The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-06-22
WET ISSUE IS IN
!. FIRST POSITION
At SAN FRANCISCO
League of Nations Is Completely
Overshad0wed
CANDIDATES COME THIRD
Unusual Sequence of Events Indcat-
ed as Democrats Gather for
Convention.

Sdn francisco, June ZZ.-While the
hotel lobbys began today to take on
the appearance of national political
convention only a few Democratic
Ichieftians who will figure prCminent-
ly in the partys quadrennial gather
ing next week are here. The direct
development of the day were confn.
ed to the physical preparation of the
municipal auditorium for the conven.
ton. The work is we'll advanced.
Much discussion is in progress as
ito the elements involved in shaping
the party platform There is strik-
Iingly little talk about candidates.
Out of the talk came an increasing
rumble of wet and dry maneuvers.
Leaders here make no definite
statements but it was clearly indicat-
ed today that there will be figh. on
the floor over efforts to make the
Democratic platform advocate a modi-
fcation of the prohibition enforce,
| ment law through wine and beer
plank
San Francisco, June 21.-With the
/ opening of the Democratic national
convention week away, stir of
lactivity was noticeable about hotel
headquarters today in addition to the
preliminary work at the auditorium
where the delegates will gather.
1t took the form Of informal dis
cussion between national committee
members and state leaders already
on the ground devoted chiefly to anti.
cipated struggles with platform build
ing There was virtually no talk as to
presidential candidates.
! A plain intimation ran through
this undercurrent of platform talk
that proposals to modify the federal
prohibition enforcement acNt were
expected by some of the Democratic
war horses to share honors with, IL
mot to eclipse the league Of nations
issue Nobody had any direct state
nlent to make nor would anybody
talk for publication Some of the
imen who will have a hand in shap-
ing the party's declaration Of prin.
Iciples, however. talked much private
ly OF a popular demand that the
doctrine of states rights should ap.
lply to beer restrictions.
The name of Senator Walsh Of
Montana was injected into the dis
cusion today as the probable per-
manent chairman of the convention.
The Montana senator was mentioned
by number of leaders in ten
tative way, although others said that
fhnx, hnltOuaA Goorat - la
state department would be the man
urged by administration forces, de-
spite his statement that he was not
a candidate for the post.
No delegations have put in an ap-
pearance yet except for a state leader
here and there coming ahead to ar
range accommodations for his asso-
ciates and to look over the ground
and pick up ideas from men from
other sections of the country. There
lis little about the city as yet to in
dcate that it is to play host to its
first national political convention
next week. The wires were busy
during the day, however. with rel
ports of delegations getting under
way from eastern seaboard and every
arriving train added to the group of
well known figures in Democratic cir
cles slowly assembling about head
quarters of the national committee.
The Democratic national conven-
tion VIII be picketed by women car
rying banners asking what action the
body contemplates regarding resumpt-
, ion of trade relations with soviet Rus-
sia. it was announced today by Miss
Lucy Branham of Baltimore upon her
arrival here. Miss Branham is mem
ber of the executive board of the
American women's emergency commit
tee of New York city, which was act
i've at Chicago in urging Introduction
of an international trade plank in the
Republican platform.