South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-27
BRYAN PREDICTS
ROUT FOR "WETS"
AT FRISCO MEET
Famous Leader of Drys For
mally Opens His Fight for
Prohibition Plank.
Bv Associated Pc !:

by Associated Press:
SAN FRANCISCO. June 90
Vets and drys today continued their
pre-convention battle. but left the
outcome still in doubt
William Jennings Bryan formal
" opened his fight for a prohibition
platform plank After his election
by the Nebraska delegation 20 the
resolutions committee. he made a
long and vigorous address at
luncheon at the Commonwealth club
on prohibition and other platform
questions. He declared the demo-
cratic Iarty must be saved from
the liquor interests and predicted
| utter rOut for the VETS"
Confine Work.
Democratic leaders favoring modi-
fcation OF the Volstead law confined
their efforts 10 quiet work among
state delegations. Several claimed
large accessiOns TO a wet, or a. least
damp declaration. Other leaders.
however. declared the platform
would be silent on the prohibition
question and were working toward
that end.
1t is the paramount issue before
the democrats, Mr.. Bryan said. de-
claring his special purpose here was
10 have a dry" plank incorporated
in the platform-essential to party
victory in November, he declared.
The vets were encouraged by rep
resentatiyes from southern delega-
tions that hopes OF the prohibition
lists for a solid south" for a pro-
hibition declaration were unbound
ed. They declared that unit rule
could not be evoked on all southern
delegations and that many OF the
southerners were ready TO vote
against the Lrohibitionists.
Welcome Report
Mr.. Bryan told his audience to-
day that he sought his place on the
resolutions committee especially 20
fight for a dry" plank.
Mr.. Bryan said he would welcome
a minority report from the resolu-
tons committee If necessary, TO
| bring the issue squarely before the
! convention.
When we're through" he con-
| tinued, the country viii know
whether the democratic party will
be the chattel property OF the brew
ers or whether they'll be out OF
business never 10 raise their black
flag again. There viii be no dOdg-
Ing the issue. no skuiking around
az there was at Chicago. II the
democratic party isn't willing 10
speak out after the supreme court
has withered every argument OF the
vets, II ought 10 dissolve"
Assails G.. .. +.
Assailing the republican conven-
ton for its silence on prohibition,
Mr.. Bryan said that If the demo-
Gratis wished 10 secure support from
/ 100000 women voters, they must
declare for continued prohibition.
ANY break in the prohibition, he
said, would result eventually IN re-
establishment of saloons. gambling
halls and dives. Individual candi-
dates were not discussed by Mr..
Bryan in his address except 20 say
that more men were being discussed
for the presidential nomination tbau
in any previous democratic gather
ing.
There will be more tickets put
UP and put down in the next few
days than ever before" added the
| Nebraskan
Other platform pIanks. Mr. Bryan
told his audience, would relate 20
labor and prOfteering He advocat-
ed a declaration for compulsory in
vestigaUon OF all Industrial disputes
20 avert strikes and protect the pub
lie
Wants labor Plank
Mr.. Bryan said awaiting period
| during investigation Of industrial
disputes. before strikes or lOckouts
occur. would protect the Lublic,
| comprising the larger majority OF
those interested.
on the league Of nations and the
treaty OF Versailles. Mr. Bryan de-
plored their injection into partisan
| politics.
Il want no sham battle in this
/ country this fall" he said OF want
/ this country 10 let the world kn~w
| that we'll do everything 20 make
/ this last war the last one. I don't
/ want the treaty made a campaign
| issue. It's a crime 20 drag &c down
I'm the mire OF partisan-poi
IF the treaty is not the para
| mount issue OF the campaign. 4 see
no reason 10 Graz i in al all