The Washington times., 1924-06-25
PLATFORM ROW
0VERKLAN
WIDENS
Committee Unable to DRAFT
Plank, Fight on Floor
NoWs Seems Certain,

Ayres, Kansas: Senator David I.
Walsh, Massachusetts,; Gilbert M.
Hitchcock, Nebraska; Senator Key
Pittman. Nevada; Joseph A. Kellogg,
New York; Newton d. Baker, Ohio;
Senator Robert l.. Owen, Oklahoma,
and FINS J. Garrett. Tennessee,
minority leader Of the House.
A Gecond collaborating subcommit-
tee meeting jointly with the others,
included Senator William II. King,
Utah, chairman; Charles II. Mayer,
Kansas, and Alfred LucSing, Michi-
gan.
Khan Biggest Problem.
Settlement of the khan issue was
the biggest problem confronting the
platform builders.
The fight was brought sharply to
head in the committee when Sen.
ator Walsh of Massachusetts,. pre-.
sented-a brand new anti-Klan plank.
which he drafted during the night.
1t vigorously denounced 1.-THE or
ganization known as the Ku TSlux
Khan" as violating ''the letter and
the spirit" of the equal standing
granted all citizens under the bill
OF rights. The resolution, upon
which anti-Klan delegates are unit
ing for bitter battle, follows:
We vigorously denounce the or
ganization known as the Ku Klux
Klan' which has been spreading re-
ngious bigotry and exciting racial
hatred. Equal protection under the
laws must be secured for all, ire
spective OF religion or race. and we
deplore the SUPERFICIAL activities of
THIS association. as violating in letter
ana spirit the guarantees of free.
dom OF worship and equal standing
before the law contained in the bill
of rights.
Those guarantees the Democratic
party unequivocally pledges itself to
preserve"
One faction, led by followers of
Governor AL Smith, Of New YORK:
Senator Oscar w. Underwood of
Alabama, and George Brennan.
political car Of Illinois, demanded
q plank directly condemning the
Ku Klux Khan by name and pledg.
Ing the Democratic party to oppose
the activities Of the khan"
| They declared they controlled
SUFFICIENT votes to force an adoption
Of the anti.klan plank in the con.
vention itself.
Faced by opposition from the
nominal leaders Of the platform
conference. the anti.llan faction
served formal notice they would
torce the convention vote upon the
issue unless the plank were put into
the platform by the coHferees.
The situation developed to fever
neat at long night session of the
ruH committee and was climaxad by
a verbal clash early this morning
between anti.klan spokesman and
Chairman Cummings.
The session virtually broke M in
q row with Cummings ruling the
spokesman "out Of order"
Opposed BY Leaders.
Scores Of party leaders, including
senator Joseph 7. Robinson, of
Arkansas, leader in the Senate;
| Congressman Carrot, the House
leader; William Jennings Bryan, op-
posed the direct naming Of the khan
and urged adoption Of a plank
strongly unfolding the constitutional
right of religious liberty.
| They contended that adoption of
1 - RAoNAA SPCSAAASAAAy COuoSu1uluk the
khan by name would split the Dem.
ocratic party and inject new issues
into the campaign so bitter as to
overshadow the economic and wash.
tngton scandal issuessupon which a
November victory was predicted In
| the conventions "keynote" speech.
AS the conferees gathered for
their session there was q general
feeling that the anti-kIan plank
would be rejected by the elmer
circle" restored by the full com.
nittse and upheld by the conven.
ton.
League Next on List.
A second platform fight of major
proportions doomed over the League
Of Nations plank.
A minority group, led by former
Secretary Of War Baker and Senator
Carter Glass. of Virginia, demanded
an outright Endorsement Of Ameri-
can adherence to the League on
the same conditions which led to
Democratic defeat Of 1920.
"A majority of tho contarees and
or the full committee, as well. were
opposed to this plank favoring
merely an Endorsement Of the
Leagues world court while pushing
the League issue into the back.
ground until the proposal can be
made non-partisan."
| Facing almost certain defeat in
the committee sessions, Baker and
GLASS announced they would force
the convention itself to 60 publicly
on record on the League issue.
They planned to invoke the last
recommendations Of Woodrow vii.
son, reaffirming his faith in the
League, as a battle cry on the
convention floor.
Party leaders, who opposed the
move, feared that such fight might
result in a convention stampede to
the league, thus again overshadow.
ing what they maintain to be the
winning issues" Of 1924.
Only Minor Conflict.
A minor conflict also developed
over the prohibition enforcement
plank, revolving around a proposal
by the ultra dry faction TO specifical.
ly name the Eighteenth amendment.
A peaceful settlement was in
prospect, although a close vote was
expected.
The bitterness OF the khan and
league fights offered an extraordi.
nary contrast to the unanimity OF
opinion expressed by the conferees
and platform committee members
over practically every other issue be-
fore the convention.
There was an almost unanimous
sentiment over the kind of planl1s
to adopt relating to economic, aRri.
lcultural, railroad and labor issues
ANsA - 20 the sensational Wash.