Newspaper Page Text
BRYAN
BIONSIGJINST
DVERTISING ORDER
N COMM ROW
(Continued from Page 1)
le constitutional provisions. There
as no evidence presented before
s to that effect. I don’t defend
le Ku Klux. I think there are
)me brilliant rascals among them,
ut I k> ,a ‘v. too, there’s a large
umber of good citizens among
iem who believed in joining the
rder that it was committed to obey
id preserve and protect the consti
ition and the laws of the country.”
At that there was a. mixture of
pplause and boos and hisses from
le galleries.
Senator Owen concluded his ad
ress at that point and was suc
seded on the rostrum by Mr. P at "
ingnll, who spoke fsr naming the
u Klux Klan specifically.
Pattangall’s Report
"It was suggested by the senator
om Oklahoma that there was lit
e difference between the proposi
ons before you,” began Mr. Pflt
ngall. "We approved and accept
l every single word that was put
the platform by the majority but
k "added to it a supplementary
claration. If you had oppor
nity to examine the report of the
ajority you would find that their
an merely reiterated the rights
■eserved to American citizens un
ir the bill of rights and the con
itution. We have done nothing
ore them added paragraph which
iplies these abstract principles to
concrete case.” *
Here Mr. Pattan gall read the
inoritv addition to the platform
hich mentions the name of the Ku
lux Klan.
"We condemn political secret so
eties,” read Mr. Pattangall from
e proposed plank and asked the
invention "does anybody object to
at?” „
There were a chorus of “noes.
Then he went on to finish the
ading of the plank including the
ime of the klan and a wave of ap
ause swept the hall.
“Now, is there anybody, ’ he ask-
“who is so ignorant of what is
nng on in American life today that
> does not know that the secret
ciety we name lays down as part
Its principle that no man who is
itholic, Jew or foreign born is
igible to office?”
“Is there any denial of that?” he
manded.
There were more noes.
Turns Guns on Owens
Then Pattangall read the remain
r of the declaration, and continued:
senator Owen says he is willing to
ime the klan.
“Where is he willing? On the
atform of this convention in New
jrk City? I want tp name it all
er the United States in this plat
rm. I want to name it wherever
e gospel of Democracy is preached
all. Every man on that commit
e approached the subject with the
sire to do what was right and we
I agreed that something nad to go
to the platform on this situation,
je principal difference of thought
1$ whether the platform would be
isolutely frank or not. If it is un
.se to name the klaij, it is unwise
put something in 'the platform
at means the klan. There is some
ing more here than the mere name.
"There has crept into American
e so strong an influence in certain
ites that certain senators told me
st night that if they opposed the
ap they could not be re-elected.
iere has crept into the life of the
aited States an influence so strong
at it needs examination. And
hen we find it approaching the
inciples of religious freedom, it is
oper that some great party should
and for the things that we all be
ive in.
“This organization couldn’t dis
iminate against me—l have all the
lalifications of membership. I
?nder ■when Senator Owen voted
r a draft in 1917 if he only voted
draft the boys who were white,
•otestant and native born. When
society said to me that a man born
Jewish parents or in the Catholic
ith can’t be able to serve his coun
y in civil life, but can be called to
rve his country in military life
hen it. needs them, I’ll condemn
em wherever I meet them."
At that the convention went into
i uproar of demonstration.
Woman Speaks for Plank
"I am a Democrat because I was
tight to believe that the fundamen-
of the party was that Amer
of every section were equal
i a Democratic platform. There
Jeds to be sent out over tne whole
nited States a message from Dem
sracy that our party hates bigotry,
ites intolerance and opposes them
■cause it hates them and it hates
/pocrisy and therefore calls bigot
• and intolerance by their right
ames when it speaks of them.”
There was a good deal of favor
jle demonstration on the floor when
io senator concluded, but most of
le noisy demonstration came from
le galleries.
Mrs. Carroll Miller, of Pittsburg,
ho seconded the nomination of
overnor Smith, also spoke tor the
linority plank proposed by Mr. Pat
in gall.
“What would you think of a home
i America where the children shud
?red nightly in fear of the Ku Klux
lan? Thera are such places where
tizens guaranteed constitutional
refection are denied the attributes
I a free life. Places where the for
gn born are discriminated against
y the shopkeeper. Places where
re foreign born wife waiting for a
usband to return from his work is
ever sure that ha will not be mob
?d before he returns to hh family.
“In the mountains of my own state
lis guerilla organization recently
rrorized a community and three
ersons were killed. Do you call that
merica? Do you call that Chris
anity? You say that political ex
ediency demands our silence on the
ibject? Since when has the Demo
ratio party knelt before the God of
olitical expediency? I’d rather go
own to defeat in 1924 as we did in
120. on a clear cut moral issue than
■in on an issue you can’t recognize,
-et ns Democrats remember it is bet
>r to he a doorkeener in the house of
od than tn dwell in the tents of
'iojfrtfness forever.
"If we fight this demon without
'ar and in the open we leave our
hildren a heritage of honor, sin
erity and peace;” concluded Mrs.
filler, while the convention gave
era roaring demonstration of ap
roval. some of which came from the
oor and a lot of which also came
roni the galleries.
Governor Morrison Speaks
Then the other side of the question
ame on again n an argument by
lovernor Mort.son. of North Caro
ina.
“1 have not risen to speak in de
rnse of the Ku Klux Klan." bezan
*
THE ATLANTA TRI WEEKLY JWhN.Mi
THROWS WEIGHT AGAINST DENUNCIATION OF KLAN
the governor, "but I do desire to say
something of the rights of the men
who mistakenly belong to the Ku
Klux Klan. Who are they? About
one million men who profess the Prot
estant form of Christian religion,
which is not preliminary to thugism
in American life.
