The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-24
FARMERS START
THIRD HOT
BATTLE
Call for Agricultural Relief
May Be Easier Settled Than
League and Khan Rows
by WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
TnfarnntfannR NeVvM garvace.

II
ImternntIonna News Sagvice.
NEW YORK, June 24.--A new
menace to Democratic harmony in
the preparing Of the 1924 platform
drifted out Of the West today when
an agriculture relief dispute was
added to the bitter League Of Ma
tons and Ku Klux Khan cOntro-
versiee already awaiting settlement
by the official platform committee
to b named by the convention dur
ing the day.
National leaders, however, were
more hopeful Of reaching q COM
promise with the westerners than
Of peacefully settling the League
and Khan rows.
= Reports persisted that both the
latter issues would be fought out on
| the floor OF the convention.
/ The farm relief controversy was
launched by . group OF western gov
ernors, led by Charles w Bryan.
Of Nebraska, q brother Of the ia
| nous "CommOner William Jen-
nings Bryan.
Il
| featured by q demand for Govern
rnent operation Of the coal and oil
industries and Government owner.
ship Of q superwater power system.
They also included q request for
4 80 per cent slash In freight rates
on farm products and repeal OF the
Esch. Cumnins act.
The Ku Klux Khan issue mean
while continued TO predominate in
platform discussions.
4 Al powerful group Of leaders, In
Guiding Governor Al Smith OF New
1 York. Oscar w. Underwood Of Ala =
bama, George w. Brennan of Illi-
nois. Ed Moore Of Ohio, and Senator
David I. Walsh of Massachusetts,,
demanded that the convention go on
record directly condemning the Kan
b. name.
This proposal met with distinct
opposition from another group OF
| leaders which included William @.
| MeAdOo, Senator Joe 7. Robinson
| Of Nevada, and william Jennings
| Bryan. who favored . strong plank
| guaranteeing religious freedom With.
/ out mention OF the khan by name.
| This view was likewise shared BY
the unofficial group Of platform
| builders. who recommended plank
i without naming the khan.
Text Of Freedom Plank. L,
The unofficial plank. after declar-,
ing In favor Of religious freedom
| continued: I'VE declare that the
state and church shall be and re-
main separate and there shall never
be any religious test required as a
qualification for any office or posi-.
ton Of trust In the United States.
These principles we pledge ourselves
to defend and to maintain" "
Bryan offered an anti.klan plank,
which merely set forth that the
Democratic party "reaffirms its de-
votion to the fundamental princi.
pies Of the Constitution" which In
cluded religious freedom.
There were Indications the con.
vention itself would favor the less
drastic anti-klan plank owing to
rumors Of q threatened revolt
among Southern delegations.
Threat Of Walk.Out.
One report stated the Georgia
and Florida delegations, composed
almost entirely Of klansmen, would
Walk out or the convention and OPP
pose the Democratic nominee in the
election IL the khan were con.
demned by name.
The controversy over the League
Of Nations issue, while Of nosior
proportions, was not as serious a
the khan row.
i The fight TO include q direct pro.
nouncement in favor of American
adherence to the league was cham.
pioned chiefly, by Senators Carter
Glass ana Claude A. Swanson OF
virginia and Newton D. Baker. of
ONO. close personal friends OF the
late Woodrow Wilson.
rarity leaders were adverse to re-
v1ving the League issue although
1avoring q strong plank calline for
an international program which
would guarantee q re-openinR of
european markets to American
commerce.
This view was shared by Cordell
Hun, Democratic national chairman
Homer L. Cummings. tentative
chairman OF the platform commit
tee, and Senator Robinson, Demo.
ocretic leader In the Senate, where
the hight would have to be made.
AS q result OF this opposition It
was generally believed the League
issue would be defeated bOfdre the
platform coinmittos.
i Memorandum from Wilson.
The GlasR.Swanson.NdcAdoo fac
ton however, announced its intAu.
ton OF carrying the League fight
onto the floor Of the convention.
II was said that Senator Glass
would read to the convention q
pencil platform memorandum pre-.
pared by President Wilson be6ore
his death, IN which the war leader
advocated q revival Of the LoaRue
issue In 1924.
Il John w. WestcotA, q New Jsrnsy
delegate, also was said 70 have a
letter written by Wilson urRine q
resumption, Of the League fight this
year.
i The Wilson messages, however.
were not expected to change the
plans Of the convention managers,
which were to sidetrack the League
In favor OF broad program OF IN
ternational cooperation.
Il The official platform committee,
to be named today probably viii
hold its first session tomorrow
morning. It's report, with the fun
1924 platform may not be com.
pleted before the end Of the week.
, |