The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-06-24
Senator Carter Glass and
"Tammany' Murphy
Among Them
FORMER MAY HAVE
WILSON'S PLATFORM
Murphy Went to San Fran
cisco from French Lick,
Ind, Conference

les to the Democratic national eonven-
tion got into the eventful period of
hurry and scramble to-day with the ap-
pearanee here of men, who are to play
leading parts in the big quadrennial
drama.
| In the whisperings behind the scenes
the question of the party's policy to-
ward bone-dry prohibition continued the
big theme of agitation, with prospects
increasing for a fight on the conven-
tion floor Arriving leaders and dele
cations also added some impetus to the
question Of presidential candidates, but
that subject still remained we'll in the
background
Two newly arrived figures attracted
particular attention One was Senator
Glass OF Virginia. fresh from Washing
ton, and, generally reported to have
| brought President Wilson's own draft
| of the platform The other was Charles
+ Murphy of New York, the leader of
Tanfmany Hall, who came direct from
the widely -heralded conferences OF old.
| line party strategists at French Lick,
Ind
Both of them were busy. but silent.
Privately they took careful stock of
the situation and conferred earnestly
with other leaders from far and wide.
Publicly they refused TO talk politics
Mr.. Murphy was the new center of
speculation on the subjects of prohibi-
tion The declaration Of the New York
State convention for repeal of the 18th
amendment and widely circulated re
ports OF the patching of an anti. bone
dry plank at San Francisco helped to
bolster the impression among many
delegates that Tammany would lead in
the effort to write such plank into
the platform
Not only the Tammany chief. but all
or his lieutenants, refused steadfastly
to discuss that subject or to say wheth-
er any anti prohibition movement real
ly had been launched at the French
Lick conference. Thomas Taggart of
Indiana, another principal in the con
ference was expected TO arrive here late
to-day or early tomorrow, but il was
generally predicted that the lines Of
division on the prohibition issue would
not be clearly drawn until the eonven-
ltbH httudtiN gets utthtI way hoifudfs
One element which tended TO keep
the problem in fuS was the uncertain
ty OF many of those here regarding the
position of President Wilson The Vir-
ginia state platform, which has been
given the presidents unqualified APP
proval and on which the national plat
form is expected TO be modelled, is ST.
lent on the subject. Some of Mr. Will
sons closest political friends in the ad
ministration, however. are known to
have prepared a liberalization plank
for which they are ready TO make a
fight in the convention.
This plank. said to have been draft
ed after conferences in Washington
among men high in the councils. does
not mention beer or wines by name but
makes a blanket declaration for more
liberal Interpretation by Congress of
the prohibition amendment. II is ex
pected that sponsors of the proposal
will try hard to throw the influence Of
the administration behind it
Many of the party leaders, including
Homer :. Cummings. the national
reiterated confidence what no
other platform plank would lead to a
fight on the convention floor. The |
league Of nations declaration. as
framed by administration supporters. |
was declared by these leaders to be |
certain of acceptance after only a nomi- |
nal squsbble in the platform commit
tee
Senator Glass first conference after
his arrival here late yesterday was |
l..
dinner together in the chairmsns hotel |
room and afterward spent most of the
evening in consultation
William Jennings Bryan. who is ex
pected to lead the attack on such a
treaty plank. a. well as the fight l
against the prohibition liberalization 1
declaration. still was missing to-day |
from the constellation Of leaders here
He will arrive late in the week and no
one here pretended TO know exactly
" hat plan Of campaign he may contem-
plate
Physical preparations st the conven-
tion hall virtually were completed to-
llsy with the perfection of a system Of
electrical megaphones to carry the
voices of the speakers out To the cor
hers Of the big enclosure. Installation
II the paraphernslia started a report
hat President Wilson expected TO adj
iress the delegates by long distance
telephone. but Chairman Cummings
said II there WAS any such intention he
gss not aware Of Il.
One hitch in the arrangements re-
TO be eliminated had 20 do
with the seating of state delegations.
which exceed in number the national
'ommittee's allotment. In several
states two or three times the allotted
number of delegates were selected. with
he intention that each should have 8
traction % a vote Convention officials
aid every effort would b. made to Ar
-ange for scats fer al deiegates. though
.uune of them have 70 ST in the visitors