Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-08
mo- REFERENCE
TO PROHIBITION
Democratic Platform Adopted as
RepOrte d-"Wet," DRY"
"Moist" and Damp" Plank
Proposals Defeated

Auditorium, San Francisco-sJuly e.
Declining to include in the pla tform
any reference to the prohibition issue,
the Democratic convention rejected to-
day both the bone-dry plank fathered,
by William Jennings Bryan, and the
cidar. wine and beer plank presented
by w. Bourke Cochran of the New
York delegation
Without a roll call the conven ton
also voted down Mr.. Bryan's plank
for the publication of an officiai.news-
paper by the federal government.
The official total which beat the
Cochran moist plank was 1854 against
it and $50 voting for it. Eleven and.
a. half votes were absent
The Bryan profiteering plank also
was rejected by reclamation. In-ouictc
succession the convention then voted
down also the plank offered by Mr.
Bryan declaring against compulsory
military training in peace time.
The Bryan Lea que of Nations planka
shared the same fate going out in a.
great chorus of noes"
plank for commission to inves-
tfsate the feasibility of soldier
bonus also was rejected without a roll
call
The adninistration's League of Nations
"
sustained against all attacks The~ad-,
nrnlstraton supporters were in control
by heavy majorites all alofig the line
After the defeat of a substitute for the
irish plank, the platform as reported by
the committee was adopted
"a summary of the convention Plat
form and the principal planks therein
may be found on page ~.
William Jennings Bryan, with one OF
his old-time speeches in support Of A.
bone dry plank for the Democratic plat
form. turned the convention almost INSIDE
down late this afternoon with the mag
netisn and force of mis- oratory and started
one OF the greatest and noisest demon
STATIONS the assembly had yet seen.
When Bryan had concluded his ren,v
to the advocates of wet plank the dem
onstration cut loose on the floor and
wholly unaided by the band or the organ
or any of the other instrumental1tles
which had been effectively used to keeu,
other demonstra tons going II proceeded
Spontaneously and resisted all efforts to
get the convention back tn order.
| Mr.. Bryan presented his own rfe,.
pianks and a prohibition plank by trS>
mer Congressman Dobson and then ".
Bourke Cochran of New York took the
platform to present another minority "a
port.
Mr.. Cochran presented a substitute for
Bryan's prohibition plank and declared
| that as Mr.. Bryan had presented the
question of prohibition thank heaven
Pthe convention can no longer change 1t -
| The pank"which Mr.. Cochran presented.
while. declaring for the validity of the
prohibition amendment also declared for
the manufacture for some consumption
only of cider, tight wines and beers
No f5.Nta
that phrase with a mighty shout and pro-
'longed cheers. II reserves to the States
the right to fix alcoholic contents.
The text of the substitute plank offer
ed by Mr.. Cochran is as follows
| The validity of the eighteenth amend
ment tn the Constitution has been sus-
tanned by the Supreme Court and any law
enacted under its authority must be en-
! forced. In the interest of personal liberty
to conserve rights of the States we, favor
federal Legislation under the eighteenth
amendment allowing the manufacture and
sale for homo consumption only of cider.
light wines and beer. preserving to the
various States power to fix any alcoholic
content thereof other than as fixed BY
Congress as maybe demanded by the-opn-
ion or wishes of each locality
But an the oratory for dry wet"
moist and damp planks was wasted.
Every proposal was defeated. Mr.. Bryan a
bone dry plank, defeated, 9col5 to 1851.
read as follows:
I'VE heartily congratulate the Demo-
cratic party on its splendid leadership
in the submission and ratification of the
prob ibition amendment to the federal con-
sttution and pledge the party to the
strict enforcement of the present enforce
ment law. honestly and in good faith.
without any increase in the alcoholic con-
tent of permitted beverages and without
any weakening OF any other of its pro-
visions"