Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-06-25


dency.
II am not candidate for vice pres
ident and would not accept the nomi-
nation for second place. the telegram
said.
The democratic platform will not
contain either a wet or dry plank, in
the opinion of Senator Hitchcock but
he expressed the conviction today that
1T will include a strong league of ma
tions plank
II cannot conceive that the demo-
cratic party will place plank in the
platform declaring for or against pro
hibition," he said. Prohibition is not
properly an issue between democrats.
If dry plank We're inserted 1t would
mean the reading out Of the party
those democrats who had not favored
prohibition. II a wet plank were adopt
ed it would mean that the men who
believe in prohibition must be out
side the party"
Work Opens Today.
San Francisco, June 25.-First guns
of the democratic national convention
were fired today when the national
committee met to draw up the Tempo
rary roll of delegates. Three contests
had been called to the committees
attention but only one of them, that
involving efforts to give Senator Reed
of Missouri seat with the delegation
from that state, promised more than
routine interest. Only one contest that
from Georgia has been officially filed
with the committee.
The Georgia contest results were ex-
pected by party leaders to be settled
in favor of delegates friendly to the
candidacy Of Attorney General Palmer
for the president nomination the decis-
ion carrying with it confirmation of
Clarks Howell as national committee
man from that state.
Reed Case Difficult.
The Reed case may prove more diff
ficult to deal with. An effort to place
on the senator ON the floor OF ,Ae
convention although the Missouri state
convention rejected him as a delegate
at large was expected and because Of
his attitude. toward the administration
during senate battles over the peace
strong resistance would be met before
the committee.
The third contest from Oregon, was
not regarded as serious case and
might not, it was said, materialize at
all. In fact, national committee Of
ficials did not know before they as
sembled to examine credentials what
appearance was to be made in any Of
the contest cases.
Overnight development showed two
matters that have been in nebulous
stage since the first democratic lead
ers arrived here to be approaching
more definite shape. These were the
mysterious and persistent boom for
nomination of william G.. McAdoo,
even against his flat declaration that
he was not a candidate. and the con-
flict as to prohibition enforcement
plank in the platform.
McAdoO Friends Busy.
MsAdoo adherents were said early
today to be shaping their plans TO
withhold his name from the balloting
throughout the early stages. They have
learned that the former secretary OF
the treasury has still a strong follow
ing but are said to feel that In view
of his attitude it would not be expe-
dient to present his name unless the
expected deadlock between the leading
candidates Palmer and Governor COX
Of Ohio should deevlop. In that event
there apepared to be little doubht that
McAdoo would be put forward to
break the blockade with the assurance
of considerable strength at the start
His friends are said to have put their
heads together to formulate plans or
this nature and map out strategy OF
the subsequent campaign to obtain FOR
him the necessary two-thirds majority
on which democratic nominations must
rest.
on the prohibition enforcement ques
ton heretofore the most prominent
subject of discussion there developed
yesterday a sudden movement to ig-
more the question entirely on the plat
form. Suggestions of this nature came
to Chairman Summings of the national
from camps representing
various shades Of opinion ranging
from bone dry to almost as complere;y
wet. These feelers toward a harmony
program were not clear enough, nos.
ever TO show that all parties to the
contest had arrived at the conclusion
that such a course would be wise.
Bryan Closely Watched.
While it was pointed out thar the
virginia democrats had followed To-
course of silence on the Volstead en-
fore .ment act in framing the plat
form which President Wilson has ap-
proved. which might indicate the ao-
attitude, it was suggested
much depends on the course william
J. Bryan plans to follow on his arrlvai
today. He is credited with having de-
termined to carry the war into the en-
emy's country in meeting the wet
drive at the platform which began
more than a week ago and offer, an
emphatic bone dry declaration on his
own account.
The movement for platform silence
on the enforcement measure is said 10
have sprung in part from considera-
tion of this report as to the Nebras-
kan's plans. Some at least of It's ad-
vocates are said to desire now to head
off vote on such a bone dry program
as a matter of expediency. If the is
sue were forced to conclusion on
the platform struggle these strategists
argued, 1t might be more prejudiciai 10