New Britain herald., 1924-06-28
Homer Cummings, In Dramatic Speech, Tells Of Inability To Rec-
 oncile Opinions On Ku KIux Klan Plank.
Platform Makers, After All Night Session, Bow Heads as W. J. Bryan Prays for Divine Guidance.

Madison Square Garden. New York, June 2S.-Responding to appeals of the party leaders 10 give more time for the platform committee to work on the ku Klux klan plank. the deim- ocratic notional convention after a brief morning session recessed until light saving time.
 Seemingly hopelessly divided on the issue of whether the kan Is 10 be named specifically and surrounded by war clouds loaded with threats of party split, the convention managers sent Homer Cummings, chairman of ! the platform committee. to the speck- CTS stand to explain 10 the ronyen- tion why the platform was being de- 1 layed and to plead for more time. Dramatic Recital
 1 Tired and worn by continuous loss of sleep since last Tuesday. Chairman Cummings gave as dramatic a recital as over has been heard in national i convention. Explaining the delihera- tons Of the committee and fl inability tn reach an agreement, he told amid a dramatic silence how after an all night session the committeeman had gathered around their table in the breaking dawn and rceited in unison the Lords prayer. after which Wii- fliam Jennings Bryan raised his voice and spoke prayer for divine gud- ance
 Stepping to tho front of ihe plat- form, worn and tired and showing the effects nf hours and hoirs of laher. chairnsr Cummings Stil
 q haNr never seen q sul,-cos. faittee that worked together with greater harmony" he continued Every member has worked faithfully to draft a platform that would be commensur- ate with the opportunities Of the party in this campaign.
 Read, in Few Hours
 "The platform will be ready for sub. mission 10 this convention within s few hours. I think yon will be proud Of that platform and I think you will regard it as & winning platform"
 ApoloEizing for the weakness of hi. voice. Mir. Cummings said he had had only six hours sleep since Tuesday
 '"I refer to this," he said, ''so that you may know we have wasted nc time We have dealt with all of the questions before us except two in a way that has met the approval oi every one of the hfty-fonr members Of the committee.
 Hut Two Issues
 "In two instances there has been ! difference Of opinion. ThereNas a dif. ference as 10 the phraseology to hs . employed in the plank regarding th' league of nations On that plank thu majority will carry with il the sigma lures of large maiority of the com mlttcc. A minority report will be sub miited. l understand. by Mir Baker o 1 ohio.
 But these difficulties are but part of the story. There was one plani on which great difference arose. Th' subcommittee was unable 10 agree and last night the full committee yen into session 10 discuss the plank deal ing with religious freedom.
 Discussion t,etc Hot
 "wc discussed that plank all night , uutil we adjourned at 6 o'clock thi morning. l regret 10 say that as th' discussion went on it become nor heated. The discussion became some what acrimonious. And when we sav that inc committee disagreed in tha way. we began to wonder what woul, tap1rn lf the convention itself ueri asked to discuss that question.
 .ln other words we began te thinl of the democratic party. We though of alI that might be involved. Ant l then we grew closer together arount fine council table. friends. seeking t' find way SD that the country migh , have the service of a united demo cratic party.
 We concluded we ought to has' on that particular subject an oppnr . tunry for further conference. pray For tsuidance
 "Iu All the years l have knout political events never witnessed sue' n scene as took piare fn the commit < fFfTWnfn lF N g EtHCN EHlE u4UfNlIst , When we began fa feei ths spirit Q , fraternity again in our breasts. on ' of the menhtrs of the cummitte i, arose and recHsd the Lords fraye , and then Mir. Bryan lifted up hi toics in pica for divine guidance
 Al the unanimous request Of th committee ] ask this great conven r ton in the interest of the party 70 sd - iourn until o'clock this afternoon.
 There had been a burst of appiaus . when the name of Mr. Bryan wa - mentioned. and sn interrapilon v, ! tle later from n delegate who shoute ! that the speaker was indulging ] argument. and not the announcemen for which he had been recognized.
 Ou the whole. however. the cor - vention listened with unusual atter D fi8n and when The question on Mi k Cummings motion for a recess ss Ia vat u uas adopted with oniy nun $ 7uar nf dissent