"Are we. without trial or evidence,
in a political convention to try, con
demn and execute a million men who
are professed followers of the Lord?
What do we mean by religious liber
ty? We mean there shall be no
legal test for office, there shall be no
discrimination on the lands against
any man on account of his religious
feeling. But has any party ever
pledged itself to prevent foolish re
ligious intolerance and bigotry? We
cannot do it.
"I love many Jews and I love
many Catholics and I have appoint
ed both to office and laughed at the
Ku Klux since becoming governor
of North Carolina. These men who
can’t get into this order unless they
profess to be Christians have organ
ized this association into which they
won’t let a Catholic or a Jew come —
how can we help it? If anybody
wants to he so foolish and isolate
themselves, how can we prevent it
by the action of a convention?
Not Governmental Matter
"It is a case for the keepers of the
Protestant cause in the United States.
It is not a matter for governmental
action until they violate the law and
then the police power should act with
the swiftness of lightning and the
determination of a just God.
"My American brothers, let us deal
with this matter in a high, just and
wise way as becomes not the follow
ers of political standards, but follow
ers of the standards of Thomas Jef
ferson and, above all, of the Lord
Jesus Christ. We believe that when
the great Democratic party speaks to
the American people in this majority
resolution all the people of this coun
try will kneel in front of the consti
tution. It will kill the Ku Klux if we
adopt it, and the suggestion of the
minority will make a half million Ku
Kiux in the next ten days, in my
judgment.”
Governor Mortison finished by
launching a boom for Senator Walsh.
“I’d like to see this great Catholic
made candidate for president or vice
president of the United States,” said
the governor.
Bainbridge Colby, former secretary
of state! then took the platform to
speak for the adoption of the minor
ity substitute.
Klan Target of Both
"Both these resolutions are aimed
at the Ku Klux Kirn,” said he, “but
one is singularly deft in avoiding the
name of the Ku Klux Klan. One of
them said nothing about the purpose.
What sort of a committee on resolu
tions is that? This un-American, this
poisonous, this alien thing in our
midst, abhorrent to every American,
hostile to the genius of our institu
tions, in the precepts of American
ism—l have no sympathy with a
group of gentlemen who move only
at the dead of night in the protection
of pillow cases and shrouds. Those
are not the habiliments of sportsmen
or courageous men, and thank God
they are not the uniform of any
Americanism with which I am famil
iar.
"I am opposed to the majority
resolution report. It is an obvious
stuttering and stammering and fall
ing thing. It doesn’t satisfy my
thought; it doesn’t satisfy my man
hood. It is no credit to the Demo
cratic party. It is a party that cares
for nothing if it knows it is right.
I approve the minority report be
cause it is simple, lucid and true
and expresses the thought. The Ku
Klux Klan is composed of either
vicious or foolish people. ;It is one
of those things of history
which manifests itself like a distem
per.
“There isn’t a man here who would
not regard a membership in the klan
as a reflection on his character.
That’s why they move at night un
der cover and skulk away. They
are ashamed. I venture to predict
that in a short time you will not find
Ku Klux Klan members; you will
not even find the man who remem
bers he was a member.
New Englander Speaks
"It would be a retreAt, a. betrayal
a desertion of Democracy to do less
than adopt this minority report and
put this simple and unmistakle decla
ration in our platform.”
More cheers from the galleries
rgeeted Mr. Colby’s closing and then
Senator Walsh, the chairman, intro
duced Senator Walsh, of Massachu
setts. He spoke for the adoption of
the minority report also.
"If I followed my personal wishes
I would remain silent,” said he. “I
would leave to those of other re
ligious convictions than my own the
advocacy of this platform.
"But it is an occasion where si
lence might be construed as timidity,
and therefore I rise as an American,
a Christian and a Democrat, to speak
from the home of the Pilgrims and
Puritans.
“The silence of Democrats of my
religious convictions might be con
strued as a disposition on the part
of my co-religionists to remain si
lent and to refuse to accept the ver
dict on this vital question. Let there
be no mistake about those of us
who vote for this amendment. We
will accept the verdict. If our fight
fails, we go forth disappointed, but
we will not skulk, we will not waver,
we will not desert. We take our
posts of duty fighting with you in
the front ranks against our common
political enemy.
Cause Won’t Be Deserted
"If our cause fails, our answer
will be the reply of the school boys
iof Boston common who replied to
I the British General Gage that they
I were Americans.
j “The cause for which we stand
l will not be abandoned, even though
| you hesitate to speak today. The
Democratic party has always been
the friend of the immigrant. In our
party, Catholic . and Jew and for
eign-born have fouftd asylum and
have enjoyed its place and leader
ship. It has been the party of the
downtrodden and the poor on every
great question. It has always been
the party of those least able to speak
■for themselves. I speak for those
who ask no favor or privilege in
time of but only ask the
privilege in time of war to die for
their country. They demand no pro-
I tective tariff, no special privileges.
Ino favors —but who merely ask of
! their government and their party
ith;.: they be protected in the enjoy
i merit of their inalienable rights.
"This issue is not sectional. It
is not the north against the south.
It is Americans who love liberty
everywhere against every Ku Kluxer
in every corner of the United States.
It is not a religious issue. This mo
tion is opposed not by those who
1 believe in the principles of this or
-1 ganization. It is opposed by Amer
, icans who denounce this organiza-
I tion but fear the political effect of
an open public condemnation.
