Evening star., 1924-06-29
K[AN TEST SHAKES
PARTY TRADITIONS
Democrats May Have to Quit
Old Practice of Issue
StraddIing.
CHANGE IN BRYAN NOTED
Gross of Gold" Foe Now Works
With Group Ready to Infict
Another Thorny Crown.
CHANGE IN BRYAN NOTED
BY HEYwooD BROUN.

NEW YORK, June 2S.-Excitement
ran higher than at any previous mo-
ment in the convention as the Demo-
waited to hear the fight to name
the klan in the platform. The noise
was less. Tension muffied the voices
- - ..uor u:Iu III the gal
leries
Judging from the behavior of the
crowd. no other plank in the plat
form was of any moment whatever
In the beginning it was said by some
that the klan issue was red her
ring. That herring has now become
Leviathian. And by now it is impos-
sible to maintain that the question
Is solely one of tactics.
Through the developments of to-
DAY II became evident that support
ers of the klan were concerned solely
with the fight to keep the name of
the organization from being spe-
GGIncally set down. When Patrick j.
doomed out the majority plank, de-
caring for freedom of religion
fire dom of speech and freedom of
"orship. delegates from Georgia and
other Man stronGholds cheered vocif-
erously, just as they have cheered
week. In the minds of the opposing
Iactlons point had been reached by
Which 1t became apparent that even
the most fervent and scathing de-
nunciation of intolerance would be a.
Man victory if only the name were
omitted. And a plank which said ::
Ism t 1t possible that upon a few
rare occasions the ku klux Khan
might conceivably go just wee bit
LOO lar would be strong plank.
Traditions Are Broken.
The klan itself seems to have set
this test. At Cleveland it asked
nothing except that it's name should
not be mentioned and that is the same
stipulation which was presented by
members of the order to the Demo
Gratis.
Many see in the struggle an issue
even wider than the question of Klan
activity. 1t is not impossible to
maintain that a great party has been
asked TO abandon the local tradition
or d century and to say precisely
What 1T means. The general practice
mas been to make planks broad
enough to permit both east and west
trafnc: The plank proposed by the
minority group in the resolutions
committee was recognized as a one
way street.
Another tradition was broken be-
fore the afternoon ended. The usual
practice of conventions is to foment
and encourage noise and commotien
put both sides engaged in the. klan
nsht were obviously anxious ito
throttIe down emotion as far as pos
sible. Men in the New York dele
CATION signaled to the galleries for
silence Immediately the first great
cheer rose after the reading Of the
plank which said ''ku Klux Khan"
Bryan Makes Cynics Smile.
Certainly there was nothing orator
ical or emotional in the manner of
Pattengall of Maine as he read the
resolution. He might have been read
ing the annual report of a success
ful hymn book house to the board Of
directors. Indeed, once, when he was
interrupted by applause he said.
why, don't you wait til I've read
Upon the platform gathered the
Bryan came up the aisle a little be-
tore the platform was read and took
a seat close behind the speaking desk.
He was applauded by delegates, but
not at all wildly and the galleries
paid almost no attention to him.
The jests of irony move in circles
ana mere may be chuckling among
the commoner. The man who came
from the prairie country years ago
to tear down the mighty and exalt
the oppressed has become now the
vatism. The man who won a nomi-
nation by speaking out is a leader
in the Democratic faction which
wants discreet silence. And the
youngster who talked of the Gross
Of gold" sits now in the shadow Of
that group which would take another
crown of thorns and press it upon
the brow OF negro, catholic or Jew.