The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-30

We're tightening up their lines and
were ready to start the balloting. De-
spite the promise that the convention
would have a big tree at the outset.
dark horse talk was never more per-
sistent than it Is at the moment the
candidates are about to be placed in
nomination Names of Vice President
Marshall, John w. Davis and Homer
S. Cummings were always heard when
dark horses were being discussed ana
delegates were taking into considera'
| tion that each cf the big three could
| prevent the others from getting two
thirds vote.
Cummings Boom Grows
| The Cummings boom grew from a
| mere demonstration Of enthusiasm TO
| formidable proportions, in the "a hours
which followed the chairman's open
ing address and today II had taken
\ full form with handblls being circu-
! lated among the delegates declaring
"a great moment has produced great
man" Democrats throughout the coun-
try, too, were responding to the senti.
rnent, apparently, for the national
chairman's desk was piled with con-
gratulatory telegrams.
| Twice yesterday Mr.. Cummings drew
new demonstration from the conven-
he had taken the initiative
in proposing that the convention con-
gratulate Governor Roberts of Ten-
nessee for his action in calling q spe,
cial session Of the legislature to act
on the suffrage amendment, and again
when he rescued the resolution TO
double the size Of the national coms-
mittee and give the new places to
women.
Hasn't Asked Bryan's Consent
His growing boom, however, brought
with it forecast of opposition from
Bryan. who sometime ago denounced
the national chairman for making a
speech at banquet given for Gov
ernor Edwards, an avowed wet can
didate. The chairmans friends also
were not unmindful that his connec-
tion as a lawyer with large business
interests would furnish Bryan with an
opportunity to use one of his favorita
weapons in convention-a blast at
the big business.
But whatever the varying strength
of the candidates may be, the fact
still stands out as the convention gets
down to the business Of making a
choice, that the prohibition and league
Of nations issues looming in the back,
ground will remain predominating fac
tors and, that their disposition is stili
inseparably linked with the choosing
of a candidate.
Victory for Drys
The decision of the platform SUBJ
committee last night in disregarding
a straight.out wet plank calling for
the repeal of the 18th amendment, or
the annulment Of the Volstead act.
reduced the issue to wether there
should be beer and wine plank or q
bone-dry declaration, as is hoped by
Bryan, or ignore the subject entirely.
There arc some who feel that the con
vention would do we'll to pass the
issue entirely as the republicans did
At Chicago, but that conflicts directly
with Bryan's announced intention 10
have patlofrm mo wet can run on
Dictator Herr Wilhelm 1.
Whether Bryan hopes to win or not,
he intends to fight in the old time
fashion, which has furnished fire
works for many a democratic conven-
ton. He stands by his determination
to force every delegate to record his
or her vote individually on the issue
if a plank which he considers wet
is to be taken into the platform.
Although the White House has kept
its hands off the prohibition fight,
there are Administration leaders on
the ground, who, while opposing Bry-
ans bone-dry plank en- the one hand,
are outspoken in their determination
that the convention, shall do no
pussyfootng" but shall make a clear
cut decision one way or the other.
Chief among these is Postmaster
General Burleson.
II is understood they are not eager
for n roll call on the issue. There
has been an informal counting OF
noses on the prohibition question and
even the most ardent vets agree that
on test vote majority OF the con
vention would be recorded for dry
plank. The more optimistic Of the dry
leaders say their defeat would be by
majority Of so votes and some OF
them estimate the majority as high
| nc p0n