Ohioan Takes Ip Fight
"If you can denounce Bolshevism
i you can denounce Ku Kluxism. Does
any man here question that this or
ganization seeks to deny the right
of holding public office to Catholic
Jew or foreign-born?
"The temporaly chairman said in
ibis speech that our country needs
a Paul Revere. Th®n in God’s name
inscribe on his banner as he goes
forth from this convention, ‘re
ligious freedom for all.’ ”
E. H. Moore, of Youngstown, Ohio,
followed Senator Walsh. He said he
had been informed that the imperial
wizard and the grand dragon had
been boasting he had secured 20
votes against the minority plank in
the Ohio delegation.
“I don’t believe it,” said Mr.
Moore, "but if it’s true, that the
wizard can come in here and get us
all in his vest pocket, I for one pro
pose to crawl out.
"I will discuss with you the po
litical aspect of this situation. If
you think this minority plank will
beat a candidate, I wouldn t give, a
penny for the nomination in this
convention. You all know that if
we don’t denounce the Ku Klux
Klan there is no politician in the
south but who must go home and
ally himself with the klan.
In the middle west, he continued,
a politician would not dare ally
himself with the klan, and he pro
ceeded to analyze the political as
pects of the situation.
Georgian Stirs Crowi
Andrew C. Erwin, of Athens, Ga.,
who followed Mr. Moore, said the Ku
Klux Klan was the most vital ele
ment the party had to determine.
Erwin, who apparently was the
only delegate in the Georgia delega
tion to favor the denunciation of the
klan, stirred up a demonstration he
didn’t expect and turned the conven
tion into an uproar. A big virile
young fellow, he strode back to his
seat in the delegation after he finish
ed his denunciation of the klan. A
young woman rushed forward from
another delegation and kissed him.
Then a parade of the standards from
other states to the Georgia space
followed and soon the standards of
Alabama, Wyoming, Arizona, Ken
tucky, Maryland, lowa. Nevada, New
Hampshire. North Dakota, New
York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut.
Louisiana, Rhode Island, District of
Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Wiscon
sin, Vermont, Illinois. South Da
kota, Utah and Massachusetts and
Delaware were grouped around there.
Still the Georgia delegats remained
in their seats and refused to rise. The
men from other delegations carried
Erwin around the hall. Then the
banner played the “Star Spangled Ban
ner,” bringing everyone to attention
and the convention went back to
business again.
During the demonstration Tom
Taggart prevented the Indiana ban
ner from going into the demonstra
tion.
Louisianian Speaks
Jared Y. Saunders, of Hammond
La., was the next speaker. “In
Louisiana.” he said, “we already
have gone through what Democrats
here are going through. We had
the bigot and the zealot. We had the
honest and the dishonest. We had
in our campaign men who sought to
capitalize the klan and men who
sought to capitalize anti-klan. But
when a candidate took the field in
Louisiana appealing to race and re
ligion, backed by the city and state
government, and practically every
newspaper in Louisiana, there were
some of us wh<> thought that above
anti-klan there was true American
ism. And a candidate ran on the
principles of religious freedom and
dency and drew the line on no order
of any description, submitting his
candidacy to the. tolerate men and
women of Louisiana.
“That man running on that plat
form with all these influences
against him made such an appeal
that he won by the greatest majority
every given a Democratic candidate
in our state.
"Remembr all the bigots do not
belong to one church nor do all the
rascals belong to one section. You
can t fight interolerance with intoler
ance, you can’t fight the devil with
fir e: hes an expert in that line.
‘We didn’t come here to fight
Democrats: we came nrenared to
right Republicans. We want the
majority report because we want the
issue to be the little green house on
R ® traat not the three K K K’s.”
-U’ Bryan « of Memphis, follow
ed with a two minute speech for in
clusion of the minority plank men
tioning the klan by name.
You can’t kill a snake by taking
dJn o'°u r arrr ‘ s anrt kissing it to
death, he said.
"I come from where the Ku Klux
ls - Ive seen six thousand of them
m a public square and I’ve heard
them denounce all the things Ameri
cans have been taught to love. And
I say if the Ku Klux will go arid join
the Republican party because of our
action, I say let them go because all
those who violate the. law will then
be safely in one place.”
Bryan for Majority
Francis X. Busch, of Chicago, fol
lowed, also, speaking for the inclu
sion of the minority plank.
this is not a religious question,”
he said. It is not a political question.
It is a questin of adhering to the
fundamental principles of our gov
ernment so these questions will not
be recurring.”
William J. Bryan followed and re
ceived a standing demonstration
from the convention floor and gal
leries. He was introduced as “that
revered Democrat.” The great com
moner and war horse, nominee of
three Democratic conventions, wear
ing his hair little shorter, and look
ing a little older, looked over the
audience with that same old smile of
confidence.
"It is now twenty-eight years since
Democratic conventions became gra
cious enough to invite me and pa
tient enough to listen to me. I have
not words to express my gratitude
for the love and loyalty'to millions
of Democrats who have been my co
laborers. I have spoken to you on
many themes but never on anv nice
important than today.
"They take your applause out of
my time, so keep still and let me
speak to you.” said he.
M e 11 do it!” called back a voice In
the gallery.
“Let’s understand each other, let’s
eliminate the things that are not in
this issue and come down to the
three words that our friends would
take out and exalt above any others
in this campaign.” said Mr. Bryan.
Three Words Fatal
“M e said to them strike out three
words of your report and there'll
be no more objection. But three
words were more to them than the
welfare of a party.
