Evening star., 1920-07-02

. BY the Associated Press.
AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO.
July ALI set for the battles Of
the VETS and the drys. the national
democratic convention assembled
this morning with everything ready
for battle royal. The first
skirimsh of the fight was set to
come on the submission of n wet
plank by james II. Nugent Of New
Jersey and n dry plank by William
J. Bryan. There was little prospect
for ballOting for a nominee before
tonight, IL then.
Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Nugent dis
cussed the order of their recOgni-
tiOn with Chairman Robinson, and
it was arranged that after the
platform had been placed before
the convention Nugent would first
offer his wet plank ms an amend-
ment and that Mr.. Bryan would
offer his dry plank as a substitute.
At 1895 Senator Robinson pound
ed for order and the hall qufeted
down very quickly.
SAN FRANCISCO. July Am
nouncement that the platform COM
mittee was ready to make it's report
caused delegates to the democratic
national convention to look forward
to a long, hard grind with real action
when they assembled for the fifth
days session. In anticipation of a
lively time on the floor over issues
hotly contested in the resolutions
committee, crowds came early to the
great auditorium and were prepared
for long stay. Thousands of spec
tators were disappointed at last
nights barren session. due to the COM
Convention rules provided for the
immediate consideration of the party's
declaration of principles submitted by
the platform committee when the del
egates were called to order. The doc
ument was completed late last night,
and Senator Carter Glass, Virginia,
chairman of the resolutions commit
tee, refreshed after good nights
sleep following his long siege in COM
mittee, was ready to defend the re-
port.
Bryan Girds for Battle.
William ]. Bryan, the storm center
In the committee room and around
whom tempest was expected to rage
on the convention floor, was eager to
fight some of the planks in the plat
form and also press for the insertion
of some that the committee rejected.
The NebraSkan, who left the COM
mittee room last night with a smile
on his face after his "bone-dry" reso-
luton had been defeated was still
his prohibition plank with all the
vigor that is in him.
Leaders in the convention said they
looked for a long debate. despite the
fact that speakers are limited to
thirty minutes each in rdiscu ssing
planks. Hundreds of delegates, how
ever, have become impatient with the
delay the platform mas already occa-
stoned, and many of them are ready
TO support any move that will further
shorten discussion of the resolutions
committee report. They fear a dead
lock in the balloting and do not want
the convention to run beyond tomor-
row.
Voting for presidential nominee
will begin Immediately after the
platform is adopted unless recess
intervenes to permit the delegates to
refresh themselves. There is talk of
taking one or two ballots, so as to
get the lineup of the delegates. and
then take a recess in order to allow
the various managers of candidates
to plan for the final drive.
Already day behind, the conven-
ton was called to order at 10 o'clock
Fight May Be Long.
Under the program agreed upon Mr.
Bryan Will present his side of the
prohibition question in a speech linn
tied to thirty minutes. and Bainbridge
Colby, Secretary Of State. will present
the committee managers side in an
other thirty minutes. That arrange
1nent, however. does not by any
means confine the discussion to one
hour. Any number of persons desir-
ing TO speak who may be recognized
by Permanent Chairman Robinson
also may be heard for thirty minutes
each.
In view of Mr. Bryan's well known
fighting spirit and his demonstrated
staying qualities. no one is bol6
enough to predict that the fight will
be short one. Bryan's repeatedly
announced determination for a plat
form no wet can run on" and his an,
nouncements of last night assured
prolonged struggle, and even though
the predictions of the admi nistratiOr
forces that they would be able t.
'choke Bryan off, were to be fulfilled
there was. no prospect that they
would be carried out quickly.
Cancellation Hopes Fade.
Exactly what took place in tn,
meetings of the resolutions committe,
last night has not been fully dis
closed. but il is known that when. a
the close of the afternoon session
all prohibition planks were voted ou
of the platform Mr.. Bryan in a Ions
and fiery speech told the committee e
men that while he realized the ad
HlHlSt dtioH IoISes Hdu the votes u
put over their program they woult
do so at the peril of his opposition
Whatever was the full import O.
what Mr.. Bryan threatened it wa.
sufficient to cause the committee
after being all ready to make it's re
port. to reconsider it's decision ant
decided TO hear Mr.. Bryan at a fur
ther session, While the convention
waited.
At this session Mr.. Bryan it is said
continued his attack on the admin
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