The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-25
Progressive Platform Is
Democratic Prediction
High Washington Official Gives
.Pre-C0nventi0n Views to Cor
respondent for Journal.
CANDIDATE NOT CHOSEN
Gossip Handed Out By So
Called Leaders Heretofore
ssMere Propaganda"
(By Il. N. RlckEY.)

t6y n. ~. HiCkEY.)
San Francisco, Cal, June 24.-"This
convention is going to adopt pro-
gressive man to run it,
, The statement was made to me to-
day by a high Washington official,
who is in as good a position as any
man in San Francisco to know the
purposes of the administration group
who will be in control of the conven-
tion.
II do not mean to say that the can
didate has been chosen by the white
house or by any one else. for that is
not the fact" continued the official.
''but we are in a position to block the
nomination of any candidate who does
not conform to such progressive spec
ifications as we prescribe, and no COM
can possibly defeat our pur-
pose.
In both candidate and platform, the
party is going to be as pro-
gressive and positive as the Republic
can party is reactionary and evasive.
In short, we are going to accept the
republican challenge, both for reasons
Of patriotism and political expediency.
1t is the irrevocable determination of
those who will control the democratic
to give the voters of the
nation chance to choose between
Harding and government in the in
terest of big business and a good look
Of all the people.
"The nomination of Harding in the
brutally frank way it was brought
about and the adoption by the repub-
licans of Jim Watson's reactionary
platform, have given the democrats
their golden opportunity, and we are
going to take advantage of it,
I expressed my delight and surprise
Ind called my friends attention to the
TACT that up to now all the talk in the
hotel lobbies and candidates head
quarters had been about booze.
II know that" he replied, "but that |
s mostly propaganda by the liquor /
people. They are making their last |
stand here trying to capture the Dem
,cratic party for the purpose of OPEN
ng up the liquor issue. Take it from :
ne, they won't succeed. If the Dem
'cratic party at this great crisis in
he affairs of the world and nation /
hould permit itself to be used for this
purpose it would be defeated and dis
.redited, and would deserve to be. /
imagine a presidential campaign be-
ng waged in this country, at this I
ritical juncture on the issue of i
or not the prohibition amend
nent is to be enforced. II liquor is
ven mentioned in the platform it
vould be the paramount issue of the
For that reason. if for no other, it
yill not be mentioned.
Some of the most patriotic and 4
'isest men in the party have been at
7ork for several weeks preparing the II
draft of the platform. have
cen most of the planks, in fact, helped
D prepare some of them.
"The plank on the League of Ma /
ons is explicit. 1t backs the presi- X
ent to the limit and makes the issue (;
nth the republicans as clear cut as
ossible. The voters will have a Il
hance to decide between going into the
Aague and having America do her Z
hare in world rehabilitation and 8
'orld peace or staying out and arming {
, the teeth, which is the republican /
H. =
The platform will be equally spe- r
fic on the vital subject of taxation, ]
Ugh cost of living, the relations be- !
veen the government and national
ublic utilities and the relations bell /
Eeen capital and labor. IL
"On all these subjects the platform r
Ill give expression to what we be- !
eve to be the sane. progressive SEN !
ment of the country without going !, I
Ito the dreamland of socialism. ii
I'VE are going to the court with a II
andidate and a platform that ought | j
J, and we believe, will, get the votes j
those men and women who are not ! {
lady yet to have Wall Street ap- +
ointed receiver for America" a