Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-24
Khan and Prohibition
Planks Problem
Platform Builders

form builders had another busy day
today, but If anything their labors
served only to bring into bold RELIEF
the differences over four of the prin-
cipal planks. those dealing with the
Ku klux Khan, foreign relations and
farm aid.
AS matters stood on the eve Of
the first meeting OF the platform
committee of the Democratic nation
al convention there were ready for
that committee no less than three
separate drafts of complete platforms
and a score or more of individual
planks, most of them dealing with
the four most controversial subjects.
These were all tho products Of
groups Of leaders, individual chief
tains, or emerged from sessions Of
state delegations. Consequently they
do not embrace the many suggestions
in written form which will come from
the outside-from labor, business.
womens wet and dry and other
organizations.
Despite the gaps that divide the
minds Of leaders, particularly on the
Khan and league of nations issues,
Homer Cummings of Connecticut
who is slated for the craftsmanship of
the platform committee predicted
that all troubles and differences
would be adjusted in the committee,
making floor fights unnecessary.
Others high within the party coun-
ellis were less optimistic and minor
ity reports from the committee with
succeeding contests on the floor were
forecast in several quarters. Besides
thhe Khan and league question. some
thought that only the convention it
self could finally determine the
broadness of the expression by the
party on prohibition and law enforce
ment.
With the arrival of Senator Oscar
w. Underwood of Alabama, with a
strong anti-k Khan plank, and the vote
Of the Massachusetts delegation di-
recting Senator Walsh of that state
to fight for a plank naming the Khan
as such and condemning it in no I'M
certain terms, the lines were even
more sharply drawn OH that question.
The Ohio delegation also instructed
former Secretary of War Baker TO
present Edmund II. Moore's anti
Khan plank to the platform commit
tee and urge its adoption.
William Jennings Bryan and the
Indiana delegation added their sup
port to those who favor omission of
the name of the Khan. Bryan's plank
would simply reaffirm the party's de-
votion to the fundamental principles
of the constitution by which the
rights of civil and religious liberty
are guaranteed. but the Indiana
plank would go much further. In
fact the plank, which is identical with
that adopted by the Indiana Demo
cratic state convention except that
the language is changed to make il
national party instead of state
party expression.
Senator Carter Glass of Virginia
and other Wilson followers who have
insisted that the League of Nations
de denominated in the foreign rela
tons provision were reinforced with
the arrival of Newton D. Baker. and
former Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock
of Nebraska, who led the Wilson
fight. in the senate, for ratification
of the league covenant.
Both Mr.. Hitchcock and Mr.. Bake,
will present planks with direct refer
once to the league. That by Mr.
Hitchcock would declare that the
Democratic party rejected the claim
by Republican leaders that as far
as the United States is concerned the
league is closed incident, but there
would be the reservation that the
party would be content to leave the
ultimate result to time and nom
partisan decision.
This proposal is in line with that
for which Senator Glass has been
contending since he first joined the
informal platform discussions last
week. Mr.. Bakers plan has not been
made public. but IL is understood that
it contains a similar expression to
that in the Glass plan-that the
United States adhere to the league
in tune with the reservations safe
guarding its SOyprnipntv