Arizona republican., 1920-06-27
FAIL
 IF DECISION ON
 WE T-DRY ISSUE
rRepubrlcan A. p. Leased WireI

SAN FRANCISCO, June 26-Wets and drys today continued their pre- convention battle, but left the outcome still in doubt.
 William J. Bryan formally opened his fight for a prohibition platform plank. After his election by the Ne braska delegation to the resolutions committee, he made a long and Vigor- ouS address at a luncheon of the Com monwealth club on prohibition and other platform questions. He declared the Democratic party must be saved from the liquor interests" and pre- dicted utter rout of the vets.
 Vets Claim Big Gain
 Democratic leaders favoring modi- fication of the Volstead law confined their efforts to quiet work among state delegations. Several claimed large ac- sessions to a wet or at least damp declaration. Other leaders, however. declared the platform would be silent on the prohibition question and were working toward that end.
 MT. Bryan asserted that there would be no compromise on the prohibition question. He said that while an open fight might be avoided, he would force a record vote. both of states and indi- vidual delegates, if the liquor question were brought up in the convention. It is the paramount issue before the Democrats, MT. Bryan said, declaring his special purpose here was to have a dry plank incorporated in the plat form-an essential to party victory in November, he declared.
 The vets were encouraged by reports from southern delegations that hopes of the prohibitionists for a "solid south" for a prohibition declaration were unfounded. They declared that the unit rule could not be invoked on all southern delegations and that many or the southerners were ready to vote against the prohibitionists.
 MT. Bryan told his audience today that he sought his place on the reso1u- tions committee especially to fight for a dry plank.
 'Tm not sure that we're going to have any fight" MT. Bryan continued. "but on the wet question, which prob ably will come before the convention, every man will lave the chance to go on record. We're going to have a roll call. and I want every delegation polled so if any Democrat wants to turn the party over to the Hcuor interests. his folks at home will know it."
 Would Welcome Minority Report
 Mir. Bryan said he would welcome a minority report from the resolutions committee if necessary to bring the issue squarely before the convention.
 When we're through" he continued, "'the country will know whether the Democratic party Will De the cnatuel property of the brewers or whether they'll be out of business, never to raise their black flag again. There will be no lodging the issue. no skulking around as there was at Chicago. If the Democratic party isn't willing to speak. out after the supreme court has withered every argument of the vets, it ought to dissolve"
 Assailing the Republican convention for its silence on prohibition. MT Bryan said that if the Democrats wished to secure support from 26,- 0o0,Q00 women voters they must de- clare for continued prohibition. Any break in the prohibition wall, he said. would result eventually in re-estab- lishment of saloons, gambling halls and dives.
 Individual candidates were not dis cussed by Mir Bryan in his address except to say that more men were be- ing discussed for the presidential nom . ination than in any previous Demo- cratic gathering There will be more tickets put up and put down in the
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