Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-06-24
DRY ISSUE TO BE sCARR|eD TO FLOOR ,OF THE CONVENTION Difference of Opinion Among
 Anti-BOne Dry
 Advocates PERSONAL LIBERTY IS COMPROMISE SLOGAN It Probably Will Be Only Plank To Be Discussed by Entire Body
 To Rap Republican
 Congress.


 teer construction corps of platform makers was busy whiting out blanks which they hoped would meet the needs of the democratic national con vention in expressing it's views as to prohibition enforcement. Leaders, in- cluding Chairman Cummings of the national committee, were in agree ment that this question would mo- nopolize the center of the convention stage until it was settled. Mr. Cum mings expressed the opinion that tt would be the only issue to be carried to the convention floor
 Informal discussion among dele gates shows several schools of thought among the anti-bone dry advocates as to how the question should be ap- preached. They vary from the state rights stand taken by Governor Ed. wards of New Jersey to proposals ! that congress be urged to proceed directly toward modifying the one half of 1 per cent alcoholic content restriction of the Volstead enforce
 
 beer and light wines.
 The movement which appeared to- day to have taken the most definite shape was that originating in Wash ington and designed to offer basis on which antibone dry forces could concentrate. Personal liberty will be the slogan of advocates of this com promise plank.
 MT. Cummings was emphatic today in defining the question as not prohibition issue, but merely an ex, pression 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 com mittee, MT. Cummings thought, in- cluding profiteering, the industrial plank touching relations between cap ital and labor, the Irish question, and others; but no present prospect that they could not be harmonized in com mittee. A minority report is 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 in close touch with the administration. It is under. stood to have been drawn from the personal lberty angle and to advocate in general terms, liberalization of the Volstead act. Suecific mention of wine, beer or any other beverage by name was omitted.
 The plank will be put forward as representing the opinion of many senators and representatives and it's framers hope to claim for it the backing of President Wilson himself. It was drawn after conference in which more than one member of the cabinet shared, it was said, and in which anti-bone dry senators took a leading part.
 Expedite Work.
 Avoidance of specific mention of beverages, proponents of the Wash ington plank urged, and an appeal for an enforcement policy more in harmony with American ideas of per sonal liberty would serve to prevent alienation of sentiment which more direct approach might push into the bone dry ranks. By such course also he added, the party's stand could be in strict accordance with the ruling of the supreme couft confirming the authority of congress to fix permiss- able alcoholic content under the pro- hibition amendment. It was questionable tonight wheth- CT any direct reference to the Vol stead act would be urged on the plat form framers. The plank to be urg- ed by the anti-bone drys, however, ,s| expected to rap the republican con- gress sharply for enactment of the enforcement measure in it's existing form.