Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-06-23
NATIONS LEAGUE
TO PLAY SECOND
FIDDLE To PRO
.. ISSUE, IS BELIEF.
Democratic Leaders Who
Have Arrived at San Fran
1 cisco For Convention See
a Fierce Battle Ahead.
BRYAN is DIRECTLY
OPPOSED TO WILSON
Treaty Clash Is Likely to Be
0vershadoWed BY the De-
mands for a Modification
of the VoIstead Act.

Iuv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL teAeeo WiHR'
San Francisco, June 22.-Post-
master General Burleson's state
ment today at San Antonio re-
garding democratic platform issues
drew particular attention among
party leaders here for the ma
tional convention next week be-
cause of it's frank declaration for
modification of the Volstead pro-
hibition enforcement act.
Mr.. Burleson's demand for re-
peal of drastic and absurd" pro-
visions of the act expressed IN
more direct fashion views which
some of the party leaders now
here previously had voiced prl--
vately Coming from a member OF
President Wilson's cabinet, ne
statement was regarded as a ros-
sible ind:ne ton of the admIhis-
trations sttllude on the pr r,htbi-
ton issue before the conve ltlon.
Glass Is Due Tomorrow.
Senator Glass, Of Virginia, who
is due here tomorrow, is under
stood to have been entrusted with
a formal expression of President
Wilson's views as to the platform.
On other occasions, however, the
postmaster general has been the
direct spokesman of the president
on important issues. and demo-
Gratis here were inclined to take
his expression as to the prohibition
plank as more than a statement
of his own views.
The preliminary convention dis
cussion in progress here, while
wholly informal in character, has
shown q striking unanimity or
opinion on two points thus far.
The first of these is that the plat
form struggle will be the real
fight of the convention; the Sec
ond that the prohibition plank
will be the chief issue In that
light, outrivaling the league of ma
tions declaration in interest among
delegates.
Bryan Opposes Wilson.
On the league issue w. J. Bryan
already is standing directly op-
posed to President Wilson's views
as to the party attitude. That
dates back to the Jackson day din
ner when Mr.. Wilson urged that
the democrats enter the campaign
on the issue of ratification of the
league covenant without material
reservation. The former secretary
of state stood just as strongly for
acceptance of the republican senate
resolutions as a basis for ratifica-
ton and in order to keep the league
covenant out of the campaign.
If Mr.. Burleson's statement is 10
be accepted as representing the
presidents views on prohibition,
delegates said. it now was evident
that Bryan and the administration
forces were to clash also over that
plank in the party platform.
Mr.. Bryan's views have been
known to be rigidly against any
weakening of the prohibition laws.
Mandate Over Armenia.
II ere is also. it was said, third
point on which the president and
his former secretary of state might
lock horns at the convention. 1t
was recalled that when the presi-
dent asked congress for authority
to accept a mandate over Armenia
under the league of nations, Mr..
Bryan promptly issued a statement
in flat opposition to such a pro-
gram. 1t has been regarded as
possible that the president might
seek to have the convention in
dorse his course as to Armenia
and If so, it was said. the Nebraska
leader could be expected to exert !!
his influence against such action. |
Pending arrival of Senator Glass. !
Mr.. Burleson and Mr.. Bryan, all OF
whom will reach the convention |
city during the week, the few
party leaders and delegates already |
on the ground have been exchang-
ing only gossippy comment and ex-
pressions of personal opinion on
issues to come up. There have