Evening star., 1924-06-21
DEMOCRATS INSIST
PLATFORM Be MADE
ULTRA PROGRESSIVE
Situation Differs From G. O.
P. in That Nominee Must Fit
Program of Party.
KLAN, LEAGUE AND DRY
ISSUES FORECAST ROWS
Wilson Group to Demand Vindica-
tion of Former Presidents
Policies.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

NEW YORK, June 2l.-The Demo
Gratis are bent upon writing more
progressive platform than the Re
publicans achieved at Cleveland. The!
insist this is not going to be difficult
to do, thereby giving their opponent:
a dig.
The Democrats face a situation the
reverse of that which maintained a
the Republican national convention
The presidential nominee of the Re
publican party had been selected lone
before the platform was written. The
platform was written largely to fl
the nominee. President Coolidge.
At the Democratic convention, how,
ever, the platform is to be writer
first and then the nominee for Presi-
dent, who must stand on this plat
FORM will, after many ballots, it is
expected, be chosen. Such a pro
cedure might bring about strange
situations. For example, suppose the
platform should contain a strong
anti-ku klux Klan plank, even to
the extent of naming the klan. and
w. G. McAdoo, who, il is claimed
has had strong Khan support for the
nomination, should win the nomina-
ton. Again. suppose that the plat
form should contain strong dry
plank, as many are now insisting i,
shall, and the convention then should
choose Gov Alfred Z. Smith of New
York, hailed widely as the wet
hope, S standard bearer. How would
the voters be able to reconcile the
platform and the nominee in such
cases?
The Democrats, in drafting their
platform, necessarily must consider
such matters and, after the platform
mas been adopted, must also give con-
s1deration to the kind of nominee
who must stand upon it,
Three Issues Loom Large.
Three subjects loom up as the most
difficult of settlement when it comes
to final draft of the platform: The
Khan, the wet" and dry" issue and
foreign relations-or the league of
nations.
preparing for battle. The Klan de-
mands that the platform shall make
no attack on it. 1t would be satis-
ned to have nothing whatever in the
The opponents of the Khan, on the
other hand. including Edward NJ.
Moore of Ohio. who aided in making
Gov. Cox the Democratic nominee of
the party in San Francisco four years
ago, are demanding a strong declara
tion against the klan and that the
Klan be mentioned by name They
do not want the convention to
"pussyfoot" on this question, they
say.
1t is pretty clear that the plat
form will contain no proposal for the
repeal or modification of the Volstead
act, and that it will contain a plank
proposing strict law enforcement.
This does not mean, however, that
strenuous efforts will not be made on
behalf of the vets for some decIa-
ration for a modification of the exist
ing dry law.
Wilson Followers Meet.
The Woodrow Wilson Democracy
following a meeting last night in the
Hotel Pennsylvania, announced that
plank carrying out the ideas OF
Woodrow Wilson with regard to the
league of nations would be offered to
the committee on resolutions by that
organization. The plank will be laid
before the committee by Judge John
w Wescott of Camden, n. j., who
twice placed Mr.. Wilson's name in
nomination for President. The plank
proposed reads as follows:
We reaffirm our allegiance to the
principles and ideals of Woodrow Will
son. for which he made the supreme
sacrifice. His great constructive plan
for world cooperation to promote
world peace, Wn1cn Is ernDOQ1ed 1T
the league of nations and the World
Court of international Justice, has
already demonstrated its far-sighted
wisdom. The league. in its four years
of existence. has already achieved re-
suits to be reckoned among the great
est in all human history. We con-
denim the action of that small
group of senatorial isolationistS which
league and which has blocked all ef-
forts to assist Europe in the work OF
reconstruction. thus jeopardizing the
peace of the world. The Republican
, do nothing for Europe policy is
largely responsible for the present
economic condition whereby oul
farmers are compelled to sell their
wheat for less than cost of production
while Europe goes hungry. This ma
ton should no longer delay in be-
coming associated with the league OF
nations and the World Court of In.
ternational Justice, in order that wal
may become outlawed, a code of in.
ternational laws be developed, world
disarmament become effective and oul
position of moral leadership resumed
The only alternative is the constant
its attendant horrors. In the interest
~ humanity, we invite to this stand
ard all peace-loving men and women
The Democratic party alone can be
tionai honor framed by its inspired
leader, Woodrow Wilson.
Defeat of Plan Seen.
The prediction was made today
however, by one of the leaders who
has followed the discussions of the
proposed platform with great care
that the document will contain nc
promise that the United States shal'
enter the league of nations.
A preliminary draft of the platform
Is making much progress and Will
be completed in ample time to SUBMIT
to the committee on resolutions OF
the convention when that committee
Is elected next Tuesday. it was said
today. The preliminary draft is being
made by men who will be mem mbers
Of the resolutions committee itself
including Senators Pittman of Nevada
and Glass of Virginia and Homer
Trimmings of Connecticut, one-time
chairman of the Democratic national
committee At least two or three
saye Of work by the resolutions COM
mittee will be saved by this proce-
VIA Chairman Hull of the ma
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