Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-01
Bryan Battling
for "Dry" Plank

y sStsSsS
Continued from Pege One
last night and ended with recess at
3 80 this morning. The committee
adopted the labor and several other
minor planks, however.
Treaty Plank Amended
AS submitted to the committee. the
administration treaty plank according
to authoritative statements provided
1--WE recommended ratification of the
Treaty of Versailles and the League of
Nations covenant, without reserva
tons which would impair its essential
integrity"
The words added by Senator Walsh's
amendment we're:
But we do not oppose reservations
which make more clear or specific our
obligations to- the associated nations"
In the treaty debate Vice President
Marshall was reported to have criticized
the administration plank because it
gave no information to the public re-
garding what reservations would fall
within the class described as not i'm
pairing the covenants Essential in
tegrity.,",
clared he would rather go to the ccun-
]
fication than be asked to define indie
structive reservations.
Chairman Glass, Senator Mckellar,
of Tennessee, and other administration
chieftains strenuously opposed the
Walsh amendment. The significance Of
its adoption was indicated by sharp
assertions from the administration side
! that 1t would play into the hands of the
Republicans. be regarded as a weaken
tnn Af tha L.
support for the position of Republican
senators led by Senator Lodge. Some
administration spokesmen even de-
clared. it was said, that it would work
to defeat the party in November. and
Senator McKellar was declared to have
denounced the Walsh amendment as the
doctrine of hell" Another administra- :
tion member said 1t would appear as il
the Democrats were looming to terms"
with the Republicans. Still another
opponent of Senator's Walsh's amend
ment said that it's defeat was tanta-
mount to defeating the Lodge reserva-
! tions and that il the committee adopted
the Walsh addition it fought to put
Senaor Lodge in nomination" here.
POmerene Supports Amendment
Senator Pomerene supported the
Walsh amendment, declaring that the
treaty had delayed peace more than
year and that the honor of the nation
and its participation in the league plan
for world peace should require prompt
ratification. He declared the league
was such an advanced and important
step toward world peace that it would
be disastrous to lose the great oppor-
tunity by disagreement over reserva-
tions.
Although Senator Walsh is said to
| thnt al "
league covenant would be destroyed by
the Lodge reservations, he and Senator
Pomerene told the committee that most
If not all other important features of
the league plan still would remain. SEN
ator Pomerene incidentally declared he
had no apologies to make for his vote
for ratification with the Lodge provisos.
The Democrats. Mr.. Pomerene de-
clared, could not Justify position kill
ing the treaty. Both he and Senator
Walsh made it clear that the admin
istration plank, plus the Walsh amend
ment. did not go as far as they desired.
but would present a better issue to the
country.
An assertion by Senator Walsh that
without his amendment the treaty would
be lost and that with it the trcaty's
| ratification would be assured, was met
by statement by former Governor Nc
Corklp, of West Virginia, that he was
opposed to action for mere expediency.
'God help the Democratic party"
Governor McCorkle exclaimed. You
will lose the respect of the American
people.
During the debate Senator Glass and
Mr.. Bryan clashed over Mr.. Bryan's
published criticism of the subcommittee
as secret" body. When Senator
Glass objected to it Mr.. Bryan replied
that he would use 1t again or any other
word he might choose.
Chairman Carter Glass and other
members refused to give out any infor-
nation concerning any action by the
committee, but it was indicated that,
dissatisfied with the treaty plank ap-
proved, minority report for appeal to
the convention was under consideration.
The labor plank adopted declared
plored strikes and lockouts and ad-
vocated that some peaceable way be
found to settle industrial disputes.
The committee also put its approval
on a declaration for legislation which
would permit collective bargaining by
farmers.
AS reported by the subcommittee the
League of Nations plank followed
closely that adopted by the Virginia
Democrats. Senator Walsh, of Mon
tana, submitted minority report and
led the fight against the Virginia pro
posal, which had the backing of Pres
ident Wilson.
Bitter Feeling Developed
In the debate, which loosed flood
of bitter feeling, Senator Walsh was
seconded by Mr.. Bryan, Senator Walsh,
Of Massachusetts, and Senator Pome-
rene, of Ohio, while the battle for the
administration was led by Senator
Glass, Of Virginia, the committee chair
man. senator Walsh 5 minority report
provided for a plank pledging the nomi-
nee of the convention and Democratic
senators to make such concessions as
might be necessary to secure ratifica-
tion Of the treaty. All of those who
ssaDsstsd. It told the committee bluntly