Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-08
PARTY TOOPEN
CAMPAIGN WITH
RALLY TONIGHT
Wilson's Message and Former
Secretary's Speech to
Feature Program.
BITTER FIGHT BREWING

WASHINGTON, Jan 9.-The battle
for the presidency begins today. At
o'clock tonight the shock troops Of de-
mocracy, who have been gathering here
for the last week, will mass in the for
ward trenches at the banquet halls OF
the New Willard and Washington and
two hours later, after the iron rations
coffee passed around, the barrage Of
speeches will open and the campaign
will be on
Zero hour for the broadside is Off
cially set for s D. m.
BRYAN ARRIVES
FROM THE SOUTH
William Jennings Bryan, one OF the
big guns of the party, arrived today,
being one Of the last to come up He
had been in the south. Gov. John J.
Cornwel of West Virginia and Gov.
James NJ Cox Of Ohio, also Mrs. Peter
Olesen Of Minnesota, had previously ar
rived on the field, as had former Am
bassador James W. Gerard.
Senators Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock Of Ne
braska, Oscar W. Underwood 70 Ala
bama, Atlee Pomerene Of Ohio and Rob-
ert L. Owen Of Oklahoma returned to
Washington earlier in the week to at
tend the opening Of congress, which
same was true Of Congressman Champ
Clark Of Missouri, while the other sreak-
ers on the double rally bill for tonight
Secretary of the Navy Daniels and At
torney General Palmer-were already on
the scene.
Unless the forecasts of all our very
best political star gazers fall conspicu-
ously short Of promises, the presiden-
tial contest this year will be the grand
est catch-as- -catch-can free-for-all. and
nn ho al
election ever provided.
BRYAN SAVES
HIS THUNDER.
The campaign has not yet begun, but
charges and counter charges are begin
ming to fly between republicans and dem
oerats, and with them bits of witt
cisms and sarcaSms at each others ex-
rense, while Independent and nonpartisan
groups are preparing to launch attacks
Of their own at both the old line par
ties
Bryan refused to do much talking for
publication lest he give away the main
points OF his speeches tonight and anti
climax himself. He will speak at both
banquets, as viii all the speakers. but
unlike most OF the others, who are ex-
pected to deliver pretty much the same
address at the two rallies, it LIS believed
he viii not repeat.
Being an old hand at the game, It is
considered likely that he viii begin what
he has to say at the Washington dinner
where he is scheduled to appear fourth
on the list-and conclude at the willard,
on which bill he is saved for the last
For Bryan viii not address himself so
much to the 600 guests at the one feast
nor the 500 at the other, but TO the 100.-
100000 persons to be reached through the
press.
WILSON'S MESSAGE
EAGERLY AWAITED.
The other headliner attraction at the
Jackson day rally is President Wilson's
message to his party. This message has
been finished and typed, it is said, but
thus far there has not been given out the
slightest inkling of what it contains. Ru-
mors that it will be devoted to the treaty
almost exclusively are going the rounds,
likewise that 1t will contain the presi-
dents announcement that he is through
with politics forever and under no cir
cumstances will he be a candidate for
third term. But the fact is nobody to-
day knows whether the message win con-
tain the one or the other, or indeed,
either.
The democratic national COMMITTEES
went into session at the Shoreham hotel
III O'CLOCK IulS uAOIn4nE us OAuGA
Of business included a report by Chair
man Homer S. Cummings on the COM
mittee's activities since it met, resolu-
tions. discussion Of the status Of the lady
members of the parties, the hearing Of
the claims Of the cities desiring the con-
vention, deciding on the date when this
should be held, etc.
Kansas City seemed to be in the lead
among the candidate cities with June
% and June % tieing as the date.
a resolution putting the democratic
party on record as being squarely be-
hind President Wilson in his fight for
ratification of the peace treaty was
passed unanimously by the democratic
national committee today.
In this resolution senator's who oppose
ratification or who want reservations
which were characterized as "nullifying"
we're declared to be worthy Of ''the con-
tempt of the world"