Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-08
Democratic Platform 10.
Be W/r1tten at Frisco Is
Forecast by NJ. j. Bryan
By WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

By WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
No one is in position to an
nounce in advance the subjects that
will be treated in the Democratic
platform to be written at San Fran
cisco, but L venture to submit an out
line with the reasons that lead me
to believe that the subjects mention
ed will receive consideration.
]. The national administration
will be Endorsed and the splendid
economic reforms secured will be
enumerated and emphasized. They
constitute an unparalleled record of
accomplishment. The conduct of the
war will be praised: Mistakes of
course were made, but they were
overshadowed by colossal achieve
even astonished ourselves.
2. The treaty will present an is
sue. The party stood together in
favor of ratification without reServa-
ton, as long as that seemed posi-
BILE. When it was demonstrated that
impossible, the Democratic senator's
divided into two groups-the mem
bers of one group % in number,
more interested in the treaty and the
League of Nations that, in the phrase
ology of the reservations, joined
cation with reservations, while 90
Democrats, preferring defeat of the
treaty and the League of Nations to
acceptance Of the proposed reserva-
tons, Joined II irreconcilablle foes
of the treaty to prevent ratification.
Unless a compromise is reached be-
fore June 2S, the convention will in
dorSe the course pursued by the %.
or the course pursued by the 20. The
overwhelming opposition to the pol
nf "a foot
lions, as shown by the vote At the
primaries, will probably defeat any
effort to make the treaty an issue
In the campaign. An easy way out
is to pledge the party to an amend
ment to the constitution providing
for ratification of treaties by ma
jority vote. The Republicans would
undoubtedly support such an amend
ment, and both parties accepting it,
the senate could ratify the treaty
upon, and take it out of the cam
paign.
3. In this connection. it is likely
that the, convention will declare in
favor of a cloture rule in the SEN
ate enabling a majority to close de
platform declaration by the Demo-
cratic convention of 1908 that put an
end to Cannonism in the house of
representatives., and it is time to
take another step toward Democracy.
Universal Military Training
Fourth-The convention is quite
sure to declare against universal
compulsory military training. The
Democratic cauSuS in the house con-
demned it by vote of 1O6 to II, ana
a poll of the senate showed nearly
as large a percentage of the Demo
Gratis of that body against it, The
demand for economy, growing more
and more insistent, strengthens the
opposition to the expenditure or
preparations for war, while the peace
sentiment of the country revoltS
against system based on the theory
that war is a necessary port of civil
Zation.
Fifth-The profteer will receive
particular attention. especially, if the
issue is accentuated by failure/of tbs
Republicans to deal with the ques-
tlon satisfactorily. Some party must
take the peoples side against the
middlemen, and the Democratic party
is in a better position than the Re
publican party to do so because the
latter contains most of the profiteers.
The following remedies, increasing
In severity, have been suggested: a
trade commission in each state ana
in cache community, disclosure OF
profit on each article sold, and liml-
tatlon of profits. as in the case of I1r-
terest on loans. In connection with
the subject of profteering the con-
vention is likely to favor a tax or
the war-profit millionaires to pro-
vide bonus for service men. 1t is
only fair that those who grew ricn
out of the war should do justice
to the men who took the risks or
service.
sixth-The convention will have
to deal with the subject of private
monopoly. 1t is the most permanent
domestic issue and the beneticiaries
of all the faVOr-Seeking corporations
are massing under Republican lead
erShip to oppose government owner
Democratic party must ultimately
become the champion of government
ownership of all natural monopolies.
but the poration-controlled press
has so grossly misrepresented the
experience of the government under
war control that the opponents Of
private monopoly may have to con-
tent themselves with holding the
ground already occupied, leaving the
advance to be made by future con-
vention will at least ~reiterate the
doctrine already embodied in four ma
tlonal platforms, namely. that PR
waite monopoly is indefensible and in
tolerable.
Labor Quertion
Seventh-The labor question will
receive the attention due it. The
Democratic party will insist upon the
toiler's right to equal treatment. He
is not only a citizen but he is an
indispensable part of our industrial
machine He should be a willing
worker if he is to give to society his
maximum effort. He must feel that
he is receiving Justice: he must be
welcomed as a co-WOrSer and be
dealt with as a brother in the mat
ter of wages, hours and rights.
Eighth-The farmer also has griev-
ances; his interests cannot be made
subservient to the claims of the
commercial classes.
Ninth-The Democratic party has
already entered upon a good roads
program and will extend it. I hope
it Will extend it sufficiently to in
dorse a national peaceway connecting
the states.
Tenth am hoping for plank
pledging the party to the advocacy
of a government buIIetin-not q
newspaper. but a bulletin-under nom
partisan control. which will give the
voters, for a nominal subscription
price, information as to issues be
fore the country with the reasons
advanced on both sides of each is
sue.
Eleventh--Woman suffrage will be
indorSed with congra tulations if the
amendment is ratified before the con-
vention with pledge Of support i'll