AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[Reuters Telegrams.]

AIR. BAKER’S GREAT APPEAL. HIS 72 HOURS’ BATTLE. NEW YORK, June 28 The fifth session of the Democratic Convention opened ostensibly to receive the platform, but Air Cummings, emaciated from the lack of rest, ap. pen red and hogged the delegates to go into recess until tliis afternoon, to give the resolutions committee a final opportunity to reach an agreement on the League and Klan issues. He declares the Committee fears that if the Klan were brought on to the Convention Hood the Democratic Party would he torn with dissension. The Convention mekly adjourned and roc-on vi*”-

It was an open secret, however, that an agreement had not been reached. Twenty thousand persons crowded the auditorium expecting a pitched battle. Mr Cummings read a majority report oil tiie platform outlining the principal plans cabled on June 2(5 and 27th.

Air Baker then road the minority report offering the substitute for the League plank as cabled on June 27th. Another delegate, Air Pattingall of .Maine, offered a substitute for the Klan plank, condemning the Klan by name.

The Chairman offered a resolution allowing a two hours’ debate on each question. Few persons seemed inclined to listen eagerly to further talk and before the. .debate had begun half the audience had filed out.

The debate over the League resolved itself into a contest of expressions of expediency ami idealism. The advocates of a popular referendum declined to endorse joining the League even with the reservations which were meant to revive the defeated issue of 1920 and again court a Democratic defeat.

Air Baker made one of most impassioned addresses in American political history. He whipped feelings to a high tension as he outlined the Democrats’ shame if they repudiated AH Wilson, lie poured hunting words upon Senator Lodge and the Republican irreroncilables. lie mustered strong legal arguments showing that the American constitution was without provisions for a referendum. He has been waging a 72 hours’ sleepless battle he spoke with furor of physical collapse. There was no longer listlessness among his auditors. Air Baker’s peroration was a plea that Democracy’s love, for Wilson should remain alive although the leader was dead. After that there was cheering in which was pleasantly missing any element of artificiality. Air Baker’s victory, however, was o'?|v moral us the poll of the delegates showed, his issue being defeated hv 742 to 453 votes.

The debate over the Klan issue then began amidst evident, tensity. I*i ftoon hundred policemen were massed through the aisles and floor as a precaution against disorders. The Klan was fairly generally condemned, hut the opponents of mentioning the Klan's name declared the organisation hits a million members, not all ol whom merit denunciation. Other speakers took the broad line that what is wrong should he specially condemned, declaring that t! e Klan is wrong and vicious.

U.S.A. DEAIOC’BATS. NEW YORK, June 29. The net result of Saturday’s session of the Democratic Convention was to create dissention within the ranks ol the Democratic Party, and release a flood of religious hatreds, likeiy to cause a riot and bloodshed in many sections of flu* country during the campaign, am! furnish the Party’s adversaries with much campaign matciial. According to impartial observers, the Democratic nomination will not h? worth a penny now, as the result ol the Kit Klux Klan quarrel. "They elected Conlidgc on Saturday night,” is a statement heard on all sides.

OIL SCANDAL. NI'MBFB of indictments. (Received this day at 9.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, .Time 30. Criminal indictments have been returned by tt Federal Grand .Buy against Albert Fall, former Secretary of tlie Interior. 11. F. Sinclair and T.. L. Dolicuy, oil operators, and E. L. Dolieny Junior, as the out growth of the leasing of the naval oil reserves. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION DEADLOCK. (Received this day at 0.20 a.m.) NEW YORK. June 30. Six ballots and no nominee. or even an indication of a nominee, was the. result of .six hours work of the Democratic Convention. McAdoo serured 133 votes. Smith 2(51. Lntlerwod 11. Robinson 19. John Davis 31, Charles Bryan 19. Cox -T9, Ralston 30. Glass 27i. Silzer 28.