South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-27
RIVAL FORCES
OF DEMOCRATS
SET FOR MEET
Closing Hours of Pre-Conven.
ventiOn Period Fail to Show
Strength of Men.
By Associated IS

by Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO. June 26.-As
the rival forces of the democratic
national convention move into posi-
lion for the opening Monday, there
IS apparently no more definite align
menL OF strength for various candi-
dates than there has been since the
delegates began to assemble. William
Jennings Bryan epitomized the situa-
ton today in language with which
most observers seemed 10 agree.
There VIII be Il lot of tickets
put up and put down before this
convention dominates one ne said.
The closing hours Of the pre-cOn-
venticn period are much the same
as characterized the last minute pro-
ceedings Of the republican cOnven-
tOn at Chicago. There is a marked
similarity in many RESP ects.
900 Uninstructed.
Seven hundred and fifty-slx Of the
1912 delegates are uninstructed.
Their personal preferences cannot be
assembled in composite review. There
are 10 candidates avowed, unwilling
or receptive. Ii seems. certain that
some balloting on the convention
loor Will be necessary 70 disclose
the lines OF strength and weakness,
clear the ground of favoTite sons
and complimentary votes and 10
narrow the situation down 10 real
contenders.
No democratic candidate comes TO
San Francisco with any such show
ing of pledged strength as was
brought TO Chicago by Wood, Low
den or Johnson. But, as at Chi
cago, the situation at the opening
revolves at the moment on issues,
rather than about candidates.
How much influence William Jen-
nings Bryan Will have on the max
ing OF the party's platform, and its
choice of a candidate, Will be shown
soon after the opening session OF
the convention Monday.
VIII Show Strength.
The first evidence of how much
of a force Mr.. Bryan Will be- will
come in the makeup of the resolu-
tiOns committee which Will draft
the platform and in the choice Of
The permanent organization OF the
convention.
These issues viii bring about a
direct conflict between the admins
lration forces and Mr.. Bryan's fore
es. If Mr.. Bryan finds upon the
resolutions committee a majority OF
men sympathetic with his views on
prohibition, the league OF nations
and other questions, the chances OF
"a fight at the outset will be mInimiz-
ed. If the administration men con
troll and insist on declaration IN
support OF the league covenant as
brought from Versailles by Prest
Wilson, Mr. Bryan may oppose bring
ing the issue into the platform at
an. OF course, If the vets at
tempt 10 put in a plank which runs
counter 10 Mr.. Bryan's declared
views on prohibition, Mr.. Bryan Ger
tainly will carry the fight to the floor
OF the convention.
Prospects OF Fireworks.
In such an event, Mr.. Bryan will
not be unanswered and there are
prospects Of fireworks. which might
even eclipse the display which ac-
cOmpanied Mr.. Bryan's fight at Bal
timore which eliminated in the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson.
Mondays session viii be a mere
preliminary in which Chairman
CUMMINGS Will deliver his keynote
speech, the caucus designations for
various committees including reSO-
lutions and credentials Will be rau-
fed when the convention will ad-
journ so that the committees can
work.
Nobody processes to know what
candidate Mr.. Bryan savors. 40
one processes to know with any
greater degree Of certainty what
candidate Prest Wilson and the adj
ministration forces may favor.
But at every turn OF the road, the
elusive McAdoO movement bObs up.
The play of politics is expected to
show many shifting alignments as
the convention proceeds IN its dis
cussion of party issues.
Oppose Bryan.
There are many vets who, op-
posing Bryan on the prohibition