The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30
CommOner and Wilson Contest
for Convention Control.
FOrty-Eight Hours Will Make
or Break Nebraskan.
BOOZE PLANK MAIN OBJECTIVE
Liquor Question Even Over
shadows Peace Pact.
Glass Denies Subcommittee
Rejected Wet Clause.

San Francisco, June s0.-Within
will have been crushed by the admin
istration tank that is rumbling across
the Democratic battlefield today, or
he will have climbed to the drivers
seat. according to every indication on
the various fronts.
The fight between Bryan and Pres
ident Wilson for control of the Demo-
cratic convention became more intense
today with the report that Secretary
of State Colby, representing the presi-
dent, is working for a damp plank in
the platform.
League Issue Oyershadowed.
The Wilson and Bryan forces al
ready are engaged in a bitter strife
over the question of whether the con-
vention shall endorse the League of
Nations. But even the league is over
shadowed in Bryan's estimation by
the wet and dry issue.
The report says the Colby wet plank
is based on the impression that the
administion favors modification of the
volstead act 1t will be recalled that
Wilson vetoed the wartime prohibi-
ton.
Colby is on the subcommittee which
is actually drafting the platform
planks, while Bryan is not There
fore. the latter is expected to save most
of his ammunition for the opening
fight, which is looked for on the con-
vention floor when the platform comes
up for approval there.
Glass Denies Report.
Many conflicting reports were In
circulation today shortly before the
subcommittee met at $50 a. m. to re-
sumo work on the platform.
| a Ola f1aflxy dania6
I a widespread report that the subcom-
| mittee had rejected wet plank tc
3. Glass said that no vote had beer
| taken and no decisions had beer
| reached at the session which broke VI
| at 2 a. m.
Another rumor was that a plank
| calling for repeal of the prohibition
amendment had been voted down anC
| another that the majority of the sub
| committee members were against tax
ing a definite stand for either the wet
or drys.
Bryan In Fight of Life.
| Bryan is waging the fight of hi
| life. On the liquor issue ii is ap
parent that he has chance to win
| but on the league issue, it looks as i
he has his back to the wall.
Administration forces are not con
I sidering a compromise with the Ne
braskan. firmly believing they cal
beat MIN IN the cOmmlttee ana on TN
floor. Bryans direct challenge t
Wilson on the league issue, deliveret
in his speech at the Jackson banque
in Washington last January. has no
been forgotten. The Wilson leader
evidently want to eliminate him from
politics and are determined to a1nihi
late him in the present encounter, o
administer adequate punishment TO
attempting to seize party control from
the president, in the opinion of Bry
ans friends.
I Issue To Be Decisive.
4 If Bryan is decisively beaten in tn
liquor fight. his opponents will fee
that he has been definitely crushed
politically. This. they hold, woul
obliterate all chances of Bryan influ
encing the presidential nomination o
holding a veto power over any candi
date.
Should Bryan prove victor in tn
liquor fight, after a spectacular con
test there is no doubt that he woul
be the biggest single figure in the con
vention, and the party, and that hi
advice on the nomination would b
sought. There even were rumors o
a Bryan boom in that event. Afte
having captured the convention on tn
wet-dry issue, the Commoner, 1t
predicted, would oppose nominatio
of McAdoo, Cox or Palmer.
Promises Big Battle.
w. j. Bryan. in a fighting MOOD
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