Evening star., 1920-06-24
HUSTLE AND BUZZ
RIFE AS 'BONE-DRY
PLANK AG|TATES
Democrats at San Francisco
( Find "Wet" Discussion
Holding the Center.
,r fhe Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO. June 24.-Prelim-
5naries to the democratic nationa
convention got into the inevitable pc
Iiod of hurry and scramble today with
the appearance here of one after an
other of the men who are to play
leading parts in the big quadrennial
drama.
In the whisperiugs behind the
scenes the question of the party's pol
icy toward bone-dry prohibition con-
tinueG the big theme of agitation
with prospects for fight on the con-
vention floor growing better and bet-
ter. Arriving leaders and delegation
also added some impetus to the dis
Cussion of presidential andidates, but
that subject still remained well in the
background.
Glass and Murphy Get In.
Two figures newly arrived on the
scene attracted particular attention
One was Senator Carter Glass of Vir-
generally reported to have brought
President Wilson's own draft of the
platform.
The other was Charles E. Murphy of
New York, the leader of Tammany
Hail. who came direct from the wide
iy heralded conference of old line
party strategists at French Lick. Ind.
Both of them were as busy as bea-
NerS, but as silent and cagey as mice
Privately they took careful stock OF
The situation and conferred earnestly
with other leaders from far and wide
Publicly, they refused to talk politics
outline what they hoped to accomplish
or predict what the convention finally
would bring forth.
Murphy Is New "Center."
Mr.. Murphy was the new center OF
speculation on the subject of pro-
hibition. The declaration of the New
York state convention for repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment and widely
circulated reports of the catching of
an anti-bone-dry plan at French Lick
helped to bolster the impression
among many delegates that Tammany
would lead in the effort to write such
a plank into the platform.
Not only the Tammany chief, but
all of his lieutenants, refused stead
fastly to discuss that subject or to
say whether any anti-prohibition
movement really had been launched at
the French Lick conference.
Thomas Taggart of Indiana, another
principal in the conference, was ex-
pected to arrive here late today or
early tomorrow, but it generally was
predicted that the lines of division on
the prohibition issue would not be
clearly drawn until the convention
actually gets under way on Monday.
Wilson Position in Doubt.
One element which tended to keep
the problem in fiux was the uncer-
tainty of many of those here-regard-
ing the position of President Wilson.
The Virginia state platform. which
has been given the Presidents un-
qualified approval, and on which the
national platform is expected to be
modelled, is silent on the subject
Some of Mr. Wilson's closest political
frin ha adp ,iri iSt raf hn "
ever are known to have prepared a
liberalization plank. for which they
are ready TO make fight in the
convention.
This plank. said to have been draft
ed after conferences in Washington
among men high in the party coun-
ellis does not mention beer or wines
by name. but makes a blanket dec
laration for more liberal interpreta-
tion by Congress of the prohibition
effort will be made by sponsors of
the proposal to throw the influence of
the administration behind it.
League Platform Certain.
Many of the party leaders. includ-
ing Homer s, Cummings. the national
chairman. reiterated confidence that
no other platform plank would lead
The league Of nations declarations
as framed by administration support
ers was declared by these leaders to
be certain of acceptance after only
a nominal squabble in the platform
committee.
Senator Glass first conference after
his arrival here late yesterday was
with Chairman Cummings. They had
dinner. together in the chairmans
hotel room and afterward spent most
of the evening in consultation.
Bryan Is Awaited.
William Jennings Bryan. who is ex-
pected to lead the attack on such a
treaty plank, as well as the fight
against a prohibition liberalization
declaration. still was missing today
from the constellation of leaders here
He will arrive late in the week, and
no one here pretended to know ex-
actly what plan of campaign he may
contemplate.
Word of Mr.. Bryan'S announcement
at Helena. Mont. last night that he
would support Senator Walsh of that
state for permanent chairman of the
convention came as surprise to
most of the party chiefs here anC
started speculation as to how far the
Nebraskan might go in an effort tC
overturn the plans of the admins
tration forces. Secretary Colby of the
State Department, Senator Robinson
OF Arkansas and Chairman Cumming.
have been mentioned by admins
tration supporters for the permanent
chairmanship, but il was said today
there had been no decision.
The suggestion that Mr.. Cumming
who will be temporary chairman, b,
continued as presiding officer wa!
nut forward today means o
shortening the convention proceed
incs by dispensing with the formali
ties of a second convention organi
~nation. Mr.. Cummings said. however
personally he did not favor the plal
and hoped some one else would b.
given the permanent chairmanship
No speech by President.
Physical prepa rations at the con
vention hall virtually were complete'
today with the perfection of a sys
TEN of electrical megaphones t
carry the voices of speakers out t
the corners of the big incloSure. In
stallation of the paraphernalia start
ed report that President Wilso
was to address the delegates by Ion,
distance telephone, but Chairman
Cummings said if there were an,
such intention he was not aware of II
One hitch in the arrangements re
manning TO be eliminated had to d
with the seating of state delegations
which exceed in number the nationa
committees allotment
In several states two or three time
the allotted number of delegates wa
selected with the intention that eac
should have a fraction of a vote
convention officials said every effor
would be made to arrange for seat
for all such delegates, though som
of them might have to sit in tn
visitors section.