“W e have read to you the best
Democratic platform ever written.
But I call you to ■witness that these
men never took the standards of their
states and marched when we appeal
ed on great principles; it was onl\
when the Ku Klux Klan came in."
At that point Bryan came in for
a greta deal of booing and howling
from the galleries which stopped the
proceedings altogether. In a. minute
the booing came so loud Bryan could
not continue.
Chairman Walsh, in angry tones
shaking his gavel at the galleries,
shouted that he would have them
cleared if they did not desist inter
rupting the speakers.
The laws protect every one.” con
tinued Bryan when quiet had been
| restored. “The Catholic church does
not need a great party to protect it
from a m Ilion men. The J®w<= do
not need this resolution. They have
Moses and Elijah; they have Elisha,
who was able to draw back th® cur
tain and show on the mountain tops
a. host greater than the thousands
of the Ku Klux Klan.
Warns of "Prairie Fire”
“The Ku Klux Klan doesn't de
serve the advertising,” continued
Bryan. “Mr. Colby tells you this or
ganization soon will die; If that be
true, the slogan of the minority
ought to be ‘hurry up If you would
see George, he’s nearly gone.’ One
of the reasons I oppose this minority
report is that I am not willing to
lift up the dying embers and start
a prairie fire and carry this issue in
to every congressional district in the
United States.
“We have no right to permit them
to divert us from as great a mis
sion as a party ever had. It requires
more courage to fight the Republi
can party than it does to fight the
Ku Klux Klan.
“You may call me a coward If you
will but. there’s nothing in my life
to justify the charge. But I’d rather
have the anathema of these mis
guided Democrats than have to
answer on the judgment day for a
trust«disregarded. Anybody can fight
the Ku Klux Klan but only the
Democratic party can stand between
the common people and their op
pressers in this land. Besides that
I’m not willing to bring discord into
my party.”
As usual Mr. Bryan talked about
his gratitude to the party and the
Christian religion. He paraphrased
his feelings for the party on the
lines of “woodman spare that tree.”
“Partisan spare that party” he
paraphrased, while the audience
laughed.
"Religion is more important than
politics,” said Bryah, unable to re
sist the temptation to deliver a bit
of a sermon. “What the country
needs is to get back to God.”
When Mr. Baker this afternoon
was recognized for the minority re
ports he had presented on the league
plank, he began by saying that aside
from his duty to God and his family,
the League of Nations was nearer
his heart than any other thing in
the universe.
“The man who ought to be plead
ing this cause,” he said, “is dead and
lying in consecrated ground. I don’t
like to appeal to your sympathy, but
I want to appeal to every emotion,
for we are dealing with the most se
rious question that can be consider
ed by man.”
The former war secretary, as he
went on to state his case, with great
proposal for a. referendum, and in
repeatedly. He declared the ma
jority plank “revolutionary” in its
proposal for a referendum, and in
consistent in that it praised the
league, and then failed to indorse
American membership in it.
Would Embarrass Party
“After all these honeyed phrases
of praise for the league,” he said,
“there is not a syllable in this plank
that says w*e should go into the
league until after an illegal, prepos
terous, revolutionary referendum.
"What they propose is that the
league be lifted out of party poli
tics and deposited nowhere. They
place us in a position where the
Republicans can say ‘four years ago
the Democratic party was for the
league; now they are not for it or
against it; they are affectionately dis
posed but not disposed to matri
mony.’ ”
Detailing the steps that must be
taken under the referendum plank,
the speaker called attention to the
provision that lhe vote should be
taken “after full consideration” by
the president, congress and the peo
ple at the polls.
“An(i then when all of that Is
over,” he said, “and my son is dead
on a battlefield from which I am try
ing to keep him, perhaps we shall
join the league—after full considera
tion.”
Lodge Attack Cheered
The convention applauded and Mr.
Baker continued:
“I am not speaking to Democrats,
lam speaking to humanity. I have
sat over in that room .in the hotel
across the street, listening to talk
about party expediency until I am
sick, and I am speaking now about
matters, not of politics, but of life
and death.”
There was another long outburst
of cheering when the former secre
tary declared the committee majority
was attempting to “substitute the
leadership of Henry Cabot Lodge for
that of Woodrow Wilson” and he got
another ovation when he declared
the truoble with the senators on the
platform committee, who had taken
the other side of the discussion, was
that “they have been in the senate
so long they can’t think.”
“When I mention the name of
Senator Lodge,” he said, “I am not
speaking of an individual but of a
malevolent institution.”
The delegates liked it and cheered
again.
“Who's going to present the cause
for the league in this post card ref
erendum?” Mr. Baker asked.
"The Republican party is opposed
to it, and the Democratic party is
afraid to touch it fqr fear they will
taint it with a partisan stain.
Would Be Turning on Wilson
“But what would the Republicans
say abou.. this plank? I can see the
headlines of the Republican news
papers tomorrow morning saying, if
we adopt this plank, ‘Democratic
Convention Repudiates Woodrow
Wilson.* I can see him looking over
my shoulder now at this plank and
you all can see upon his face that
fine contempt that he would feel
for that kind of a proposal.
. “This is not the kind of leadership
that was taught us by Woodrow
Wilson.
"When the nominee of this con
vention. whoever he. may be. is ask
ed after the convention whether he
is in favor of the League of Nations,
if he -say ‘no,’ then the traditions of
Woodrow Wilson are gone; if he
says ‘yes’ then the reply will be
’Well, your party was not afraid.
Thank God they have nominated a
man.’
