The Washington times., 1924-06-27
NEE IS Al |
PARTY 5
IDEALS
Struggle Over League and
4. Khan Only Serious Dis
agreement, He Says

By WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN,
Written Especially for The
Washington Times
NEW YORK, June 27.-I had
hoped to be in position to discuss
in this article the leading plank
Of the platform, but the full COM
mittee on resolutions spent SO
much time on a number of planks
that although it stayed in session
until nearly $3.50 in the morning,
it still left some important BUSH
ness to be finished. It is a very
interesting group of men that is
brought together on platform
committee, governors and ex-gov-
errors, Senators and ex-Senators,
congressman and ex-Congressmen,
plus numerous strong men who are
yet to win political titles.
Every shade of opinion is rep
resented on committee of this
size and how earnestly they do
fight for their views. Sometimes
it looks like an alteration is near
but the excitement soon subsidies
and all is quiet again.
A Pointed Story.
One is reminded Of a story: A
celebrated painter was selected to
adorn the wall Of a costly church
with q picture entitled, 1.-THE Chill
dren Of Isreal Crossing the Red
Sea-. He would not allow any Of
the picture committee to examine
his work until it was finished
Then a day was set for the I'M
Yelling. The church was filled to
overlooking, and all waited with
GREATNESS interest for the curtain
to be drawn aside. The committee
occupied conspicuous seats nearby
Finally the hour came and the
tee looked upon beautiful painting,
a sea, calm and TRANQUIL. The
chairman of the committee was
amazed. Addressing the artist, he
said: 'tBut we employed you to
paint a picture Of the Children of
1sreal Crossing the Red Sea-
There is the picture" replied the
artist.
I but, where are the children Of
1srael?' inquired the chairman.
"They have passed over"
And, where are Pharaoh, his
horses and his chariots?"
They have gone under"
Soon SmOOthed Out.
. And so it is in contest before
the committee. For a while the
noise Of battle is almost deafening.
The sergeant at arms hurries around
and shuts down the windows so
the vigilant newspaper men cannot
get scoop on his colleagues. After
the debate has proceeded until the
committeeman begin to fear that
they will have to keep late hours,
they become restless. Some one
moves that the speeches be limited
to five minutes each, and that no
one shall be permitted to speak
twice. That is the beginning Of the
end.
When a man is tied down to five
minutes, his desire for verbal COM
bat begins to wane. Finally tho
members begin to call "vote, vote, y
and the plank is submitted, for
approval or disapproval. Some
shout ''yes" and others mo" The
chair suggests that he is in doubt
and asks for a rising vote. He
counts those standing and then
ment usually is that the ayes"
have it. In the full committee the
vote is on the platform prepared
by the subcommittee, and it is
usually adopted plank by plank.
Some times a plank is rejected or
more frequently amended Ey
changing a word or striking out q
sentence.
What great thing the ballot
Is. There is really something awe
inspiring about silence that prevails
while the votes are being cast. 1t
is as solemn as a funeral and the
illustration is not far-fetched.
Some ones hopes die when the
polls are Gclosed. The little pieces
OF paper upon which the sovereign
. voter writes his name fall into
the box as, silently as the snow
flakes fall, but they settle disputes,
whether millions vote, or just a
few.
The ban Of silence is still upon
my lips. AS a member Of the COM
mittee I know the secrets of the
resolutions committee but am not
at liberty to impart them to others.
/ will venture the opinion however,
that the convention will be delight.
ed with the platform. It is the
most progressive document that
any Democratic convention has
written in many years. 1t strikes
at the root of many evils and is
clear and unequivocal in its
language.
Rum Fight Unlikely.
It now seems certain that there
will be no convention fight over
the action taken on the liquor
question. have tried to state this
prediction in language that will not
reveal the kind of action taken
on this subject, whether an affirmo.
tive position is taken or an issue
Is raised by silence on the subject.
There is hope Of reconciling the
different views on the League ques.
ton, but less likelihood, regret
to report, that there can be an
agreement on the religious issue.
However, the suspense will be short
and shall be as happy as my read.
ers when the platform is given to
the public. Then can interpret
and make comparisons.
Copyright, 1894. by the McNaught
Syndicate. lnc)