The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-13

Mrs. Emmett Hildreth and Mrs. Neil R. Wallace have returned from New York and Washington. They were in- terested spectators at the democratic convention in New York.
 The outstanding figure of the conven- tion was Newton D. Baker, secretary of War during Wilson's administration, He made the greatest speech of his career, demanding an out-and-out dec laration for entry into the League of Nations and declared "You will re- pudiate Woodrow Wilson if you do this," referring to the question of sub hitting the league matter to referen- dunn of the people.
 His impassioned appeal drew large and spontaneous demonstration from the convention, but the minority re- port that Baker was supporting was lost by, q vote of 742 to 353. l.. ...
 The klan issue. was the hardest fought of all and the vote showed that the unit rule defeated naming the klah by one vote. The, whole affair re- minds one of story.
 Once a one-eyed man was playing poker. Occasionally he sneaked a card from the bottom of the deck. Finally a player opposite said: "A certain man in this game is cheating. I'm not men, tioning any names, but want to tell you that he has only one eye"
 That story sizes up the Ku Klux Klan situation as' it affects the demo- cratic party. The klan is not actually named in the platform but that dOcu- ment identifies the klan as accurately as the one-eyed man was identified in the poker story. One thing was mo- ticeable and that was the fact that not even the klan's own speakers had a good word to say for that organiza- tion. Order was kept during this bit ter fight by cordon of 1000 policemen in the hall.
 Democratic Platform
 The platform adopted by the conven- tion at New York is a masterpiece of indefiniteness and as William Allen White. said of the republican conven- tion looms as proud as a plug hat and as futile" The resolutions com mittee gracefully side-stepped the blanks presented by the National League of Women Voters, but put in a plank they said would be pleasing to the women composed of compliments and pretty words that mean nothing. If ever democratic convention had the opportunity to go before the country with progressive platform and a fine chance to win the election, it was this one. That it preferred to compromise on all questions is a disappointment to many. They straddled the Muscle Shoals question nicely as they did ev- cry other issue.
 Perhaps the most astounding thing on the whole convention was to see the gal leries hoot and boo at Bryan, the one time leader of democracy. It seems too bad that he should be subjected to treatment not even accorded the worst ham actor in thees times. But he has himself to blame for not seeing the handwriting on the wall. In his old age, however, the democratic party should have been more courteous to one who has served so many years as lead CT of the party.
 Alabama's loyalty to Underwood was one of the features of the convention and no one hearing, either in person or by radio, Governor Brandon's big voice calling out at the beginning of 102 ballots Alabama votes 24 votes for Underwood" is likely to forget.
 World Peace Scholarship
 One of the constructive things the To- cal league is doing is in offering a scholarship of $75 to the student of Howard college summer school who writes the best essay on world peace, based on a course of lectures to be de- liVered each Wednesday at the college. The contest closes September l and all essays must be at headquarters at the Hillman hotel. by that time. Essays must not be less than 800 words nor more than 750.
 Dr. H. M Edmonds was the first speaker to address the school on We'd nesday, July 8. He declared that by accommodating war, by popular ref erendum in declaring war and by uni versal conscription war may be averted and the causes of war removed.
 Other speakers are Dr. Morris New field, July 16, Dr. J. E. billiard, July 23, and George Lewis Bailes on August 1.
 Suggested plan of work and calendar of concerted activities for 1924-1925.
 Recommended by the executive board of the Alabama League of Women Voters, July 1, 1924.
 It should be clearly understood that the state league exists for the conven- fence and benefit of the local organiza- tions. In fact, they are the state league, which, without them, would be pOintless.
 Organization and finance are the most necessary factors in the ultimate success of the league and it's program. County leagues, in adapting this sug- gested plan to their needs and situa- tions, may draw at will on state head quarters, and on the officers and chair