New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-24
Democrats in
Missouri Bar
Senator Reed
State Convention Refuses
to Accept Opponent of
League as a Delegate;
Nomination Is Returned
Clash Precedes Action
Opposition to Wilson and
Attitude During the War
Assaulted in Speec he $

JOPLIN. Mo. April 23.-The Demo
cratic state convention here voted to.
day to reject the selection of. United
States Senator James A. Reed as dis
trict delegate to the national conven-
ton and to return his name to the 5th
District (Kansas City, caucus, which
nominated him.
The vote was 1910 to 400, four not
voting. 1t came as the climax to an
which wrangling and filibustering
played prominent part. Lines were
drawn sharply in the fight between ad-
herents of Reed and the anti-Reed
faction, which disapproved Reeds op-
position to the League of Nations
covenant.
Stormy Session Held
The election Of delegates came at
the close of what party leaders said
was one of the stormest sessions in
the history Of Missouri Democratic
politics.
Disorder came after the simultan-
eous presentation of reports of ma
jority and minority members of the
resolutions committee touching on the
league of nations covenant. The
former, which was adopted, was an
Endorsement "without reservations
which tend to weaken or nullify" the
pact while the latter opposed the
league and objected to instructing the
Missouri delegation to the national
national platform Endorsing the league,
as recommended by the majority re-
port.
Resolutions which were adopted
carried Endorsement of the Democratic
administrators conduct of the war;
denunciation of the Republican post
war activities; Endorsement of "ad-
equate, beneficial legislation" for
former service men "as outlined by the
American LEGION" Endorsement OF "a
living wage and more" for labor and
praise for the farmers of the country
tor their efforts to maintain maximum
food production, and extended well
come to the women of the nation into
the Democratic party and urged them
to compare the reception accorded
them By the two parties
Women as Delegates
Four women will serve with four men
as delegates-at- large. Each delegate
will have half vote
The delegates we're not instructed as
to Presidential preference, that ques-
ton not coming before the convention
The thirtytwo district delegates, as
we'll as the eight Delegates at-large, are
bound by resolutions to vote for David
K. Francis, Of ST. Louis, for the Vice
Presidential nomination.
The convention by reclamation re.
elected Edward +. Goltra, of st. Louis
to be national committeeman
Missouri has suffered long and has
been patient, but her hour of vndica
ton has struck" Frank Curlee, of St
Louis. said in opening the debate for
the opposition to Reed.
He declared Senator Reeds political
offenses antedated his opposition to
the league of nations covenant, and
asserted that by his course in the
Senate during the war the Senator
"equivocated and condoned until he
led the country to wonder whether
Missouri was more pro German than
pro American"
War Opposition Charged
The Senator, said Curlee, condoned
the sinking Of the Lusitania by a Ger
man submarine, and after the war was
declared opposed measures designed to
win the war.
"While | was in the United States
army" he said, Senator Reed was in
Washington opposing the food control
act upon which | depended for food
Discussing Senator Reeds opposition
to the league covenant. Curec declared
the Senator chad only hate for the
President, hate for England, hate 70,
humanity, hate for every one but the
followers of this august parsonage"
"The most difficult problem the
newly enfranchised Democratic womer
voters have is explaining Senator