The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-07-15

national bulletin for the diSSemina-
ton Of information on all important
national questions Of the day, open
to all political parties and through
which all candidates for office on
national ticket would be privileged
to announce their candidacy and
their qualifications.
Mr. Bryan, by request, offered an
other minority report on the liquor
question prepared by Richard Pear
son Hobson. Bourke Cochran of New
York presented a minority report for
the vets providing for the enactment
of more liberal enforcement legisla-
ton for the Eighteenth Amendment,
and leaving it to each locality to de
termine the desired percentage Of al
coho1. 1t was characteristic Of a
Democratic convention that all sides
were given a hearing before the dele
cation. And what a hearing 1t was.
Mr.. Bryan was given an hour and a
half to present his side OF the story,
and he went to bat with all his old
time vigor. While he yielded a small
part of his time to other speakers
he made the most of every moment
he retained. His powerful presenta-
ton of his subject reminded one of
the days of 1896 when he carried the
Democracy of America off its feet at
Chicago and captured the nomination
by his cross of gold" speech. Or
again in 1912 at Baltimore when he
led the Wilson hosts to victory after
a terrific political battle. Time after
time he aroused the vast audience Of
delegates and spectators to frenzied
heights of enthusiasm. But it was
enthusiasm for the man, an appreci-
alton of the individual and not an
endorsement of his IDEAS. He rec
eived the cheers but not the vote and
his dry plank went down to defeat
with only 155 votes in favor of it, and
his other pIanks were beaten without
a roll call.
The Cochran wet plank Jared but
little better. The gifted orator from
New York used all of his great abil-
ity in presenting his side of the Ques-
ton, but without effect. When the
roll was called the delegations from
the large cities, and from two or
three Of the distinctly wet states,
were with him to the extent of $50
votes, nearly 200 less than the need
ed majority.
The minority report on Ireland pro-
yided for a promise o. recognition for
the Irish Republic as Ireland's support
ers had not been satisfied with mere
ly an expression OF sympathy and the
referring of their demands to the
League of Nations. The minority re-
port was presented by Delegate Do
heny of California, it had the united
support of the Irish delegates but
went down to defeat by vote OF 4O2
to 676. Another minority report pro-
viding for the appointment of COM
mission to investigate cases of per-
sonal financial loss on the part of
soldiers in the world war and placing
the party on record as faYoring fl
nancial assistance in such cases.
Presented by Thomas D. Lyons of
Oklahoma. was rejected by a viva
voce vote, and the majority report
was adopted without roll call
While the platform, as adopted,
may be said to represent a victory
for the administration forces as led
by Senator Glass it was not adopted
without giving all chance to secure
such changes as a majority Of the
delegates favored on the liquor cues
ton
Much as the great audience had ap-
preciated the Oratorical displays and
the keen competition that had marked
the efforts to secure party endorse
ment for opposing ideas, the one great
feature Of national show for which
a h.
candidates for the presidential nomi-
nation, and when Chairman Robinson
of Arkansas AM ounced the next or
der Of business as the roll call of
the states, Immediately after the
adoption Of the platform he was
greeted with a mighty roar. All real
lied that the first ballot taken on
Friday night would show merely a
general lineup of the forces, and that,
no decisive result was possible until
such time as the contest could be
narrowed down to the real leaders.
On the first ballot on Friday night
the result was McAdoo 266, Palmer
256, Cox 134, Governor Smith IO9.
Owen SO, Davis AZ, Cummings 26,
Marshall 81, Meredith 27, Hitchcock
Is, Glass 26, Edwards AZ, Girard 81,
Harrison s and a few scattering
votes.
After the sixteenth ballot a recess
was taken in the hopes that some COM
promise might be effected that would
permit of a nomination before mid
night but it was without result The
leaders, were willing to pick q dark
horse, and the attempt was made to
put over Ambassador Davis, but the
delegates refused to follow the lead
ers. and continued to vote almost to a
man as they had before the adjourn
ment and they continued to do so IN
til midnight forced an adjournment to
Monday. In reality it was the caucuses
Of Sunday and Sunday night that in
the end resulted in the withdrawal of
Palmer and made the final nomina-
ton possible.
Iessenina the Trouble.
These are the smallest sandwiches
| ever saw for the money com
planned tourist in a seaside restau-