New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-17
DEMOCRATS PASS
WILSON PLANKS
Continued from page l

suffrage. was only adopted after the
harmony Of its three days sessions
had been disturbed with row over the
suffrage plank
No one protested against the vigorous
declarations of the Amercanism plank,
hut at one time It looked az If the
suffrage plank were TO be defeated.
After Senator Walsh. Of Montana. had
told the convention that Pres dent Will
son himself considered 1t vital to party
success. however, it was accepted by
ballot of S88h to l8l y. The entire
platform then was adopted without
rollcall.
Plank Bids for Progressives.
In one particular at least the plat.
form is a frank bid for the support OF
tho Progressives. Il contains sweep
ING social Justice" plank. Its pro
nouncements regarding labor are also
sweeping and seem just as frank pa
for the Progressive and labor union
votes.
No mention is made in the platform
of anti-dumping legislation, as was
done in the plank originally brought
from Washington. The tariff plank IS
most broad and general in its terms
a characteristic of virtually every plank
in the instrument.
The international and preparedness
planks and also that in regard 70
Mexico are virtually word for word the
text already printed as having been
brought from Washington by Secretary
Baker and Chairman Stone. Of the Sen
nate Foreign Relations Committee.
The denunciation Of the hyphen ac-
tivties, while sweeping In scope, makes
no mention of the word "hyphen' or OF
German-Americans. In fact, 1t IS not
plank calculated to arouse opposition
on the part of any save those under
prosecution for conspiracy for breach
Of neutrality.
Only Hope with Wilson.
With the meeting of the national
committee tonight the real work OF
the campaign began. It began with a
revolt against the dictation from Wash
ington Of the officials of the commit
tee and the iron rule which has been
held over the convention. The revolt
was Strengthened out by another
victory for the President-there is no
possible chance for the Democrats eX-
cept by playing the cards he has
dealt them-but il illustrated the diff
fculties the party faces. The organi-
zation men have no desire TO help him
further than they can thus help them
selves
At the same time the Admlnistra-
ton spokesman are preparing 70 put
TO prompt use their success, and show
n most optimistic front. Representa-
tive Doremus. chairman of the Con-
gressional Committee, declared to-
night that the Democratic majority
would be increased in the next House,
and others are claiming certain VIC
tory all along the line.
Among the leaders hopes of victory
are distributed along sectional lines.
aside from those who are directly au-
tsched to the President. In the South
every one expects success again; in the
West and Middle West there Is less
confidence, but high hope; but in the
East and North, especially among the
regulars, the usual declarations of
confidence conceal a very deep fear
that Hughes will be elected.
Outline of Campaign.
The lines along which the campaign
will be pushed were outlined by one of
the best informed Democratic leaders
to-day as follows:
Emphasis on the slogan ale kept
US out of war"
An attempt 10 take the American
ism issue from the Republicans by
charging German influence in
Hughess nomination, or at least to
neutralize the issue.
Insisting that the Democratic army
bill and the navy bill represent sane
preparedness" and attacking the Re
publicans as extremists, thus hoping
to catch all the pacifst vote.
The heralding of the Lusitania ne
gotiations as diplomatic victory
and the covering Of the failure to
protect Americans abroad by strong
declarations.
Defence Of the Mexican policy
through charging that the opposition
10 IL is inspired by Imperialism and
Wall Street interests.
Minimizing all these issues so far
az possible and putting the emphasis
on the record of the Administration,
thus urging that there should be no
swapping of horses at this time.
Platform Like a Shotgun.
Reliance on the shotgun" plat
form, which has in 1t a little some
thing for everybody, with the chief
hope in the labor vote, and conf
dence that part Of the Progressives
will come to Wilson's support.
The first drive will be made on the
German American and Americsnism
questions. and was begun by the Presi-
dent in his West Point speech. The
leaders feel that there are hundreds of
thousands who resent the German
American activity at Chicago and are
not satisfied with Mr.. Hughess state
ment so far. They are convinced that
no German will vote for Wilson any,
way, and hope that they can succeed
in fastening the stigma of foreign die
tation on the ex-justice. The fact that
he has said nothing beyond his brief
telegram of acceptance gives them the
first round they feel, and they are pre-
pared to claim that they have forced
him into stronger position when he
does take il.
But it is not on the issues so much
as on the conditions in the various
pivotal states that those who fear for
the success of the ticket are basing
their opinions. The enthusiasm and
loyalty which have been shown here
have been for the party far more than
for the President--it was hard work
making the demonstration for him last
forty-iiye minutes last highland there
is little personal enthusiasm for him,
while there is much resentment both at
the way he has handled the patronage
and at his dictation to the convention.
Another danger threatens from the
suffrage states The Congressional
Union and the Women Voters party are
on the war path for Democratic scalps,
and believe they can get them. Though