The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-28
Convention Managers Agree
Upon Plan For Separate.
Session Tonight
POLICE AROUND GARDEN
Authorities Also Pack Con-
vention, Fearing Open
Fights on Question


order and possibly bloodshed,
managers of the Democratic
national convention today
feared to discuss the Klan
plank of the platform in the
presence of the crowded gal
leries and agreed upon a plan
for a separate session tonight,
from which all but delegates
>and newspapermen would be
excluded.
Talk of party splits on
every side, threats of violence
which caused authorities to
pack Madison Square Garden
and streets nearby with po-
lice, and openly expressed
fears that some blood
might be spilled in a heated
discussion of the religious is
sues, caused the convention
managers to come to a de-
cision.
The greatest crowd of the convcn-
tion had been packed into the hall.
Leaders on both sides of the Klan
question were fearful of demonstra-
,tions from the gallery and probable
charges to intimidate the delegates.
During the luncheon recess, which
had been taken after Chairman Cum
mings, of the resolutions commit
tee, had read dramatic plea for
more time to consider the question,
early conferences were held in a
last-minute' effort to get unani-
nous decision on the Klan plank.
But the last method was feeble and
finally the word came that the COM
mittee would present as a part of
it's majority report plank drawn
by William Jennings Bryan which
does not mention the Klan by name.
At the same time it became known
that the plank which does name the
Klan specifically would be offered as
a minority report and that the argu-
ment for it would be in charge of
Bainbridge Colby, former Secretary
of State.
Madison Square Garden,
New York, June 28.-By-the
Associated Press )-Respond-
ing to appeals to the party
leaders to give more time for
the platform committee to
work on the Ku Klux Klan
plank, the Democratic nation
al convention, after a brief
session, recessed to 3 o'clock
this afternoon.
Seemingly hopelessly divid-
ed on the issue Of whether the
Klan is to be named specific
ally and surrounded by war
clouds loaded with threats of
a party split, the convention
managers sent Homer Cum
mings, chairman of the plat
form Committee, to the bat to
explain to the convention why
the platform was being de-
layed, and 20 plead for more
time.
Tired and worn by continu22,,
GUS loss of sleep since last
TUESDAY, Chairman Cum
mings gave as dramatic a re-
cital as ever has been heard
in national conventions, ex-
planning the deliberations of
the committee and it's inabil-
\ity to reach an agreement! He
told, amid a dramatic silence,
how after an all-night session
the committeeman had gath
cred around their tables in the
breaking dawn of day and re-
cited in unison the Lords
prayer after which William
Jennings Bryan had raised in
voice and asked divine guild
ance.
Tells of Struggle
Stepping to the front Of the plat
form, worn and tired and showing
the effects of hours Of labor, Chair.
ran Cummings began short ad-
dress, outlining the situation in tn.
committee. He had grave face as
he spoke.
The chairman began by saying
that what he was about to tell the
), convention was about a. subject
which "may in very large way at
feet the destinies Of our party" He
then recited how the committee had
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