The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-14
Will Take Stump for Wilson on
Presidents Platform.
NOMINATION TO Be ON FRIDAY
Head of Nation Says That Is
His Lucky Day.
Convention VIII Follow Re.
publican Lead in Suffrage.
(BY JAMES J. MoNTAGUE.,

st. Louis, June 1.-THE national
Democratic convention which is TO
name Woodrow Wilson for president
and Thomas r. Marshall for vice
president, which met in it's first ses-
sion today, is confronted by this sit
uation, if it may be called a situation:
First, William ]. Bryan has arrived
and promised not to start anything
He will take the stump for the ticket
this fall and promises that he will let
Mr.. Wilson make his own platform
without any suggestion or opposition.
Second, led by A. Mitchell Palmer
of Pennsylvania, an aggressive fight
has been started against the proposed
platform attack on Justice Hughes
for deserving his post on the supreme
bench at the call of high political am
bition. Palmer will carry the fight to
the floor of the convention if neces-
sary. Senator Stone, its sponsor, gave
up his fight for it this afternoon
Third. as an answer to the charges
which they believe will be made
against their candidate in the cam
paign, the Wilson Spokesman will
promise that the administration in
tends to take a more aggressive atti-
tude against Great Britain, to keep
the United States troops in Mexico
through the summer and to favor.
many of the social justice" p1anks in
the Progressive platform.
|
fled some of his followers, over the
long distance telephone, that he wants
Marshall as vice president. This vir-
tually disposes of opposition vice pres
idential booms. Mr.. Wilson is running
this convention.
| Fifth, the woman suffragiStS here
gathered are prepared to embarrass
the Democrats by insisting upon real
suffrage plank as opposed to the
straddling declaration adopted by the
Republicans. They have told the dele
gates that the votes of ten states are
in the balance and that these will be
swung to the Democrats if they can
get a national suffrage plank. Pres
ent indications are that they will get
the same plank that was passed in
Chicago. This was admitted today by
Senator Stone, who will be chairman
of the resolutions committee.
VIII Follow Republicans.
1--WE will do as well by the women
as they did in Chicago" said Stone
this afternoon.
While the fact that Wilson has kept
the country out of war will be the
chief slogan, the fact that he has kept
a Democratic convention out of war is
distinctly regretted by all the Demo-
cra-s in st. Louis.
The Pennsylvanians, who have no
hope of carrying their state, met early
in the day and adopted the unit rule,
which means that they will vote for
Thomas Riley Marshall for vice presi-
dent and do any other little thing
which the president wants them to do.
Stalwart sons of Indiana led by one
of the noisiest bands that ever assem-
bIed, marched down the streets to the
strains of the Wabash and debouched
into the crowded corridor OF the JEFF
ferson. While the trombone players
pushed the crowd to and fro with
every low note, the Hoosiers yelled for
J Marshall at the top of their lungs.
The Friday Hoodoo.
Speaking of Friday night or Satur-
day morning, a curious clash of SUI
perstitions has arisen to trouble the
, convention steering committee.
Most of the leaders don't want the
nomination Friday, because of the be-
lief that anything launched on that
day. whether a ship, a candidate or a
business venture, is sure to go on the
rocks sooner or later.
Today word came from Washing
ton that Friday has been always the
/. lucky day of the president-that he
= begins all enterprises on Friday and
l ne prefers Friday to all other days
. of the week upon which to be nomi
mated This has seriously interfered
with the program, which was to lei
the silver tongued boys talk till the
old clock had struck the hour of mid.
night Friday and then call the roll.
\ 1t is likely that a message will be
i sent to the candidate and if it is found
that he insists on Friday as the nomi
. mating day, his mandate will be OBJ.
L served and the consequences will bs
o assessed to him.