New-York tribune., 1920-06-01
Cummings, After White
House Conference, Says
He Will Emphasize the
PeaceTreatyand League
resident Wants
Policies Indorsed
Hour and Half Discussion
Shows Executive Hopes
to Shape the Platform

From The Tribunes WASHINGTON bureau
WASHINGTON, May 81. = rne KEY
note speech at the Democratic National
Convention in San Francisco, to be
made by Homer S. CUMMINGS. chair
man Of the national committee, will en-
body the ideas of President Wilson on
the peace treaty and other principal
issues confronting the country.
This was made clear to-day when Mr..
Cummings conferred for an hour and
half with the President and had
luncheon at the White House. Til
principal thing discussed, according to
Alr. Cummings. was the keynote speech,
a copy Of which was sent to the White
Nlouse several days ago for the Presi-
dent to study. The President was
greatly pleased with the ideas con-
tained in the speech, Mr.. Cummings
sald.
Mr.. Cummings indicated that he
would put the Presidents views on the
treaty and other matters before the
convention and use his influence to
have the party follow the Presidents s
lead. He predicted there would be no
squabble over the treaty, asserting that
The majority of the party favors the
President's stand as expressed by his
Endorsement of the Virginia platform,
calling for prompt ratification of the
treaty without reservations which
would impair its Essential integrity y
Wilson Wants League Indorsed
Mr.. Cummings intimated that the
President would keep as closely in
touch with political Developments as
possible and influence the conventions
deliberations as much as he is able,
in an effort to obtain an indorsem ent
of his stand on the treaty and the
league of nations. Mr.. Cummings sug-
gested, however, that events might
occur which would make things otf er
than the treaty of first Importance, al
though he did not say what he had
in mind.
Mr.. Cummings said the President had
very definite ideas about the treaty
which he discussed at length, rei.erat-
ing his confidence that the voters would
support the pact, including the league
OF nations, al the polls Mr.. Cummings
refused, however, to discuss the Presi-
dents views further.
AS usual, Mr. Cummings would not
discuss the possibility that Mr. Wilson
might be candidate for a third term
in an effort to have the treaty ratified
a he wrote it,
Asked what the President thought
Of the Investigation of campaign ex-
penditures of Presidential candidates,
Cummings said
President in Excellent Humor
"I have already told you the Presi-
dent was in excellent humor'
Mr.. Cummings will leave tomorrow
for San Francisco.
Cummings's conference with the
Pres ident was the first the partys
principal executive and its leader have
had since Mr.. Wilson became i'll late
last fall. 1t indicates the extent to
which the Presde hopes to shape the
policies drawn at San Francisco, and
the Importance he attaches to TIE
treaty in the campaign. Cummings has
kept in indirect touch with the White
House throughout the winter, and has
been able to ascertain the views of the
President on important matters But
the talk to-day was the first time the
Pres dent has discussed politics in de-
tail since his illness.