was sight to
Us floor was Uttered with dead
and stale cigar stumps.. with paper
!, matches, and debris; the air huns
heavy with stale cigar smoke.
Members Of the rssoi Ir,.a ,S Sommittss
trimmed with red from the long, tense
debate. their faces lined with deep
I wrinkles of exhaustion and their voices
the constant argument and debate. No
body's temper actually broke down. but
there were some near casualties:
4 Not since o'clock last night had
or, Senator Walsh Of Montana left the
room in which the committee met.
u The language Of the Mexican plani
and Of that referpng to the Democratic
4 foreign policy were also stumbling
blocks with the suffrage resolution.
Old-timers In Democratic ranks were
actually pleased with the split in tn,
PROSECUTIONS committee and the threat
Invention floor. They held Democratic
4! convention wouldn't be true to life 4
eomething didn't result In a row or neal
!row-and the 1916 convention has beer
entirely too tame. The platform skele
ton foundation had been prepared By
\ President Wilson, and II was assumed
l.all the resolutions committee woult
thave to do would be to varnish II of
with choice language and tack on some
Notwithstanding to make It waterproof
III Had Different Ideas.
But the carpenters had different idea
Jas to the sort of planking to be used
and the row was on.
The convention. In the night session
which adjourned at 1880 a. m. today
| plainly showed 1t was weary Of furthe
delay-enxious to finish up and go home
n Democracy's convention history--witl
the climax four years ago at Baltimore
has recorded many stirring night ses
sions. but seldom any more PICTURESQUE
than last nights meeting.
A tremendous crowd took every Incl
of space In the great auditorium-an,
,stayed there until both Wilson and Mar
shall had been renominated. Outside al
the city police reserves had to be Gale,
TO quell a general riot Of disappointe,
spectators. There was considerably
criticism of the police today for thei
utter refusal to recognise credentials O
national committeeman. delegates. o
} newspaper men In this throng outside
MANY with full credentials were evel
roughly handled. Doorkeepers witt
t.gled In these friends without tickets
arAn I'D uhAr