The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-06-24
BEER AND WINE
COAL DESIRED
Effort for Compromise Plank
to Satisfy Both Dry"
and "Wets'

LOS ANGELES. Cal. June @S-Tam-
many delegates TO the Democratic nat
ional convention at San Francisco here
today declared themselves in favor of
the manufacture of light wines and
beer. and said they were pleased over
the defeat Of Congressman \. J. VOL
stead for denomination for the Repub-
lican candidate from the seventh con-
stead Is author OF the prohibition en-
forcement act.
James J. Hag!n. New York City. fire
commissioner and Tammany dele
gate, said:
There will be a wet plank in the
platform-thc people Of the. country
favor wet plank-a plank providing
for the manufacture OF light wines and
beer"
He predicted a plank favoring equal
suffrage would be adopted in 'unmistak-
able terms
Charles +. Murphy. Tammany leader.
who WAS indicted today in New York
on charges OF conspiracy in rela tion TO
income tax returns. left the special train
last night at Riverside and went direct
to San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. June CA volun-
teer construction corps OF platform
builders was busy today whiting out
planks which they believed would meet
the needs Of the Democratic national
convention In expressing its Vows as to
Leaders, including Chairman Cum
mings Of the national committee. were
in agreement that this equestion would
monopolize the center of the convention
stage until 1t was settled. Mr.. Cum
mings expressed the opinion that IT
would be the only issue to be carried
to the convention floor
Compromise Proposed
Informal discussion by delegates
/ shows several schools Of thought among
the anti-bone dry advocates AS 10 how
the question should be approached. They
vary from the states rights stand taken
I.py Governor Edwards. of New Jersey,
, 10 proposals that congress be urged to
proceed directly toward modifying the
one half Of one percent alcoholic con-
tent restriction Of the Eolstcad en-
! fofcement act. SO as to lift the ban
from beers and light wines.
The most pronounced movement at
the moment. however. and the one
which appeared today to have taken the
most definite shape. was that originat-
ing IN Washington. and designed to Of
fer Il basis on which anti-bone dry
forces could concentrate. Personal lib
erty will be the slogan OF advocates OF
this compromise plank.
Fight Before Convention
Mr.. Cummings was emphatic today
in dehninK the tQuestio TO be solved as
not q prohibition issue, but merely ex-
preston -9f the party.s- attitude rs to
thc ' QlSIe2Q, enforcement. act tnefe
were n,ifnefofts other issues on which
there would be difference OF opinion be-
fore the resolutions committee, Mr..
Cummings thought. including profiteer-
Ing. the industrial plank, touching re-
latlons between capital and labor, the
Irish question and others, but no presL
ent prospect that they could be harmon
lied in committee. 4 minority report
, Is TO be expected only on the so-called
beer plank" it was agreed. and that
will throw the fight into the convention
] itself.
Tor Personal Liberty.
The prohibition enforcement plank
; was drafted in circles in close touch
with the administration. 1t is under
: stood to have been drawn from the per-
sonal liberty angle and to advocate in
general terms liberalization of the
Eolstead act. Specific mention of wine,
! beer or any other beverage BY name
was omitted.
The plank will be put forward as rep
resenting the opinion of many senators
and representatives and its trainers
hope to be able to claim for II the back
ing Of president Wilson himself. 1t was
drawn after conference in which more
than one member Of the cabinet shared.
Il was said. and in which anti-bone dry
, senator's took q leading part
Avoidance OF specific mention OF beN-
; crages, proponents Of the Washington
plank argued. and an appeal for an en-
forcement policy more in harmony with
American ideas of personal liberty.
would serve TO prevent alienation OF
sentiment which a more direct approach
might push into the dry ranks.