“But my plank, the plank nf the
minority, is easily explained. It
simply means that we should go into
the league.
"I am a middle-aged man. I am
beyond military age. But on the
battlefields of France I have closed
the eyes of American soldiers, dying
for their country, with but two
wishes in their heart—that their
mothers might know how they died
and that some one n ight do some
thing that would keep others in the
futures from their bloody fate.
Wilson His “Soul’s Captain’’
“And I swore an obligation to the
dead that, in season and out, I would
lift up my voice until their sacri
fices were perfected.
"I served Woodrow Wilson for five
years. He is standing at the throne
of a God whose approval he deserved
and won. And as he looks down I
reply ‘I am doing my best. You still
are the captain of my soul.’ And
that great leader is saying ‘hrough
me ‘Carry on. Lo America s duty to
herself and to mankind.’ ”
When the speaker concluded, many
of the women in his audience were
dabbing their eyes with soaked hand
kerchiefs, and tears coursed down
the cheeks of some of the old-timers
who had sat through many a fer
vent platform fight without seeing
such another apneal tn the emotions
Man'' of th® delegates ros® and cheer
ed. The standard- of several states
were lifted up and carried up and
down the center aisle, and for several
Irninutes the hall was in an t.proar of
applause.
Before the cheering had subsided,
it was revived by the appearance on
the platform of Rabbi Stephen S.
Wise to second the appeal of Secre
tary Baker. He denounced the ref
erendum as a "subterfuge,” and de
clared that "the only referendum the
'party needs is a candidate standing
squarely on the I,cague of Nations.”
Must Save U. S. Honor
"I have heard it said,” he con
tinued, “that we must decide the
league question so as to save the
face of this man or the fortunes of
that man. But the only decision we
i need is the decision which will save
! the blighted honor of America.
"I am a Woodrow Wilson Demo
crat. The Republican party has
j ceased to be the party of Abraham
; Lincoln. But I propose that the
[Democratic party remain the party
i of Woodrow Wilson., If at the be
! hest of compromise and surrender we
! strike Woodrow Wilson down anew,
i I remind you that once before he
I was stricken down by his enemies,
[but that his soul went marching on
iand will go marching on, because it
I is the voice of peace for America and
jail the world.
"I ask that we march on with the
[soul of Woodrow Wilson, .incorporate
[in the League of Nations.”
Again at the conclusion of Rabbi
■ Wise’s brief address many of the dele
| gates stood and cheered, while Sena
tor Pittman, of Nevada, arose to close
the argument for the plank presented
by the committee majority.
The senator began his speech by
declaring that many of those who
had fought side by side with Wood
row Wilson and were as loyal to
him as Secretary Baker, favored the
referendum proposal as the practical
means of attaining the ends they
desire.
Republicans Driven Off
"When he attempts to say by !n
--’ ference,” he continued, "that those
1 who signed the majority report are
' deserting Woodrow Wilson, he is
[ saying what no intelligent man will
believe. We fought for the League
of Nations and we still believe in
it. We are fighting, not to keep
out of the league, but to get into
the league. It is only a question of
method.
“We made the league a party issue
in/ 1920. and what happened? We
drove away from the league all of
the great aßepublicans who had been
in favor of it. They loved their
party better than the league.
Speeches Limited
When Mr. Baker finished his plea
for his league plank, a unan
imous agreement was made for two
hours’ debate on each of the dis
puted planks, to be divided equally
between the contending sides. The
debate then went forward on the
League of Nations plank, with Al
fred Lucking, of Dor.oit, speaking
first for the adoption of the plank
as written by the majority of the
committee.
There was such a hubbub on the
floor, with several delegations t<'k
ing polls on the disputed planks be
fore the debate began, that Mr.
Lucking was delayed for several
minutes in opening his speech.
Mr. Lucking declared the major
ity plank should be adopted because
it was briefer and more to the point
and because the minority proposal
would tend to again thrust the
league question into politics. He
read the long list of states whose
members of the platform commit
tee had signed the majority report
and predicted that if the majority
plank were adopted the Democratic
ticket would sweep the country.
1920 Not True Test
The election of 1920, he said, failed
to represent a true referendum on
the league because the usue was
interwoven with many other influ
ences. He asserted that most ol
those who had signed the majority
report were in favor of "going into
the league” but did not want a di
rect issue raised as between the two
great parties.
“Many thousands,” he said, "will
vote to go into the league at a, gen-
I ral referendum, but they will not
j vote for it if they have to quit their
party to do so.”
The speaker read a letter from
Owen D. Young/ whoserved with
Charles G. Dawes on the reparations
commission, advising against mak
ing the league a partisan issue in the
1924 campaign.
Senator A. A. Jones, of New Mexi
co, followed Mr. Lucking, also
j speaking for the majority plank.
! The stifling heat in the hall and the
, [ flow of oratory on a subject that
j manifestly was not uppermost in the
. j minds of delegates or spectators, had
: quieted greatly the fervor of the
' vast audience, and when Senator
Jones took the speaker’s stand great
empty spaces had appeared among
the delegate seats and the galleries
were a third empty. The crowd had
sifted out slowly, but many of them
I were seeking a bit of refreshment
nearby, prepared to return later and
; see the fight over the klan.
Reciting how he had supported the
i league without reservation and
| later had voted for it "even with the
; obnoxious Lodge reservations,” the
i New Mexico senator pleaded with
; 1 tfie convention not again to place
the league issue in politics by draw
ing a sharp line on the question be
tween the two great parties.
The greatest crowds of the conven
tion had been packed into the hall.
