The Washington times., 1924-06-27
HELD.
UP BY KHAN
FIGHT
Committee Agrees on League
Plank, But 1t May Be
Carried to Floor
Continued from First Page)

members that the injection OF tn
khan issue into the convention figh
threatened to split the party itsel1
for the fall campaign.
( A canvass indicated that the plat
form committee might probably
adopt a plank failing to mention
the khan by name, but COMMITTEES
members feared that this might not
be expedient because of the belief
that the convention itself was anti
khan and might insert plank Wig
orously assailing the khan by name
The committee itself was undo
niabiy in a quandary over the khan
plank and there was no telling how
long a session would be required in
trying to reach a compromise.
Agreement Today Unlikely.
And SO bitter were the opposing
factions, it was indicated that both
a majority and a minority report
would be. submitted to the conven'
ton on the khan.
After the committee meeting had
been under way only a short time,
Homer S. Cummings, chairman, told
newspaper men that predictions
that the committee will have it's re.
port ready for the convention to-
night are extremely optimistic"
I'VE have the khan and league
planks before us, and several
changes to make in the text, and ]
don't believe we can finish until
late tonight" he declared.
Dry Issue Settled.
The dry issue was settled by en-
dorsement of general law enforce.
ment plank, but without the specific
reference to the eighteenth amend.
ment, which was demanded by dry
leaders.
The platform contains thirty-five
subdivisions. 1t opens with q
strong tribute to the memory OF
Woodrow Wilson, which was adopt.
ed with round of applause.
Planks setting forth fthe Demo
cratic campaign principles, compar,
ing Republican and Democratic rec
ords, pledging honesty in Govern
ment and condemning Republican
mal-administration and proposing tax
and tariff reforms were adopted
without single dissenting vote.
When the agriculture program
was reached the first split occurred.
a minority arguing for endorsement
Of the Curtis-Aswell farm relief
bill.
They were defeated but a definite
program Of relief was proposed,
featured by lower freight rates,
federal aid for cooperative market.
ing and the opening of European
markets.
Plank after plank was adopted
without serious opposition until one
was reached in which William Jen.
nings Bryan proposed the Govern.
msnt should pay publicity expenses
OF candidates for Congress. This
created a considerable stir and led
to the biggest controversy Of the
night.
Bryan demanded it's inclusion in
the platform, along with a clause
limiting contributions as we'll as
expenditures, 80 that the poor
man can get elected to Congress"
"Newbury spent million dollars;
cher rich men spend tens of thou.
sands and the poor man has no
chance of election against such
multi-millionaires," said Bryan. III
you don't come to { he aid of the
poor candidate and help him get
his views before his constituents,
you might as well give up the idea
Of popular Government"
Bryan was supported by Sena.
tors King of Utah, Caraway OF
Arkansas and Owen of Oklahoma.
THE press of this country don't
give a damn for the Democratic
party" Owen told his colleagues.
I'VE should endorse a plank pro.
viding Federal funds to pay cam.
paign publicity expenses SO the
Democratic candidates for Congress
can get their platform and claims
into print"
Despite these appeals, the com.
mittees Overwhelmingly repudiated
the proposed plank.
Bryan suffered another defeat a
moment later when the committee
also voted down a proposal to in.
clude a plank favoring national
primary law for direct Presidential
primaries.
A strong labor plank was then
adopted. Proposed by Senator
Walsh Of Massachusetts,, it Endorsed
the forty eight-hour week, collective
bargaining, and the right of labor
to organize.
Child Labor Loses.
An effort to add a clause in
dorsing the child labor amendment
to the Constitution was defeated
The opposition led by Senator
Stephens Of Mississippi, contended
the amendment was in violation OF
the Democratic States rights
principle.
AT the insistence Of Senator King
OF Utah, the committee then in
dorsed O. plank calling for the
granting OF independence to the
Philippines.
A strong railroad plank also was
Endorsed, including a demand for
either repeal or amendment of the
Esch-Cumming law, revocation OF
the guarantee clause, and the re-
vision Of freight rates. Planks on
reclamation, national conservation
and ar Endorsement of waterpower
position.
Shoals Pledge Made
A long discussion followed on
the Muscle Shoals plank but it was
finally adopted, pledging the Demo.
cratic party to complete or lease
the Alabama project "for the manu-.
facture Of commercial fertilizer at
the lowest possible cost. for the
benefit Of American farmers
Considerable debate also was pro.
1ected by the immigration plank.
1t merely placed the party on
record as favoring "Asiatic exclu.
sion." 1t was adopted, although a