The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-22
League Plank Held Up Pending
Arrival of Senator Glass.
Every Indication of Prohibition
Battle at Convention.
DRYS ARE FEELING CONFIDENT
Candidates Campaigns Are
Slow in Getting Started.
Palmer Forces Make First APP
pearance With Posters.

San Francisco. June 22.-While ho-
tel Hobbies began today to take on the
appearance of a national political con-
vention only few of the Democratic
chieftains who will figure prominently
in the party's quadrennial gathering
next week had reached the convention
city
Direct developments of the day were
confined to physical preparation of the
municipal auditorium for the conyen-
ton and the work was well advanced,
but there was much discussion in
progress as to. elements that would be
involved in shaping the party plat
form and there was strikingly little
talk about candidates.
Out of the talk of the day came an
Increasing rumble of wet" and dry"
maneuvers. No definite statements
were obtainable from leaders who
have reached the scene of battle but
it was clearly indicated that they
looked forward to fight on the floor
of the convention over efforts to make
the Democratic platform advocate
modification of the prohibition en-
forcement law thru a beer plank"
Say Drys Are in Control.
Some observers who had counted
noses on the resolutions committee
which will frame the tentative draft
of the platform said tie "drys" would
control by a sufficient margin to in
sure deIedL Oh any wet pIdnk III In6
committee draft. 1t was added how
ever, that If the question of permitting
manufa cture of mild beverages was
brought before the convention itself
the law would be more in doubt.
Pending arrival of Senator Glass of
Virginia. slated to be chairman of the
committee, no direct step toward
sounding sentiment in the convention
on the issue appeared likely. The
League of Nations issue did not fill a
prominent place in talk among the
leaders today, but possibility of a
struggle over Japanese exclusion was
isuggested after Governor Stephens s
letter to Secretary Colby declaring the
situation serious in California had been
read. coupled as il was with the state
ment of Senator Phelan of this state
that the Democrats should deal with
the Oriental problem in framing the
platform. Comment on this aspect of
the situation did not indicate. however.
! that it was now occupying an impor-
! tant place in the minds of leaders on
the ground.
Palmer Posters Appo-r.
Candidates Row was being put in
shape today for the reception of as
| tial nomination who will be on the
ground directing their fights.
Attorney General A. Mitchell Pal
mer. Senator owen of Oklahoma !;
! Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska; Sem
ator Carter Glass, Virginia, and possi-
bly, Governor Cox of Ohio are expected
here.
| Candidates Row will be divided be-
tween the Palace and st. Francis no
tells. Early indications are there will
/ be as much doing along the row as *
| the Republican convention at Chi
! cago.
| Palmer apparently will take the
| lead staging spectacular events to at
| tract crowds to his headquarters. His
| supporters here are planning big dem
! onstrations in his honor. Palmer cam
/ paign posters were first to make their
appearance. They bear near-Efe liz.
! photos of the attorney general with a
| heavy law book open in one hand.
! One finger of the other hand Is raised
1 threateningly. Mitchell Palmer fight
j ing Quaker, laying down law" the in
scription on these posters rf d.
Claims 500 Votes.
| Palmer's hackers are claiming more
/ than 500 votes for him on the first
| ballot and predict he will make such
a strong showing a landslide will de-
/ velop on subsequent ballots
! There is little opposition TO Palmer
| pending arrival of w. ]. Bryan, who
| is expected to lead a drive against the
! Palmer and Senator Hitchcock and
! against Homer Cummings. chairma n
of the Democratic national committee,
if his boom holds up.
| w. G. McAdoo's friends are still un-
| decided what course to take regarding
placing his name before the conven-
! ton. Plans for putting him in NOM
| ination have not been abandoned so
! far as known here.