Leaders on both sides of the klan
, questions were fearful of demonstra-
I tions from the galleries and possible
charges of intimidation of delegates.
, During the luncheon recess, which
i had been taken after Chairman Cum
. mings, of the resolutions committee.
| had made a dramatic plea for more
i time to consider the question, hur
ried conferences were held in a last
i minute effort to get a unanimous de
-1 cision on the klan plank, but the
i last effort z Was futile and finally the
[ word came that the committee would
present as part of its majority re
| port a plank drawn by William Jen
nings Bryan, which does not name
the klan hv name.
Argument Assured
* At tja® same time it became
| known that the plank which does
name the klan specifically would be
offered as a minority report and
. that the argument for it would be
in charge of Bainbridge Colby, for
mer secretary of state.
Text of Klan Plank
The text of the majority klan
plank, adopted by the committee,
follows:
“Freedom of religion:
"Freedom of .speech:
“Freedom of press:
"The Democratic party reaffirms
its adherence and devotion to thore
cardinal principles contained in the
constitution and the precepts upon
which our government is founded,
that congress shall make n,t laws
respecting the establishment of re
ligion, or prohibiting the free exer
cise thereof, or abridging the free
dom of speech or of the press, or
the right of the people peaceably to
assemble and to petition the govern
ment for’ a redress of grievances,
that the church and the state shall
be and remain separate, and that no
:e;igio :s test shall ever he rsquii ’d
as a qualification to • office n*
public trust under the Un : te'] States.
These principles we pledge our-
selves ever to defend and maintain. |
We insist at all times upon obe- j
dience to the orderly processes of
the law, and deplore and condemn
any effort to arouse religious or ra
cial dissension."
The substitute plank on the Ku
Klux Klan submitted by the minori
ty headed by Mr. Pattangall, of
Maine, would add to the language of '
the majority plank the following !
language:
“We condemn secret political so
cieties of all kinds, as opposed to the
exercise of free government; con
trary to the spirit of the declaration
of independence and the constitution
of the United States. We pledge the
Democratic party to oppose any ef
fort on the part of the Ku Klux Klan
or any organization to interfere with
the religious liberty or political free
dom of any citizens or to limit the
civil right of any citizen or body of
citizens because of religion, birth
place or racial origin ”
Signed by Twelve
The minority repqrt was signed
by Mr. Pattingall and the following
twelve other committee members:
Frederick I. Thompson, Alabama;
Senator David I. Walsh, Massachu
setts; P. H. Quinn, Rhode Island; C.
C. Carlin, District of Columbia;
John 11. McCann, Pennsylvania;
Francis X. Bush, Illinois; Joseph A.
Kellogg, New York; Barry Hcher,
New Jersey; James A. Nowell, Min
nesota; James P. Leamy, Vermont;
E. Brooke Lee, Maryland, and Jchn
W. Troy, Alaska.
Leaders of the group said they
hoped to obtain the signatures of
committee members from Canal
Zone, Ohio and Missouri.
The substitute plank on the
League of Nations offered to the
convention as a minority report from
the platform committee by seven
members headed by Newton D. Bak
er follows: «
"International co-operation,
"The most important problem fac
ing the nations of the world today
is how to recover from the last war
and remove the menace of future
wars.
"The only hope for world peace
and for economic recovery lies in
the organized efforts of sovereign
nations co-operating to remove the
causes of war and to submit law
and order for violence. Only thus
can we outlaw war. stop prepara
tions for war, and keep out of war.
"Under Democratic leadership a
practical plan was devised which
54 nations are now operating and
which has for its fundamental pur
pose free co-operation of all na
tions in the works of peace. The
leaders of the Republican party /op
posed that plan by gross misrepre
sentations. They subordinated the
peace of the world and the welfare
of this nation to doubtful party ad
vantage. They have not carried out
their promise of a substitute. The
government of the United States,
which has always taken the lead,
has for the past four years and for
the first time in its history, fallen
behind in efforts for international
peace and justice.
G. O. r. Fails to Aid
"This Republican administration
made one limited effort to reduce the
instruments of war but none to re
duce the causes of war. It has not
only failed to aid but has delayed
political and economic reconstruction
in Europe. By shirking responsibil
ity it has impaired our self-respect,at
home and injured our prestige
abroad. It has reduced this great
nation to the role of impotent ‘ob
server.’
"It has found it necessary to use
the league of nations and yet seems
constrained to sneer at and misrepre
sent it. Their policy of isolation is
as revolting in its spiritual aspects
as it is harmful in its material conse
quences.
“The Republican part” has no
foreign policy.
"We approve the proposal so re
peatedly trifled with by the Republi
can party, that the United States di
rectly adhere to the permanent court
of international justice established
under the auspices of the league of
nations. This proposal, while sound
and desirable is, however, but a frag
ment of the complete plan which is
necessary if we are to abolish war
.and have economic recovery and
stability.
Face Problem Frankly
"It would better comport with the
dignity and interest of this great na
tion to face the question of interna
tional co-operation frankly and man
fully. There is no substitute for the
league of nations as an agency work
ing for peace. The league of nations
never meant and the Democratic
party never favored any “foreign
entanglements,” any meddling in
the domestic affairs of others, any
impairment of sovereignty. The
Democratic party favors member
ship in that co-operative agency
upon conditions which will make
it clear that we are not committed
to use force and such further con
ditions as the president, with the
approval of the senate, may deem
appropriate to make our co-opera
tion effective in fact and consistent
with our constitutional practice.
