New-York tribune., 1920-06-26
Wilson Forces
Control Early
Deliberations
Meeting of the National
Committee Is Fix e d
Against the Seating of
Reed and Hardw ic k
Glass Will Be Chairman
Administration Is Silent on
Prohibition, but the
Liquor Plank Is Doomed

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 (By The
associated Press).-So far as surface
indications were concerned at least,
the friends OF President Wilson and his
Administration appeared in complete
control Of the political machinery of
the Democratic party to-day, as the
actual preiminaries Of the national
convention began.
Their domination was not without its
complement of grumbling and COM
plants among scattering insurgent Gle
ments, but there was every evidence
that on showdown the anti-Adminis-
tration forces not only were far in the
minority, but were lacking in organiza-
tion and leadership.
The ascendancy of the Wilson sup
porters showed itself in striking
fashion in the program for the national
committee, meeting to decide between
contesting delegates.
Many committee members expressed
the opinion, when recess was taken
until tomorrow without the Georgia
contest or the Missouri case having
been reached, that the ruling to be
made in those cases would be shaped
to keep out of the convention Senator
Reed, of Missouri, and former Senator
Hardwick Of Georgia, two of the bit
| terest critics of the Wilson policies.
Another development pointing in the
| same direction was the apparent col
lapse Of fight against Senator Glass
of Virginia in his candidacy for chair
man of the resolutions committee, a
post for which he is commonly re-
ported to have been selected by the
President himself.
Cards Against Bryan
In addition, there was accommodating
evidence that William J. Bryan would
find the cards against him in his
attempt to put into the platform
League of Nations plank in disagree
ment with the Presidents views, and
prohibition enforcement plank framed
without the acquiesccnce of the Adj
instration.
With regard to prohibition, however,
the situation remained in state of
considerable uncertainty, with the trend
apparently toward exclusion from the
platform entirely Those who want a
liberalization plank continued an active
| campaign. Some members Of the New
York delegation declared they would
carry their fight to the floor of the con-
vcnton, but a feeling gained headway
that in the end both Mr.. Bryan's bone
dry declaration and that of the anti
bone drys would be voted down.
just where President Wilson stands
on that subject has not been made
clear, but increasing, significance was
attached in the days conferences to
the absence Of any reference to pro-
hibition in the Virginia Democratic
platform, unqualifedly ndorsed by the
White House.
Standing of Aspirants Unchanged
Neither has the Administration
tipped it's hand in regard to a Presi-
Dental candidate, and tonight the rel
ative standing Of aspirants remained
apparently unchanged. Attorney Cen
eral Palmer arrived to-day to take
personal charge of his campaign, and
by tomorrow the cunning Of candi-
dates and their managers among the
uninstructed delegates is expected to
be at its height
Many planks dealing with Irish
! tion of the party leaders and it was
predicted that many conflicting coun-
clls on the subject would be laid before
the platform committee. At a con-
ference in the Office of the American
Commission on Irish independence an
agreement was reached by representa-
tives of several Irish American bodies
to stand together for a plank espous-
ing American recognition Of the Irish
Republic
The West Virginia delegation ar
rived here tonight and went aggres-
sively to work for the nomination Of
its favorite son, John w. Davis, Amer-
can Ambassador to Great Britain. His
strength, they declared, would become
apparent after the opening ballots had
demonstrated that none of the leaders
could be nominated.
Calls Davis Ideal Candidate
Governor J. j. Cornwell, who will
make the nominating speech, issued
this statement:
"Davis would be an ideal candidate
for many reasons. He is one of the
most forceful speakers and debaters
in America. His great ability is uni
versally admitted. His character could
not and would not be questioned.
There are no antagonisms, no OBJ
lection could be urged except that he
is a Democrat. The public is in no
mood to vote for or elect any man
merely because he is a candidate of
any certain political party. This is
not politicians period. A man to
win this election must face the rising
and not the setting sun. He must
stand not only for the right, but be
able to make the people. understand
him. Davis would be able to do that
The Alabama delegation to-day Sc
lected Borden Burr as its representa-
tive on the Committee of Resolutions
Burr is prohibitionist. Election of
w. T. Sanders, as National Committee
man was confirmed.
f. l.. Doheny, of Los Angeles, oil
operator, was selected as Californias
member on the resolutions committee
/ Gavin McNab, San Francisco attorney,
was elected chairman of the delegation