Indiana daily times., 1920-06-29
BRYAN CHIDES
CUMMINGS FOR
DRY OMISSION
Keynoter Ignored Greatest
Achievement Of Party,
CommOner Says.
CITES TREATY PRINCIPLE
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

Copyright, 1920, by w. J. Bryan,
SAN FRANCISCO, June 2s.-The
convention opened in regular style,
with incidents calulated to unloose
any lurking spirit of enthusiasm.
The flag was unfurled when the
"Star-Spangled Banner" was sung.
When a large sized picture of the
president was unveiled, the conven-
ton had its first opportunity to give
vent to its feelings.
The demonstration lasted for some
twenty minutes, during which the
delegates marched through the aisles
carrying the standards of the states
and cheering Justify.
The applause was renewed when Tenn
porary Chairman Cummings referred TO
the president and the treaty.
Mr.. Cummings speech was well re-
ceived and it embodied. as such a speech
should. q review of democratic achieve
ments-not a complete review, for sing
ularly, it omitted reference to prohibi-
tion-the, greatest achievement to which
our party can lay claim.
It would seem impossible. were it not
true, that any democrat large enough to
be considered for a keynote speech could
be terrorized into silence by the friends
Of the saloon, even after the liquor trat-
&c has been barred by the constltu-
tional amendment and that an amend
ment, enforced by criminal laws. sus-
tained by the supreme court Of the land,
should be avoided on the theory that il
is dead.
When did a corpse ever before pos
sess such a power to frighten?
II the avoidance Of the subject is due
to political expediency, what an indict-
ment against the defenders Of the home
that their zeal should so little impress
politicians.
FINDS IT POSSIBLE
TO EXCUSE CUMMINGS.
But Chairman Cummings halls from
one of the three states that failed to
ratffy and a recent convention in his
state declared for wine and beer.
He may have thoughtlessly mistaken
this for a state convention
The delegates from the remaining
forty-fve states may repair the harm ne
has done by adopting 4 dry plank con
graduating the party on its honorable
part in this great moral victory
Believing that compulsory arbitration
is not compatible with American IDEAS
hut that the public has a right to know
the facts In any dispute that affects the
general welfare. I shall submit for con
sfderation of the committee very simple
pIan which is Identical in its general
provisions with the principle embodied
in thirty treaties with three-quarters Oh
the world and afterward made the cor
nerstone Of league Of nations
Even before I suggested II for inteTna-
tiopsI disputes. I endesvored TO have It
spplied to industrial disputes.
1t contemplates a permanent board OF
three members, one chosen from the
workers. one assumed to be in sympathy
with the employer, and the third selected
with a view to finding person as nearly
impartial as possible
This commission should have authority
to investigate an industrial dispute at
the request of either side or upon Its own
initiative
In each disputes two members would
be added to the commission, one chosen
nv each side in order that each SIDE
might be sure to have representative se
on the commission
A little time would be allowed for IN
vestigation. the report of the commission
would not be binding on either side, but
would be q guide of public opinion.
Sueh 4 commission would not make
strikes impossible, but the fact that such
On investigation could be made would go
fsr toward compelling Cancellation and
the establishment Of such a means of
adjusting disputes would reduce to
minimum the influx OF prejudice, just as
peaceful means Of settling interns-
tional disputes is calculated to lessen
the partisan propaganda that. in itself.
increases the probability Of a conflict in
convention.
LABOR ASSURED
OF FAIR ACTION.
Mr.. Gompers is here and wllI doubt
less be heard By the resolutions com
mittee-
He is not likely to have any difficulty
in securing a recognition for all the
rights Of labor. for this is quite a differ
ent convention from that which assem-
bled in Chicago three weeks 6go.
I shall ask the committee to include IN
tae platform a provision for a permanent
investf eating commission with a view 70
settling industrial disputes before they
reach the strike or lockout stage
At present the third party, the public,
seems to be ignored and yet II is the
public that furnishes the money for both
employer and employees.
The need for some such plan was forct-
bly, emphasized last fall when strike
threatened to close the coal mines just
before the beginning of winter
The mine workers numbered between
100000 and 100000 and the number Of
stockholders in the mines could not have
amounted to many hundred thousand.
The most extrava CANT estimate would
not put the number of indirectly inter
ested in both sides at more than 1000, 900.
Counting five persons to a family, not
more than 100000 men. women and chill
dren could have been directly interested
In the controversy, and yet 1t looked for
while as If the remaining 95,000,000 of
our people would have to freeze while the
disnufa was being adjusted.