Evening journal., 1922-08-29

Harry Mayer. John w. Arthurs, Mrs.
S. b. Gooding, Miss Dora Wilds.
Massey Mlnner. Thomas Cahail,
Evelyn l. Culbage, J. Harry Latch
man. Mrs. j. w. Belts, Mrs. John
W. Clifton. Mrs Mabel Derby. Mrs.
Caroline Hughes, Joshua Smith,
Robert Hollett and Richard r.
Kenney.
STAFF Correspondent.
DOVER, Aug. 2o.-Decision by
the Democratic State Committee to
have a woman. Miss Ellen Sam
worth, OF Wilmington, act as tenn
porary chairman and make the key
note speech at the Democratic State
Convention here this afternoon and
three-hour wrangle In the State
Committee meeting over a Sahara"
plank in the platform were the out
standing features of the pre-con-
tion gathering Of Democrats here
last night.
This will be the first time In the
history OF the State that a woman
has presided over a party convention.
Miss Samworth has been an ardent
Democratic worker since the women
got the ballot and took an active part
in the last State campaign. Her Sc
lection as temporary chairman and
10 make the opening speech OF the
campaign came as a surprise even
to Miss Samworth. She was not pre-
pared for such honors and said after
the State Committee meeting OF
which she is a member that she
would have 10 prepare something TO
say at the convention today, as she
had not been notified that she would
be called on TO map out the party
program for the campaign. The per-
manent chairman OF the convention
was not decided on at the meeting
0f the committee last night.
II took but a short time for the
committee to decide on Miss Sam
worth for temporary chairman but
nearly the entire evening was taken
up in the discussion Of the dry
plank which some OF the members
say would have made a Federal en-
foreement agency out of the Demo-
cratic party in Delaware If it had !
been adopted. The plank. although |
advocated by the chairman of the !
special committee on platform ap- |
pointed some weeks ago by tho State |
Committee. was. after extended ar
gument, eliminated from the plat
form entirely.
This result was not accomplished |
entirely by the wet" votes of the
committee. II is declared by some |
of the wet" members that a num-
Der Of the "drys," including several
women members. Joined with them
to vote down the proposition after
It had been explained to them.
James II. Hughes. OF Dover. chair
man Of the platform committee. pre-
sented the tentative platform in
the Sahara" plank to the
State Committee at its meeting hast
night. and advocated its adoption
with the remainder OF the platform.
After the meeting the officers of the
committee declined TO give out a
copy OF the tentative platform be-
cause they said 1t had been mutt
lated considerably.
There were not many breakers, #
is understood, in the platform until
the dry" plank was reached. When
this was read there were yells that
could be heard for some distance.
Some of the members expressed the
opinion that they did. not think Il
was possible 10 get a supposed
Democratic plank so dry. Some of
them declared II was so dry" they
feared fire. The plank as advocated
by Mr.. Hughes. It is declared, was
IN attempt to tie the party up to 4.
lelp Uncle Sam al any end all times
10 dig out and prosecute Volstead ,
lct offenders and to try and get :
more State laws passed if that can
1e possible to make II compulsory r
'or Delaware TO assist Uncle sam \
n this work.
Ihis plank started an argument
hat lasted practically from Q
'clock in the evening until 1 o'clock
n the morning. and that standard
ime Mr.. Hughes was supported in
lis fight for the adoption of tie !
'lank by former Prohibition Direc-
or w, Truxton Boyce. of Stanton
Hiss Samworth and others. Among
nose who argued against II were.
J. Mooney, Charles R. Saw
or and Andrew c. Gray, OF VII J
and James NJ. Tunnel of
Georgetown. On motion Of Matthew !
Of wilmington. this plank s
vas eliminated from the platform
by a large vote. The motion G
t Is claimed. was supported bv a a
lumber OF members Of the commit
ee who are generally termed as
dry but voted against this plank
IN the ground that it was not even 7
reasonable. n
The state Committee also approv- G
d plank which advocates more y
lome rule for Wilmington and a 7
charter for the city. :
While the State Committee was in
ession the political leaders were
'usy on the outside trying to line :
n delegates for the various candi-
ates for the nomination for Unit
d States Senator.
The situation as to the possible
ominee for senatorial honors was a =
uzzle 10 every one. including the
,aders, all evening.
II was early agreed that the fight c
as between Thomas f. Bayard OF RI
and former Judge VIII h
am II. Boyce Of Dover. William II
7. Knowles OF Wilmington and ST
enry Ridgely OF Dover. two others II
no had been talked OF for the SEN ei
.orial nomination, were known to d
e practically out OF the running as
result of the primary election on