The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-26
Drys Work Up Powerful
Plank; Likely to Be Lost
on Floor.
MOODY IN BRYAN ROLE
Agreement Arranged on
Farm and Other
Clauses.
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press stan Correspondent


HOUSTON, Texas, June 26.-A
plank promising stern enforcement
of prohibition by name has been
worked out by moderate drys and
vets to quell any threatened up
rising In the Democratic national
convention, which convene at noon
today for the increasing purpose Of
nominating Governor Alfred E.
Smith of New York for the pres
idency.
The compromise was worked out
with the Smith people by the sem
atorial group including Senator
Pittman of Nevada, prospective
chairman of the resolutions COM
mittee; Senator Caraway, Arkansas:
Senator Harrison, Mississippi, and
others.
Its conclusion scared the vice
presidential stock of Senator Joseph
T. Robinson, Arkansas, who with
Evans Woollen, Indiana, has been
mentioned most prominently as
prospective running mate for Smith
OeplOreS u. ". 4. LaXlCy
The compromise plank will deplore
the failure of the Republican ad-
ministration to enforce all laws. 1t
will promise vigorous enforcement
of every law by Democrats and win
mention prohibition specifically.
1t does not mention either the
Eighteenth amendment or the Vol
stead act by name, the United Press
is informed.
The extreme drys we're not con-
suited about the arrangement and
decided in a midnight conference to
continue their fight for the strong
est prohibition plank ever written
by national party.
This conference was held IN the
office of Jesse Jones, Houston mill
lionaire host of the convention, and
was attended by JosephuS Daniels,
former secretary of the Navy; Hous-
ton Thompson, former member Of
the Federal trade commission; Gov
ernor Dan Moody of Texas, the boy
Bryan, who has undertaken leader
ship of the dry cause; Daniel Roper,
former McAdoo supporter, and
George Fort Milton, publicity man
for the McAdoo forces in 1924,
Will Present Plank
The conferees decided to present
their extreme dry planks to the
platform committee, despite the
agreement of the moderateS with
the Smith people.
They want to name the Eighteenth
amendment and the VolStead act.
They also decided to contest the
Smith nomination to the last ballot.
Their decision, however, means
nothing more than that they are
going through with their fight for
the present, anyway.
If they even go through to the
convention floor with their contest,
they will face an alliance of the
moderate drys and Smith forces
which will control about four-fifths
Of the voting power Of the conven-
ton.
They can not hope to prevail In
the face Of such Overwhelming
numbers.
Farm Planks Drafted
Little disagreement is expected in
the committee on the other planks.
Several farm planks are to be sub
mitted, but leaders appear to be In
general accord that the party should
indorse the theory of systematic
distribution Of surplus crops and at
the same time denounce direct
Government subsidiaries-the theory
upon which the McNary- Haugen
farm bill was founded.
The committee will be named ON.
cially as soon as the temporary or
ganization of the convention is COM
pleted this afternoon.
It will begin public hearings about
mid-afternoon, recessing for the
night session, after which it again
will take up its labors and probably
work through until dawn.
The platform probably will be
ready for presentation to the con.
vention tomorrow. A tentative
draft upon which Pittman and 9TH
ers have been working for weeks
will form the basis Of the discus
sions.