New-York tribune., 1920-06-21
Bryan Opposition Futile,
as COmmOner Can Con.
troll Fewer Than One
third of the Delegates
Hope of Wet Plank
Declared "a Mirage
State Leaders Can Force
Palmer's Nomination.
but Fear He Can't Win
By Carter Field

After q canvass of the situation here
a week before the Democratic Ma
tlonal Convention is TO meet, il has
become evident that the Democrat c
party is desperately anxious for
new leader. This is going TO hc
hoss-ridden convention to nm extent
equaled in American political his
tory only once before-four Years
ago at st. Louis. Despite his Hines.
the same boss, Woodrow Wilson. VII
dominate this convention as he dof.i-
mated that
No one doubts that Bryan vii
muster only a small minority-less
than one-third of the delegates 20
oppose the Presidents wishes on tfe
treaty plank, and. for that mat;-r.
on any other plank on which he aod
the President may differ.
Close calculations made ny son
of the officials Of the national con-
mlttee seem to show that, while the
drys probably will have an over
whelmlng majority on the committee
on resolutions, the division between
drys and those advocating liberali7a
ton Of The Nolstead act on the fioor
OF the convention will be about eaual
The Tribune correspondent has bee,
unable TO find that there is any rrorcr
justification for this hope on the pnr.
of the vets. II seems obvious tha. -
the delegates vote according 70 H.,
practical political situations in tho
states and dis'ric's the dry MN iorifv in
the convention Will be practically .be
same as in the House of Represents
yves. where the drys have maintained
two-thirds majority for several s..
siohs' increasing rather than dim -
ishing their lead with every nov Con
gress.
Home Sentiment Control.
The fact that the House NJ pn
Sentaf'ves includes both politicn,
parties does not affect the comnarieo.,
since members Of tho House aimo..
without exception vote accordinc .o,D.
po'1fical situation in their own 4
trlcts and with no thought Of nar+r
ties whatever.
ne ODDS are tremendously IN rac.
therefore. OF the convention adop..n,
either no plank on prohibition a, ar
or law enforcement plank. The nrch
apll41y ~ that II a candidate like Gov
ernor Cox should be named the yo.
VIII be satisfied not TO force tho r.
plank ~ .''7
We're It not for the underlying b.
.nat ne would be very weak car
u-ua.e aNa would fsil 20 rally tie lab
a"u fao'cal clements against Harding
General Palmer would H. -, p,
wohderiG strategic position here =.
Gay, with McAdoo bowling himself o..
W." - yam on has way here 10 fight,,.-
and With the drys generally concen.r,
l'g against the Ohio Governor. Win.
a,l.i fediy the most likely nomine, A.
McAGoo stays ont and Il Presidor. w.
-" hlmseif does not come in.
Palmer Choice of Leader
amer Is the real choice Of the st,-..
',o Ieapefs or The Democratic party. The.
WIZ PROBABLY have the votes 20 no
mat 9 ham + they decide to %
a1"ays providing that he is safisrf,
Io'E Frcsicent Wilson. Their on
coobt ls whether he would moi n.
weak N the election that = ,,o,.s
mo-. De like committing .r;.;d.
name hin. ''''"e .
In tnas respect there is s,rilinr
ahaiogy between the situation bo~s
ana that IT Chicago Just after no
l'sSopri enclosures had prickea .oe
Lo~Gen nailoon. The party leader
hsa me votes 20 nominate Iowden err..
aiter tha'. but the realization tha. !
would be tremendously dificu'. n
clect nm graaua lly converted one afte~
another until those who remaiued q,
his camp did not have the voto~ -
put him over.
80 the aosses here have the votes >,
put Palmer over. apparently, bu, :fe
oods against his being named eho,.lH
ne very large. despite this Qrea, o..
ment OF popularity with the men wso
Oohtro! delegates, since most o. ;hs -
realize down in their hearts Tia
Palmer would be very weak car IT,
date against Harding
MARSHALL Men Indignant
Friends Of Vice President MarsHai
are indignant at the arrogance OF "a,
steam roller chauFeurs IN ignn, 1..
Marshall AS a candidate for chairrasa
o. the resolutions committee. mhicA
Will draft the platform The Admin
ration ~ understood 20 nave turned
trumbs down on Marshall, and Senator
Glass almost certainly will be elecso,..
he feeling. however. is growing ana
may break out on tho floor of the CEN
vcntion. despite the general conce.-
ON that the Admin stration organ,ra-
non has control and has the votes =,
Keep Il
interest ocntered largely to-day ~
tho prospects Of third party Tse
announcement and appeal by Hca--.
here this morning occupied the aitea-
ton of nearly every group OF ro,i.
tciars who gathered. especially 80
most O the b,g leaders ran down r.,
the nearby beaches and parks lss-
night for week end.
Many friends Of Hiram Johnson say
Tie Senator wou welcome the cr.
rortGnitv 30 Nrac third party +. hs