Under a Democratic administration
the government will endeavor to
lift this great question above par
tisanship and to reflect the best
opinion of those w’ho place the wel
fare of the nation above partisan
ship. It will pursue a course which
safeguards the American interests
and conforms to American traditions,
aspirations and ideals. It will co
operate with civilization to banish
war.
“The Democratic party has a for
eign policy.”
Mr. Baker's plank was sponsored
also by John G. Cornwell, former
governor of West Virginia; G. P.
Fishburne, of Washington; J. P.
Pope, of Idaho; Henry W. Dooley, of
Porto Rico; R. B. Stevens, of New
Hampshire; Thomas F. Bayard, of
Delaware, and Edgar A. Brown, of
South Carolina.
Just before the convention reas
sembled for an afternoon session to
hear the debate and vote its de
cision, the platform committee held
another meeting in a final desperate
effort toward the compromise on
the klan plank, which party leaders
had failed to obtain.
When things were all set for thi
big fight, Homer Cummings, of Con
necticut, chairman of the platform
committee, took the speakers’ stand
and began amid more cheering to
read the platform as agreed upon
by the committee majority.
"When I have read it,” he said,
“I shall move its adoption without
alteration or amendment.”
The platform's opening eulogy to
Woodrow Wilson and many of the
planks on undisputed issues placed
at the beginning of the platform
were greeted with applause, but the
outbursts were short-lived for the
listeners were keyed for th<» more
bitterly disputed party issues, and
they appeared anxious for the chair
man to come to them.
Cummings Forced to Quit
Weak from loss of sleep in his ef
forts to bring the committee into
agreement, Chairman Cummings
found the reading of the long docu
ment very difficult, and when he
had been on his feet for twenty min
utes he turned the manuscript over
to Senator K«v Pittman, of Nevada,
the committee secretary. Senator
TUESDAY. JULY L 1924.
Pittman clamped on a pair of horn
rimmed spectacles and went on with
the reading.
So completely was the mind of i
the convention on the major cqntro- j
versies in store for it, that the :
planks dealing with the senate in- j
vestigations and reciting how Den- i
by and Daugherty were driven out j
of the cabinet were passed over with j
only scattered hand-clapping. The \
delegates were listening intently, {
but their thoughts were elsewhere.
Senator Pittman, too, had been
losing sleep during the framing of
the platform, and after he had been’
reading for ten minutes he passed
the task along to a strong-voiced
convention reading clerk. Both the
committee chairman and Senator
Pittman retired from the stage to
snatch a little rest while the formal
presentation of the platform con
tinued.
Baker Opposes Adoption
Before he had gone half way
through he was interrupted by hand
clapping which broke into cheer
ing a moment later, but the dem
onstration lasted for less than a
minute. The religious liberty plank
was the last in the platform and
when it had been read Chairman
Cummings again was- recognized to
correct a clerical error in the docu
ment before submission of the min- ■
ority report. He then formally |
moved the adoption of th* majority i
report and Newton D. Baker, of
Ohio, took the floor to oppose rhe
motion. He was received with ap
plause and was listened to carefully
while he presented his dissenting
views on the committee’s decision
for a referendum on the League of
Nations.
William R. Pattangall, of Maine,
then presented the minority report
on the Ku Klux Klan, which he said
had been signed by fourteen members
of the committee.
At the first direct mention of the
klan, the galleries let out a terrific
shout, and some of the delegates
stood up and cheered. But most of
those in the delegate Tnclosure took
no part in the demonstration, which
was quieted by Chairman Walsh by
vigorous use of the gavel.
Another brief demonstration follow
ed the conclusion of the plank, and
there were cries of "clear the gal
leries.” No effort was made to start
a convention floor parade, and the
convention went on in an unexpect
edly orderly fashion.
On behalf of both majority and mi
nority of the platform committee,
Chairman Walsh presented a unani
mous consent proposal to spend two
hours in discussion of the league
plank and two hours on the religious
liberty plank. J. W. Orr, of Kansas,
moved that instead the convention
proceed to vote first on the religious
liberty plank without debate, but Sen
ator Walsh refused to recognize the
proposal, and the committee plan was
adopted.
Slow in Assembling
The convention had been even
slower than usual in assembling in
the morning, and at 9:30, the hour
set for opening the session, not a
dozen delegates were on the floor.
The calleries were virtually empty.
At 10:37 Senator Walsh rapped
for order. , ,
By that time most of the delegates
were in their seats, but there were
some empty patches in the delegate
arc n
Dr. John Roach Straton, Calvary
Baptist church, New York City, pro
nounced the invocation. ,
He prayed that the convention
would find courage to "not compro
mise with evil, but stand four square
for old-fashioned Americanism.
Former Governor William A. Mc-
Corkle of Charleston, W. Va., was
recognized after the song was oyer
and offered the customary resolution
covering the organization of the na
tional committee. It was read by
the secretary, and there was a brief
discussion during which a phrase or
two were added to perfect the resolu
tion. It then was adopted.
During the delay one of the dele
gates yelled "platform” and there
were cheers. Homer fe. Cummings,
of Connecticut, chairman of the plat
form committee "and keynoter of the
1920 convention, appeared at the
I speaker's platform and was given
an ovation. Slowly amid an expect
ant silence, he began a brief address
outlining the situation in the com
mittee. He had a grave face as he
spoke.
Cummings Explains Deadlock
The chairman began by saying that
he was about to tell the convention
something relating to a. subject
"which may in a very large way af
fect the destines of our party.” He
then recited how the committee had
organized and began its work im
mediately after its appointment Tues
day, how its subcommittee had been
in almost continuous session until
last night, when it reported to the
[ full committee.
