Arizona republican., 1920-06-24
WILL CARRY WET ISSUE ID FLOOR
 OF CONVENT NT|ON
Plank Declaring for Beer and Light Wines Said to Be Favored by Many; May Have Support of Presi- dent; Convention May Nominate Before Adopt ing Platform
IRepubIIean A. P. Leased wIrel

unteer construction corps or DldllOINh builders was busy today whiting out blanks which they believed would meet the needs of the Democratic national convention in expressing its views as to prohibition enforcement Leaders, including Chairman Cummings of the national committee, were in agreement that this question would monopolize the center of the convention stage until it was settled. MT. Cummings ex- pressed the opinion that it would be the only issue to be carried to the con- vention floor.
 Informal discussion by delegates shows several schools of thought among the anti bone dry advocates as to how the question should be ap- preached They vary from the states right stand taken by Governor Ed wards of New Jersey to proposals that congress be urged to proceed directly toward modifying the one-hah of one per cent alcoholic content restriction of the VoIstead enforcement act. so as to lift the ban from beers and light wines. The most pronounced move ment at the moment, however, and the one which appeared today to have taken the most definite shape, was that originating in Washington and de- signed to offer a basis on which anti bone dry forces could concentrate. Per sonal liberty will be the slogan of ad- vocates of this compromise plank.
 Is Issue on EnTOrCenent.
 MT. Cummings was emphatic today in defining the question to be solved as not a prohibition issue, but merely expression of the party's attitude as to the Volstead enforcement act. There were numerous other issues on which there would be difference of opinion before the resolutions committee. Mir Cummings thought. including prof iteering the industrial plank touching relations between capital and labor, the Irish question and others; but no pres ent prospect that they could not be harmonized in committee. A minority report is to be expected only on the so-called "beer plank it was agreed. and that will throw the fight into the convention itself.
 The Washington enforcement plank was drafted in circles ordinarily in close touch with the administration. It is understood to have been drawn from the personal liberty angle and to advocate in general terms a lfberaliza- ton of the Volstead act. Specific mention of wine beer or any other beverage by name was omitted.
 Hops for Wilson Support
 The plank will be put forward as representing the opinion of many sen ators and representatives and it's framers hope to be able to claim for it the backing of President Wilson him. self It was drawn after conference Tn Wn1cn more Indn OIlS IDeIjlDeT OI Iit cabinet shared, it was said. and in which anti-bone dry senators took a leading part.
 Avoidance of specific mention oi beverages, proponents of the Wash ington plank argued, and an appeal fol an enforcement policy more in har- rnony with American ideals of persona liberty. would serve to prevent aliena- ton of sentiment which more direct approach might push into the bone dry ranks. By such a course, also it was added, the party's stand could be ir strict accordance with the ruling oi the supreme court confirming the au- thority of congress to fix permissible alcoholic content under the prohibition amendment.
 It was questionable tonight whether any direct reference to the VolsteaC act would be urged on the platform framers. There are pros and cons tC be thrashed out in that respect. The plank to be urged by the anti-bSnt drys, however, is expected whatever it may say otherwise, to rap the Re publican congress sharply for enact ment of. the enforcement measure in it. existing form Probably, it was said the attitude of Postmaster Genera Burleson in his statement at San An. tonic yesterday assailing as absurd provisions of the Volstead act and con Atending that they were calculated tC 0SIcdL Jne plTPOS6 OL the DIOnlDlLlOt amendment would be reflected in tn, platform language proposed
 May Nominate First
 A new source of discussion arose to. day in connection with convention pro cedure. It had to do with determinini whether the platform should be adopt ed before or after the presidentia nominee has been selected.
 Chairman Cummings apparently ha had the question up with managers O various candidates and found thei views to differ. Some of the worker for this or that candidate profess t see strategic advantages for their ma in one course or the other. The na fional chairman did not share thei views, but to promote harmony vii call campaign managers into confer ence on the eve of the convention to SC if a satisfactory program cannot D arranged in advance.
 There is strong desire to expedit the convention's work as much as pos sible. Steps to limit nominating or a least seconding speeches are unde consideration. If a dozen or more me are to be nominated and seconded tn delegates will get more than their fl of oratory, it was said.
 There were intimations that M Cummings expected the report on plat form to be deferred until after th balIoting on nominees. This woul permit the convention 10 proceed wit nominations while the Nwraneie owe platform issues was in progress. has been done before in Den3ocra Ii conventions and is desirable in tn opinion of some of those responsibl Tor arrangements because of the pure ly mechanical question of time saving IL was insisted that no thought of fiji tlnS issues to candidates or the othe way around was in mind among th leaders, nor any view. that nominee were more important than platfori expressions.
 Owen Opposes Plan
 Headquarte2sS Of various candidate seized the opportunity to express view on the question tonight. Senator Owe of Oklahoma. first or the men sorma'
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