Norwich bulletin., 1920-06-24

San Francisco. Calif. June 25.-A vol unteer construction corps of platform builders was busy today whiting out blanks which they believed would meet the needs of the democratic natlonal convention in expressing its views as to prohibition enforcement. Leaders ln- cludinE Chairman Cummings of the Ma tioual committee were in agreement that this question would monopolize the center of the convention stage until 1t was settled Mir. Cummings expressed the opinion that it would be the only issue 10 be carried to the convention floor
 Informal discussion by delegates shows several schools of thought among the an- ti-bone dry advocates as to how the question should be approached. They vary from states rights stand taken by Governor Edwards to proposals that congress be urged to proceed directly toward modifying the one-half Of one per cent alcoholic content restriction O. the Volstead enforcement act so as to lift the ban from beers and light wines. The most prnounced movement at the moment. h7wever, and the one which ap- peared today 10 have taken the most definite shape was that originating m Washington and designed to offer basis on which anti-bone dry forces could con centrate.
 Personal liberty will be the slogan of advocates of this compromise plank.
 Mir Cummings was emphatic today Tn defining tie question to be solved as not prohibition issue. but merely eXpres- sion of the party's attitude as to the numerous other issues on which there Volstead enforcement act. There was would be a difference of opinion before the resolutions committee. MT! Cum
 tna industrial plank touching relations be- tween capital and labor, the Irish ques- ton and others but no present prospect that they could not he harmon:zed ia committee minority report is to be expected only on the so-called beer plank" it was agreed. and will 'rrow the fight into the convention itself.
 The Washington enforcement plank was said. and in which anti-bone dry The administration. It is understood to have been drawn from the personal lib- srty angle and to advocate in general terms a liberalization of the Nolstead act Specific mention of wine. beer or any other beverage by name was omitted
 The plank will he put forward as rep resenting the opinion of many senators and representatives and it's framers hope to he able to claim for it the backing of President Wilson himself It was drawn after conference in which more than one members of the cabinet shared, it vas said. and in which anto-bine dry senators took a leading part.
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 Avoidance of specific mention of bev- erages proponents of the Washington plank argued. and an appeal for an en- forcement policy more in harmony with American ideas of personal liberty would
 al Of which a more direct approach might push into the bon dry ranks.
 By such a course, also. he added. the party's stand could he in strict accord znce with the ruling of the supreme court confirming the authority of congress to fix permissible alcoholic content under the prohibition amendment
 IL was questionable tonight whether any direct reference to the Volstead act would he urged on the platform framers The plank to be urged by the anti-bont drys. however. is expected, whatever il may say otherwise, to ran the republican congress sharply for enactment of the en Gorcement measure in it's existing form
 A new source of discussion arose today In connection with convention procedure Ii had to do with determining whether the platform should be adopted before oi after the presidential nominee had beer selected
 Chairman Cummings apparently hal had the question up with managers O various candidates and found their view 10 differ.
 Some of the workers for this or tha candidate profess to see strategic advan tare for their man in one course or tn other. The national chairman did no share their views; but to promote har mony will call the campaign manager Into conference on the eve of the conven tion to see If a satisfactory program cannot be arranged in advance.
 There is strong desire to expedite tn conventions work as much as possible Eteps to limit nominating or at least sec Dnding speeches are under consideration
 There were intimations that Mir. Cum t tnings expected the report on platform t be deferred until after the halloting O nominees. This would permit the con Vention to proceed with nominations whil Inc wrangle over platform issues was 1 progress.
 It was insisted that no thought of f1t ting issues to candidates or the othe way round was in mind among the lead lrs. nor any view that nominees wer more important than platform expres irons.