South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-26
FOES OF ADMINISTRATION
LACKING ORGANIZATION,
FAIL AT FIRST SHOWDOWN
Anti-Presidenc Forces Far in
Minority and Apparently
Without leadership
DELEGATE CONTESTS ON
Prohibition Issue Remains Un-
certain, But Plank May Be
Entirely Eliminated.
By Associated Press;

By Associated Press:
SAN FRANCISCO, June Is. SO
far surface indications were con-
cerned. st least. the friends OF Pres
ident Wilson and his administration
appeared IN complete control OF the
political machinery OF the demo
cratic party Friday as the actual
preliminaries OF the national con-
vention began.
Their domination was not without
It's complement OF grumbllng and
complaints among scattering tusur-
gent elements but there was every
evidence that on a showdown the
anti-administration forces not only
were far IN the minority but were
lacking IN organization and leader
ship.
Work OF COMMITTEES.
The ascendRncy OF the Wilson
supporters showed Itself in striking
fashion in the program for the ma
tiOnal committee meeting TO decide
between contesting delegatea The
committee met with the stage set
for a ruling calculated 20 keep out
Of the convention, Sen. Reed, OF
Missouri. and former Sen. Hard
wick, OF Georgia, two OF the bitter
est critics OF the Wilson policies.
Another development pointing IN
the same direction was the appar-
ent collapse OF a fight against Sen.
Glass OF Virginia, IN his candidacy
for chairman OF the resolutions CON-
mittse. a post for which he is com
monty reported 10 have been select
ed by the president himself
In addition there was accumulat-
L.
would find the cards against him in
his attempt TO put IN planks In dis
agreement with the presidents views
and prohibition enforcement plank
framed without the acquiesence OF
the administration.
Wet Issue Uncertain.
With regard TO prohibition, how
ever, the situation remained a. a
state OF considerable uncertainty
with the trend apparently toward
exclusion OF the subject from the
platform entirely. Those who want
a liberalization plank continued an
active campaign and some members
OF the New York delegation de-
clared they would carry their fight
TO the floor OF the convention itself.
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 Preside ent Wilson stands
on the subject has not been made
clear but increasing significance
was attached IN the days confer
ence 70 the absence OF any reference
TO prohibition IN the Virginia dem
Ooratio platform, unQualihedly in
dorsed by the white house Neither
has the administration tipped 10
hn Hv@ ~ q.
didates and tonight the relative
standing OF aspirants remained ap-
parently unchanged. Attorney Cen
eral Palmer arrived today 10 take
personal charge Of his campaign and
by tomorrow the cunning OF candi-
dates and their managers among the
untnstructed delegates Is expected to
be at its height.
Those who originally had suggest
ed q fight against Sen. Glass for the
platform committee chairmanship
apparently had turned their efforts
tonight toward selection OF Sen.
Walsh, Of Montana, as permanent
chairman OF the convention. Sen.
Walsh, who quit Pres't Wilson's
lead in the senate IN March 20 vote
for the treaty with reservations.
heretofore was urged as the logical
opponent OF Sen. Class
No Chairman
u was said Friday night that the
administration chiefs had reached
no decision az 20 the permanent
chairmanship, and that IN the end
they might accept Sen, Walsh with
out a contest There also was talk
OF selecting Sen. Robinson, or Ar
kansas for the place.
The trend for no plank at al on
prohibition apparently had its
greatest support today from some OF
those previously counted on 20 sup
rort a liberalization plank
Some OF the best informed were
predicting Friday that the fight 20
be made for such a declaration now
would resolve itself into nominal
effort designed 20 put the cOnven-
ton on record II was expected
however. that Air. Bryan would be
more insisteNt in his work for A
bone-dry plank and would take his
fight 70 the convention floor ~ the
platform committee showed him IN
der
Bryan at Convention.
Nj Bryan reached San Francisco
late Friday and led or with a pre-
diction that the platform would con-
tain an affirmative dry plank. he
declined 20 divulge his plan OF cam
paign IN detail and would not talk
about the League OF nations az all
The suggestion that the platform
remain silent on the prohibition
issue was endorsed az a meeting ot
the executive com mmittee % The Ma
tional Women's bureau.
Many planks dealing with Irish
freedom have been called 20 the at
tenuon ~ the party leaders. and -
CONTINUED OK PAGE FOUR