Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-26
PLATFORM GROUP
Continued from Page One)

ton of our time to organize the
world for peace"
Taking up prohibition next, the plat
form builders agreed tentatively on a
strong law enforcement declaration
without mentioning either the 18th
amendment or the enforcement act.
This was in line with recommendations
of most of the dry" leaders.
A plank declaring for immediate in
dependence for the Philippines under
the provisions of the Jones law also
was agreed upon tentatively.
While the committee was consider
ing the prohibition or law enforcement
plank, John T. Flood of the Associa-
ton Against the Prohibition Amend
ment issued a statement declaring that
John H. Mccain, member of the plat
form committee for Pennsylvania,
would make a fight before the entire
committee for a declaration for modi
fication of the Volstead act and that if
he failed he would carry the fight to
the convention.
Besides the khan and the league issue.
another troublesome question is that
of agriculture. Spokesman for this in
dustry have expressed varying views,
but committeeman believed they could
present a plank which would harmon
ize all except possibly the wishes of
the extremists.
Only three party wheel horses" are
represented in the committee Of IL.
They are William Jennings Bryan of
Florida. former Senator Gilbert M.
Hitchcock of Nebraska, and Homer S.
Cummings of Connecticut, former
chairman of the National committee.
Associated with them are a number of
he orf1r 1no IArc,
ator Walsh of Massachusetts; Repre-
sentative Finnis J. Garrett of Tennes-
see, Democratic leader in the House of
Representatives; Senator Key Pittman
of Nevada: Senator Roberts l.. Owens
of Oklahoma; former Secretary of War
Newton D. Baker; w. II. O'Brien of In
diana; William A. Ayres of Kansas,
and Joseph A. kellogg of New York.
Concluding their public hearings the
committee men proceeded to a hotel
where they gather red around a circular
table late in the day and began their
labors.
Coats were removed at the outset and
| the session was only a few minutes old
before collars were shed, shirtsleeves
rolled up and shirtbands turned in.
Chairman Cummings made hourly re.
ports to newspaper correspondents who
crowded the corridors outside of the
committee rooms. At the end of the
first hour he announced a discus sior
of the league without decision. explain
ing that much of the time had beer
| taken up with the presentation of for
| mer service men of number of prop
ositions relative to the care of the sicl
and compensation with reference Il
those who after receiving treatment
had not been fully restored to health
Some new planks with reference
! to waterway projects also were re
ceived. Mr.. Cummings said they
had special reference to the Missis
| sippi and Colorado rivers, dealint
| both with flood control and the re
clamation of arid areas.
Before the committee recessed
for dinner, the chairman announced
! that progress had been made anc
that about II subjects submitted a
| public hearings or privately haC
been rejected as too irrevelant to b,
included in the platform. He die
not go into details.
Re-assembling after dinner thu
committee approved a plank by Sen
ator Walsh of Massachusetts,, which
will declare for government contro
and regulation of the anthracite in
| dustry and other corporations or or
CARNATIONS controlling the necessi
| ties of life.
There was general discussion
! without immediate decision over the
| advisability of a declaration for leg
| islation under which amendments t.
the constitution would be based up
| on In referendum of the people
and not by state legislatures.
Decision was made to reopen the
immigration subject. Committee
| men took the view that the measur,
! recently passed by congress ade
quately took care of the subject.
Proposals to create a department
of highways were rejected by Sen.
ator King, of Utah, chairman of the
subcommittee of three which i:
| sorting the various proposals, ant
former Senator Hitchcock. were di
rected to frame a plank expressing
the belief of the Democratic party
| that the waterways and highway.
should be improved and safeguard.
| ed for public use.
Discussion OF the PHILIPPINE fnde.
pendence plank was lengthy. A
proposal was first put forward that