The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-06-29
BRYAN LOSES in
FIRST DISPUTE
Platform Committee Votes 27
to 25 to Hear Drys' Case
Before Hearing Vets.
CoMMoNER IN PROTEST
Virginia Senator Angrily Re-
sents .Intimation of Quibling
Made by Nebraskan.

uS"VSratC TeSolutIoHo committee TO-
day, wieh William Jennings Bryan op.
posing any amendment to the volstead
act and Congressman SABBATH, Of Chi.
caso, acting as spokesman for those ia.
voring liberalization and modlflca.
tlon" Of the law.
A clash between Mr. Bryan and Sen.
ator Carter Glass. Of Virginia, admins.
tration spokesman and chairman OF the
committee, marked the opening OF the
prohibition hearing. A dispute arose
as TO whether Bryan, speaking for the
"drys," or the spokesmen FOR the
"wets" should be heard first.
Apparently the gentlemen cannot
agree; perhaps we had better move on
to another subject on which we can
agree said Senator Glass, amid laugh
ter.
Mr.. Bryan jumped to his feet.
This ~ no time for Joking or quib,
bling" the Nebraskan declared, wit
tense face and flashing eyes.
THE chairman resents the intimation
that there is any quibbling," Senator
Glass retorted angrily. pounding his
gavel on the desk in front of him.
1--WE favor enforcement iAstead OF
Generalization" Mr.. Bryan said.
Senator Glass, at the suggestion OF
Senator Pat Harrison, ruled that each
side be given thirty minutes to present
its argument. for and against the Vol
stead act.
Senator Glass ruling was sustained
by vote of 27 to 25.
Wheeier's Statement.
THE issue before the American peo-
pie today is whether beer and vine
provision shall be permitted to nulhfy
the eighteenth amendment" declared
Wayne IL. Wheeler. of the antisaloon
league. In every referendum we have
had so far on the subject the verdict of
the people has been against such Il pro-
vision.
Representatives of the people know
why they voted against it when 1t was
before congress. The democratic party
cannot stand for the manufacture and
use OF wine and beer without favoring
nullification Of the eighteenth amend
ment."
Wheeler said at least thirty-six states
were prepared to repudiate the demo-
cratic party ii it adopted the wet plank.
The vote was taken after Mr.. Bryan
argued that as the vets were trying
to reopen the prohibition issue, they
should speak first. w. Bourke Cock
ran, of New York. answering for the
vets. declared they proposed to reopen
no issue which had been settled.
What bearing the procedure victory
might have on the final outcome of the
platform issue was not clear but drya
1t had no significance at
all as indicating the attitude of the
committee on the wet and dry issue
Ths argument FOR -the .'alrys.---was
opened by Bishop Cannon, Of the Meth
odtst Episcopal church, south, who
said he appeared to protest against
my party--the democratic party--being
branded as the wet party of the coun-
try and to urge the strict enforcement
Of the Volstead act.
ar have hpan HRhfinp tho 1iuunr frn O..
ic since l was a boy" Bishop Cannon
said.
II am here to voice in the name of
hundreds of thousands of democratic
voters against any action by the demo-
cratic convention that will cause them
TO hang their head in shame.
1--WE have freedom from the domina-
lion of the liquor traffic and we do not
nte I'D to stand idly by while any effort
is made to restore that traffic or doml-
nation
III an amendment of the Volstead act
IS disregarded 1t can be easily secured
by those who favor it going to the
American people and having rnem elect
members of congress who will amend
L and not try to brand the democratic
party as the party of the liquor inter-
ests."
"'The question of enforcement and
is one of the burning
luCStlOlS I1t udy, Sd1u MTS. EillS
A. Yost, of Washington, d. c., who fol.
owed Bishop Cannon.
Il appeal in behalf of the w. G. T. y.
% place in your platform a plank call
ng for strict enforcement of the eigh-
.eenth amendment"
Another champion of the Volstead act
N Richmond Pearson Hobson
1 Spanish American war hero, who Of
fered the following plank:
The democratic party is Justly proud
of the eighteenth amendment to the
and pledges itself by legis-
alton and administration loyalty to en-
Torce this and all other articles of the
Constitution and to use every honorable
and legitimate means to extend the
blessings of this charter OF life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness to all the
peoples OF the earth"
PROHIBITION COME TO STAY.
Introducing Wayne n. Wheeler, rep
resenting twenty two prohibition organ.
lIzatlons and the Antisaloon League
" America, Mr.. Bryan said that many
'ther organizations would file petitions
Ind briefs. As a member OF the com.
nlttee, Mr.. Bryan said, he would defer
Ills own remarks. The Eighteenth
Imendment, Mr.. Wheeler said, "had
come to stay"
"The squaretced Issue you men have
% face" he said, sis whether a beer
Ind wine modification will nulllfy Il.
Ne think we can prove that II viii.
mot only popular sentiment but the
opinion Of all the courts" said Mr..
Wheeler, "upheld the opinion that bone
enforcement Of prohibition.
ITO open the way for wine and beer
o be manufactured and sold is nullin-
'ation pure and simple" Mr. Wheeler
continued. And, besides, u is bad
;reat prohibition maJorities that nave
leen returned in so many states.
I'm these days OF unrest you cannot
70 before the people on platform ad-
'ocating notification or lax enforce
nent of law"
Former Representative Theodore a.
sell. OF California. opened the case for
he vets. Il deny the right TO assume"
he said. that the American people Will
ubInit for all time to come to the in
olerance OF the Eighteenth amend
nent'
He assailed the position OF Mr.. Bryan.
eading from various platforms on which
he Nebraskan had been a candidate.
n 1890. he said the platform on winch
ir. Bryan made campaign for con-
yress declared for protection OF per-
'onal rights" against federal encroach-
nent. A similar declaration. he said
vas in the national democratic plat
orms OF 1896 and 1900.
And II the democratic party no
onger stands for the rights OF the ctti-
.en TO decide what he shah eat or what
le shall drink or what he shall wear."-
ie continued. then II no longer is a
lemocrntic party"
BRYAN sTIRs UPRoAR.
The meeting was stirred into
state OF uproar when Mr.. Bryan
arose 20 ask In what capacity Me-
Bell came before the eomltte and
what compensation he received.
~ speak for the grape growers
of California" Mr.. Bell replied. and
I would like 20 ask the gentleman
for whom he speaks"
~ am speaking for the women
and children that your traffic would
destroy" retorted the Nebraskan
while cheers and hlsSes kept the