Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
Senator Makes
Appeal for
Harmony.
ASKS DRY LAW
FOES TO ASSIST
Recess Convention
to Meet Again
at 1880 PM.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.

1SUlOCTdtlC IdblOEldl GOLlNVLAtAJA WSAAN
wild with enthusiasm today when Sen
ator Joseph Robinson of Arkansas, per-
nanent chairman, declared that Thomas
jefferson "glorified in Virginia's bill OF
rights guaranteeing religious freedom
and rejoiced in the constitutional pro-
vision that no religious test shall ever
be required of any man seeking once:
1t was regarded as call TO battle
for Gov. AL Smith of New York, the
probable nominee of the party for Pres
ident and q Catholic. While the gall
leries cheered wildly parade OF the
States was started about the floor, with
AL Smith delegates from all parts of
the country joining in Virginia S
standard was in .the parade with the
rest The demonstration, the first Al
Smith demonstration in the conven-
ton, was continued for many minutes.
The only States which did not get
into the parade were Alabama, Florida
and North Carolina.
A fist fight. which resulted In the
breaking of the North Carolina stand
ard, caused wild excitement. w. o.
Sanders of North Carolina tried to get
the standard away from former Gov.
Newlands. The governor wouldn't let
it CO.
At the conclusion of the demonstra-
ion Senator Robinson urged the conven-
ton to handle all business in an order
ly manner.
The convention, after perfecting its
permanent organization, adjourned until
7:30 o'clock tonight. Under the rule
adopted, nominating speeches for pres
ident may be made at that time II the
platform Is not ready for consideration
by the convention.
Wet and Dry Issue Up.
The wet and dry issue was hurled
directly before the convention for the
first time when Senator Robinson warn
ed against the adoption of wet plank
in the platform.
Prompted by a desire to promote
harmony and concert of action. 1t is
suggested that no wet plank be in
serted in our platform" he said. His
remark was greeted with wild applause
from the drys in the convention. But
ciliatory to those Democrats who are
opposed to prohibition, for he added:
1T Is true the Democratic party is
not prohibition party. Neither is it
an anti-prohibition party" Democrats
have always divided on the subject of
prohibition.
Many sincerely advocate prohibition
as an economic and moral measure
Others, believing that its tendency Is
to encourage lawlessness, advocate sub
stantial changes in the Constitution and
the laws. The fear that this convention
will attempt to commit the party to q
wet platform has alarmed many
Southern Democrats who favor the
continuance of prohibition because of
the evidence OF its economic and moral
value in the progress Of the South.
Pleads for Harmony.
ITO ignore the practical political
aspect OF this question is TO invite and
encourage division in our ranks and to
submerge these fundamental issues for
which we can unite and labor In con-
cert. Let 1t be remembered as the Con-
gress Is now constituted and as 1t will
be composed for many years. there ap-
pears no likelihood of repeal or nuliti-
cation Of the eighteenth amendment.
The only important practical result to
be expected from wet platform Is that
1t may drive out of the party many who
favor prohibition and are unwilling to
yield their views upon the subject"
While Senator Robinson was urging
the convention to moderation OF the
prohibition plank and to avoid an open
schism In their ranks over the wet and
dry issue, the platform committee, head
ed by Senator Pittman Of Nevada, was
struggling with the plan. Gov. Dan
Moody, the fighting Texan, member
OF the committee, was leading the con-
test for plank declaring for the eight
alnfh NnICfaad
act and no modification.
The consensus Is that the comlttee
viii bring in a majority report favor
ing law enforcement, including the
prohibition laws. and let 1t go at that
The plank will be similar, IL is pre-
dicted, TO that adopted by the national
convention Of 1924 In New York.
Promise Floor Fight.
The drys are promising fight on
the floor of the convention II they are
not satisfied with the plank reported
by the committee. Some of them are
insisting that the convention shall go
on record In this matter; that members
|of various State delegations shall
stand up and be counted" They even
propose to poll some of the delegations
on record vote on the dry plank
Their object is to show that the Demo-
cratic party is not wet party and to
keep the record straight. even though
the convention shall nominate Gov.
Smith of New York. wet.
They are looking forward To the ma
tiona1 campaign four years from now.
believing that Smith viii not then be
dn issue. Their danger, however, Is
that the convention. strongly pro-
Smith, may turn them down In their
light for plank To go much further
than a mere pledge TO enforce the pro-
hbition law. II they arc turned down.
the Democratic party then will be IN
the position of having assumed dis
tinctly wet tinge.
Smiths strength In the convention
was tested for the first time today when
the convention decided 60 seat the
Smith delegation from Louisiana. The
credentials committee. after hearing the
contest brought by the faction one of
whose leaders is Mrs. denevieve Clark
Thomson, daughter OF the late Speaker
CLARK, voted Overwhelmingly to seat the
Smith delegation, called the Ewing del
egation. The vote In committee was
AZ to q
The Democrats are planning to make
a great bid for the farm vote In the
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