Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-24
PARTY CHIEFS
REACH COAST
Senator Glass Who is Said to
Have Wilson's Draft of
Platform at San Francisco.
CHARLES MURPHY, TOO
Prospects of Fight Over Liq-
uor Issue on the Conven-
ton Floor Are Growing
CHARLES MURPHY, Toe
BY The Associated Press.

by The Associated fress.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 74.-Pfe-
liminaries to the Democrats nation
al convention got into the inevitable
of hurry and scramble with the, ap-
pearance here of one after another
of men, who are to play leading
parts in the big quadrennial draSn6.
In the whispering behind the
scenes, the question of the partv'o
policy toward bone dry" prohbition
continued its big theme of agita-
ton with prospects of fight on
the convention floor growing better
and better. Arriving leaders and
delegations also added some tmpe.
tus to the discussion of Presid entail
but the subject remained
still in the background.
Two figures newly arrived on The
scene attracted particular attention.,
one was Senator Carter Glass. of
Virginia, fresh from Washington,
and generally reported to have
brought President Wilson's own
draft of the platform; the other
being Charles F. Murphy, Of New
York, leader of Tammany Hall, whip
came direct from the old Mne party
strategists at French Lick, Lad.
Both of them were as busv -
mice. Privately they took careful
stock OF the situation and conferred
earnestly with other leaders ffdm
far and wide. Publicly they ~
fused to talk politics. outline whist
they hoped to accomplish or pre-.
dict what the convention would
bring forth.
Mr.. Murphy was the new center
of speculation on the subject of pf6-
hibition. Declaration Of the New
Yory state convention for repeal Of
the eighteenth amendment and
widely circulated reports OF the
catching of an anti-bone dry plank
hoped to bolster the impression
among delegates that Tammany
would lead in the sffoft 1tc wnta'
Not only the Tammany chiefs,
but all his lieutenants refused
steadfastly to touch that subject or
to say whether any anti-prohibition
movement really had been launched
at the French Lick conference.
Thomas Taggert. of Indiana. an-
other principal was expected to ar.
rive late today or early tomorrow.
but 1t generally was predicted tnas
the lines of division of the prohi.
bition issue would not be clearly
drawn until the convention gets
under way Monday.
One element which rendered tn
keep the problems influx, was the
uncertainty of many of those here.
regarding the position of President
Wilson. The Virginian state platform
which had been given the Presi,
dents unqualified approval and on
which the national platform Is ex-
10 ha 10 GiI
the subject. Some of Mr.. Wilson's
closest friends are known to have
prepared a liberalization plank for
which they are ready to make =
fight in the convention.
This plank said to have been
drafted after conferences in Wash
ington among men high IN the
party's council does not mention beer
or wine, but makes blanket declara
ton for more liberal Interpretation
by congress of the prohibition
amendment. 1t is expected a strong
effort will be made by sponsors iof
the proposal to throw the 4nfiuenco
Of the administration behind It.
Many party leaders. including
Homer s. Cummings. reiterated
confidence that no other platform
plank would lead to a fight on the
convention floor. The league of pa-'
tions. declaration as framed by ad-
certain of acceptance after only =
nominable squabble in the platform
committee. ,4
Senator Glass first conference
after his arrival yesterday was with
Chairman Cummings. They had
dinner together in the chairmar's
hotel room and spent most of the
evening in consultation. w. J..
Bryan, expected to lead the light on
such treaty plank as well as the
prohibition fight. still was missing
from the group of leaders here. He
will arrive late in the week and no
one pretended to know what plan. of
campaign he may contemplate.
Word of Mr.. Bryan's announces
ment at Helena. Mont. last night
that he would support Senator
Walsh OF that state for permanent
chairman came as surprise to
most of the party chiefs and started
speculation as to how far the Me-
braskan might go in an effort to
overtun plans of the administra-
tion forces. Secretary Colby. Sena-
tor Robinson, of Arkansas, and
Chairman Cummings have been
mentioned by administration sup
porters for the permanent chair
manship but 1t was said there had
been no decision.
The suggestion that Mr.. Cummings
continue as presiding officer was put
forward today as a means of short
ening the convention proceedings by
dispensing with the formality OF
second convention organization. Mr..
Cummings said personally he did not
favor the plan and hopes some ono
else would be given the chairman
shin