"I have never seen a subcommittee
i that worked together with greater
i harmony,” he continued. "Every
member has worked faithfully to
draft a platform tnat would be com
mensurate with opportunities of the
party in this campaign.
“The platform will be ready for
submission to this convention with
in a few hours. I think it will be
proud of that platform and I think
you will regard it as a winning plat
form.”
Apologizing for the weakness of
his voice, Mr. Cummings said he
had had only six hours’ slepe since
Tuesday.
"I refer to this,” he said, "so that
you may know we have wasted no
time. We have dealt with all the
questions before us except two, in a
way that has met the approval of
every one of the fifty-four members
of the committee.
"In two instances there has been
a difference of opinion. There was
a difference as to the phraseology
tn be employed in the plank regard
ing the League of Nations. The
plank in the majority report wiil
Children Gy for
I; IwiM njiUil
y As-?* / MOTHERFletcher’s Castoria is
\ / a pleasant, harmless Substitute for
Castor Oil, Paregoric, Teeth-
■V' \ Drops and Soothing
T I ) I Syrups, prepared for Infants
I \ an d Children all ages.
To avoid imitations, always look for the signature of
Proven dirertio’'-- on mrh package. Physicians everywhere recommend it
carry with it the signatures of «
large majority of the committee. A
minority report will be submitted, I
understand, by Mr. Baker, of Ohio.
“But these differences are but a
part of the story. There was one
plank on which a great difference
arose. The subc<?mmitte was un
able to agree, and last night the
full committee went into session tn
discuss the plank dealing with re
ligious freedom.
Fear for Party Unity
"We discussed that plank all
night, until we adjourned at «
o’clock this morning. 1 regret to
say that as the discussion* went nn
it became more heated. The discus
sion became somewhat acrimonious.
And when we saw that the commit
tee disagreed in that way, we be
gan to wonder what would happen
if the convention itself were asked
to discuss that question.
"In other words we began to think,
of the Democratic party. We
thought of all that might be involv
ed. And then we grew closer to
gether around the council table,
friends seeking to find away so
that the country might have the
service of a united ••Democ/’atic
Party.
"We concluded we ought to have
on that particular subject an oppor
tunity for further conference.
. “In all the years I have known
political events, I have never wit
nessed such a scene as took place in
tne committee room at 6 a. m. When
we began to teel the spirit of frater
nity again in our breasts, one of the
committee arose and recited the
Lord’s Prayer and then Mr. Bryan
lifted up his voice in a plea for Di
vine guidance.
“At the unanimous request of the
committee, I ask this great conven
tion, ir the interest of the party, to
adjourn until 3 o’clock this after
noon.” ■**
There had been a burst of applause
when the name of Mr. Bryan was
mentioned, and an interruption a lit
tle later from a delegate who shout
ed that the speaker was indulging
in argument, and not the announce
ment for which he had been recog
nized.
On the whole, however, the con
vention listened with unusual atten
tion, and when the question on Mr.
Cummings’ motion for a recess was
put it was adopted with only a mur
mur of dissent.
The last of the preliminary for
malities of the convention were
cleared away yesterday, when the
roil call of states for nomination was
completed, and as a result, 16 names
formally were before the delegates
today as candidates for the presi
dential nomination. It was known
als» that several others would re
ceive votes during the early ballot
ing, at least.
The week of steadily accelerated
maneuvering apparently had broqght
about no material change in the
deadlocked situation involving ths
vast field of candidates, William G.
McAdoo, of California, and Gover
nor Alfred E. Smith, of New York,
retained the lead in the number of
pledged votes for the opening bailor
and managers of each maintained
claims of accessions. Sponsors of
dark *horse candidates, meanwhile,
continued to express pleasure over
the situation, and confidence in the
outcome.
List of Candidates
The list of candidates formally be
fore the convention today include:
Oscar W. Underwood, Alabama. i
Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.
William G. McAdoo, California,
Willard Saulsbury, Deleware.
Samuel R. Ralston, Indiana..
Jonathan L. Davis, Kansas.
Albert C. Ritchie, Maryland.
Woodbridge N. Ferris, Michigan.
David F. Houston, Missouri and
New York.
Charles W. Bryan, Nebraska.
Fred IT. Brown, New Hampshire. «
George S. Silzer, New Jersey.
Alfred E. Smith, New York.
James M. Cox, Ohio.
Carter Glass, Virginia.
John W. Davis, West Virginia and
New York.
Defunct Albany Bank’s
Liabilities Taken Over;
Payments Guaranteed
ALBANY, Ga., June 28.—Tha
Georgia National hank will take
over the assets and liabilities of the
Citizens’ First National bank, which
closed its doors on February 13,
last.
When the Citizens’ First National
bank closed its doors it had more
■than a half million dollars of depos
its. A committee has been at work
on the problem for more than four
months.
The arrangement just announced
guarantees that depositors will re
ceive their money in full.
The Georgia National bank guar
antees to pay one-third of the de
posits January 1, J 925; one-third
January 1, 1926, and January 1, 1927,
Senator W. J. Harris,
Will Speak July 4th, t
At Cedartown, Ga.
CEDARTOWN, Ga., June 28.
Senator William J. Harris will de
liver the patriotic address here
July 4.
Cedartown is planning a great gala
day with a program of historical pag
eants and other events.
Other addresses will be made by
Prof. James C. Harris, superintendent
of the state school for the deaf; Gen
eral Charlie P. Harris, United States
army, and Major Hunter Harris.
United States army, who will return
to their home town for the day.
3