South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-09
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Senator Watson, of Indiana,
Elected Chairman of ResO-
lutions Committee.
BY Associated Press

an conventions resolutions commit
tee formally organized. late Tuesday,
Overwhelmingly elected Sen. Watson,
of Indiana. its chairman, and
plunged into the grind of hearings
and conferences out Of which will
come the party's platform.
Immediately a deluge Of applica-
tons and petitions descended on the
committee table and Chairman Wat
son declared almost continuous SEES
sionS would be necessary night and
day to give hearings TO all of those
desiring il and 10 work out a pro-
gram of party declarations in time
for submission 10 the convention,
Thursday.
Clamor for Audience.
Those clamoring for an audience
included vets and drys, suffragists
and anti-suffragists, economists. irish
sympathizers, labor leaders and
many others who thought they could
give the committee winning ideas
for the platform. Some were heard
Tuesday and Tuesday night but the
majority, including the labor repre-
sentatives and a delegation which
wants freedom for ireland had 70
be put over until Wednesday.
Meantime arrangements W Q T q
made for a subcommittee TO go 10
work on disputed questions OF pol
ICY including the party's stand on
the League OF Nations and other
outstanding issues which still are
n convention there.
Sen. Watson, who for weeks has
been in charge Of a series of con-
ferences on platform declarations,
was chosen chairman by a vote Of
IL to >. only the committee mem
bers from Kansas, Maryland ana
Georgia voting for his opponent, Og
den Mills, of New York. Mr.. Mills
was head of an executive commit
tee which compiled the platform
suggestions of the committee OF II
and in lobby gossip he was credit
ed with having the support of VIII
II. Hays, the national chairman 70
head also the resolutions commit
tee.
Open Doors.
Immediately after effectinG its OK
ganization. the committee threw
open its door, but before the hear
ings had gone far they were suS-
pended while, by unanimous vote, II
was decided 10 put a time limit on
all who desired TO be heard. on
questions where two sides were to
be presented, the allotment was l.
minutes in all, equally divided and
on all other subjects it was five
minutes.
Among those who appeared Tues
day and Tuesday night were Prof.
Fisher, of Yale, who advocated an
investigation Of currency imitation,
former Rep. Charles y. Fowler, OF
New Jersey, advocating revision of
the banking and currency laws. and
). p. Bond. of Missouri, who wanted
price fixing in wartime declared
inviolate of the constitution.
Wednesday Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor, is 70 present his pro
gram, Henry Lane Wilson, former
ambassador to Mexico, is TO recon-
mend a Mexican plank and a dele
CATION headed by Frank P, Walsh
is TO argue for a plank advocating
Irish freedom. There also are
scores of others on the days pro-
gram and the list was growing to-
night.
Troublesome Questions.
Despite six months OF work by
the committee of III and several
weeks of conferences among the
leaders in Washington and else
where, several troublesome plat
form questions remain 10 be an
swered.
Foremost in the minds Of most
OF the committeeman tonight was
the League Of Nations plank. but
other ticklish issues remaining in
cluded anti-strike legislation, the
soldier bonus and a long string OF
proposals by farming interests
A determined effort would be
made, IL was said. to have the plat
form include a plank at least en-
dorsing in general terms the action
OF the republican senate in writing
an anti-stroe provision into the
railroad bill. In many quarters that
proposal met with fiery opposition.
however and the labor leaders on
hand were expected 10 help in the
fight against il.
A declaration for enforcement Of
prohibition Will be asked OF the
committee. though many Of the
party chiefs are said 10 be in agree
ment that the liquor issue should
be considered settled. IT was sug-
gested that as compromise
plank might be framed declaring
generally for strict law enforcement.
Let Suffrage Alone.
Many leaders also want 70 let the
suffrage question alone. but there
are some who think the platform
should urge that ratification OF the
suffrage amendment be complete.
1t was predicted generally that no
direct reference 10 soldier bonus
legislation would be made in the
platform. but that a plank would
be adopted stating IN general terms
that the party favored generous
treatment Of former service men.
That may not satisfy the republic
an members Of the house OF rep
resentatives. which passed a bonus
bill. and "A fight IN the committee
might develop.
The fight over the League OF Ma
tions Is simply a continU alton Of the
long senate struggle and the tactics
and maneuvering here repeat IN
precise terms the same familiar story