Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-23
DENIS FORESEE !.
DlSCORD OVER
LIQUOR ISSUE
Orninous Rumblings Become
More Audible as Chiefs
Reach San Francisco.

: Nt- MF-- l.-.. ..G- rs ~ -
San Francisco, CAL, June "a
Rumblings Of democratic discord' over
the prohibition issue became hourly
party chiefs arrived in increasing
numbers for the national convention.
Hope that the gathering storm
might spend itself behind the closed
doors Of the platform committee vir-
tually was abandoned by The leaders
and they prepared to face ar outbreak
OF tempestuous debate, on the floor of
the convention itsAlf..
Already i oyesgvshta dowing issuerin
ton OF a. platform declaration axainst
the present bone dry law almost
took the whole stage for itself today
as the gathering delegates heard of
Postmaster General Bu%rleson's. an
nouncement for "a modification OF the
Volstead act.
Nominee and Platform.
Closely intertwined with the prohi-
bition question is the problem ot<ke-
lecting a nominee in accord with the
platform as finally agreed on, and
among many of the practical politi-
clans there, is a feeling that the two
decisions must be settled virtually al
n stroke.
The League of Nations disagreement
along with several other disputed plat
form issues, has followed the question
OF candidates into temporary eclipse,
Among mos of the leaders it is agreed
that whatever trouble develops yer
the treaty will be only a drop in the
bucket compared to the prohibition
fight.
Drys Confident.
Leaders of the bone dry forces were
confident today that they would com.
mand a good majority in tlYe platform
committee. where each state has only
one member, and could keep out OF
the committee report any declaration
Tor a change in the present law. With
this view. most of the Opposing man:
ayers privately agreed. but they de.
ciared that whenF ali appeal was taken
to the convention itself the vote would
tell a much different story. The large
states, 1T was pointed out, while hav.
ing only one vote apiece in the com.
mlttee, will have a much greater voice
IN the whole body Of delegates who
make up the final court Of apbeals
And most of the largest delegations
are n on for support by the ad.
vocates of y beer plank.
A complicating feature of the con.
yentioa floor fight would be the uni,
iru'c. unde which nan state delega,
tons arc instructed to vote as a body
Bryan Heads .Drys. -
William j. Bryan would be expect,
ed to lead the bone drys and he posi-.
ply would find pitted. against hin,
strategists and orators of the frs,
rank. w. Bourke Cochran, of New
YORK. was mentioned as one of those
who might be asked to match wits and
eloquence with the Nebraskan in the
convention debate.
Although Mr.. Bryan is expected te
make a fight also against the admin.
lstration treaty plank, the general be
lief OF his friends here is that he will,
reserve his greatest effort for the pro.
hihition problem.
Senator Carter Glass is the leading
candidate for the chairman OF. thu
platform committee, and the genera
prediction today. wassthat he would
be chosen to that position with~littlt
opposition.
Chairman Cummings said toda,
that It was. still! an open question
whether the adoption of the platform
or the choice of a nominee would come
first on the convention program. The
prospect OF a prolonged fight in com
mittee over prohibition and perhap,
some other subjects. has led to move.
ment to go ahead with balloting while
the committee sits. The usual order i;
to displose of the platform first. how
ever. and the general feeling seemed
to be that custom would be followed
Such talk as there was toda,
regarding candidates seemed tt
strengthen the prospects Of a dead
lock for several ballots.
Deadlock Seen,
In the generally accepted view, tn,
withdrawal of William G. McAdoo viii
operate to make a deadlock more like
ly~sby distributing more or less ,widel,
the strength which had been lined vi
behind him. Some thought. however
that a considerable following woulf
vote for him despite hisN public with
drawal, while the most enthusiast,
OF the McAdoo supporters were still
predicting that he would be the nomi: