Arizona republican., 1920-06-26
r OLL OVERS IF.
 ADMINISTRATION . HOLD WHIP HAND
Friends of President in Full Control as Convention Draws Near = Bryan and Administration Critics Losing Grip
Republican A. p. Leased wire]


 SAN FRANCISCO, June 25.-So far as surface indications were concerned, at least, the friends of President Will son and his administration appeared in complete control of the political ma chinery of the Democratic party today as the actual preliminaries of the na- tional convention began.
 Their domination was not without it's complement of grumbling and com plaints among scattering insurgent ele- ments, but there was every evidence that on a showdown the anti-adminis- tration forces not only were far in the minority but were lacking in organiZa- tion and leadership.
 The ascendancy of the Wilson sup porters showed itself in striking fashion in the program of the national committee, meeting to decide between contesting delegates. Many commit tee members expressed the opinion when a recess was taken until tomor- row without the Georgia contest or the Missouri case having been reached, that the ruling to be made in those cases would be shaped to keep out of the convention Senator Reed of Mis- souri and former Senator Hardwick of Georgia. two of the bittereSt critics of the Wilson policies.
 Another development pointing in the same direction was the apparent col
 
 of Virginia in his candidacy for chair man of the resolutions committee, a post for which he is commonly reported to have been selected by the president himself.
 Bryan Losing Grip
 In addition, there was accumulatin g evidence that William Jennings Bryan would find the cards against him in his attempt to put into the platform a league of nations plank in disagree ment with the presidents views and a prohibition enforcement plank framed without the acquiescence of the ad- ministration.
 With regard to prohibition, however. the situation remained in a state of considerable uncertainty, with the trend apparently toward exclusion ot the subject from the platform entirely. Those who want a liberalization plank continued an active campaign and some members of the New York dele gation declared they would carry their fight to the floor of the convention, but a feeling gained headway that in the end both MT. Bryan's bone dry declaration and that of the anti-bone drys would be voted down.
 Just where President Wilson stands on that subject has not been made clear, but increasing significance was attached in the days conferences to the absence of any reference to pro- hibition in the Virginia Democratic platform. unqualifiedly indorsed by the White House.
 Neither has the administration tipped it's hand in regard to presfden- tial candidates and tonight the rela- tive standing of aspirants remains ap- parently unchanged. Attorney Gen. eral Palmer arrived during the day to take personal charge of his campaign and by tomorrow the gunning of can didates and their manager among the uninstructed delegates is expected to be at it's height
 Walsh May Be Chairman Those who originally had suggested a fight against Senator Glass for the platform committee chairmanship ap- parently had turned their efforts to- night toward selection of Senator Walsh of Montana as permanent chair
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