The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-13

St. Louis, June 13-Delegates to the Democratic national convention which opens here at noon tomorrow appeared to be interested in two questions today. One was whether Vice-president Marshall would be re- nominated by exclamation or whether the favorite sons would insist upon their names going before the cOnVen- ton for a ballot The other was the probable action of the delegates with regard to the demand of the Suffra- gists for an unequivocaI declaration in the platform in favor of equal rights.
 Sentiment for the renomination of Vice president Marshall appeared so strong today, leaders said, that there was talk among them of starting movement to have him named without going through the formality of a bal lott. The talk of naming Secretary War Baker for the second place on the ticket ended almost as suddenly as it started. The war secretary had much to do with putting the quietus to his boom, he declaring before he left Washington for the convention city that he was for Marshall and that the mention of his name was merely friendly enterprise"
 The fact that MT. Baker had just left President Wilson when he an nounced that he favored MT Marshall for re-nomination also gave supporN
 
 claimed the candidate without calling the roll. It was said that Governor may withdraw his name a candi- date for vice president. The Ne braska delegation is instructed for him and if he carries out his plan to withdraw other candidates in the field may do likewise, it was said.
 Early today it was reported here that President Wilson had sent word to St. Louis that he regarded Indiana as one of the most important battle grounds of the coming campaign and that he would be pleased to see deI- egates act as a unit on renominatng the Vice-president.
 The Suffragists who came here from Chicago where they were com pe11ed to accept what they consider | a. compromise plank in the Repub- lican platform or suffer complete de- feat are prepared for votes for women. The Suffra gists are divided into two groups representing the national American Woman Suffrage Associa- ton and the other the Women's party which was organized last week in Chicago by members of the Congress siona1 Union for Woman Suffrage The leaders of the latter organization are prepared to make strong fight for a federal constitutional amend ment giving women the right to vote l in all the states. What action the resolutions committee will take 1 leaders of the Democracy hesitate to forecast, but there are some among i them who believe the Democrats will go at least as far as the Republicans who declared their belief in the prin- cipal of equal Suffrage but asserted l that it was for the states to decide l whether the women should have the right to vote.
 1 The Woman's National Association 1 Opposed to Women's Suffrage have representatives here to combat the ef- forts of the supporters of equal rights
 The majority of the 1.092 delegates to 1 the convention are due today. Aside
 from the welcoming of the arriving
 delegates, much of the day was given
 over to the holding of caucuses for the
 selection of committee assignments.
 More than half of the state delega- tions planned to hold their state meet ings today and tonight. In many
 cases the selections have been made
 ties.
 | Democratic leaders looked forward
 with interest to the arrival today of | Secretary of War Baker and William
 J. Bryan. MT. Baker is due here late l. in the afternoon and is expected to
 bring the last word from President l Wilson. Report has it that the secre- ltary of war has with him the final drafts of the blanks in which Pres lident Wilson is most interested and
 
 ident to Senator Stone, who will be
 chairman of the resolutions committee and others before the platform is pre- pared for the convention.
 l With the coming of MT. Bryan spec
 ulation increased among delegates as to whether he would appear before the resolutions committee and advocate a
 preparedness plank along the lines of his often expressed views and whether he will urge the committee to adopt some sort of a declaration on the li- IQuor question. Whether the reso1u-
 tions committee will hold a public Ihearing to receive suggestions for | blanks to be inserted in the platform Ihas not yet been determined. The suf- fragists desire such a. hearing. Labor leaders representing the American Federation of Labor who are here with IA blanks similar to those pre-
 scented to the Republicans last week
 also want a hearing as do certain so- cieties interested in immigration and
 associations favoring the extension of civil service among government ern- ployes Others to appear before the lconmittee are Rear .Admira1s Hugo
 Osterhaus and Richard Wainwright, 1 retired, with a delegation from the
 navy league. They will present the views Of the league as to enlargement