Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-27
minority report. The vote was 566h to
495E, absent or not voting. 3S.
Conflict Raoss Unit, Midnight.


Conflict Raoss Unit, Midnight.
The issue Of the conflict until mid
night decides whether tho democrats
shall continue to abide by the unit rule
Of delegation instructions which has
obtained for more than sixty years. or
accept the new idea Of the instruction
Of Individual delegates by the people
which has been born With the spread
of direct primaries.
The evening session Of the conven-
ton had been given over exclusively
to this fight. On the ope side were the
conservatives led ~by Mack and Muir
ply who wish to preserve the system
under which the political bosses are
enabled to bind the votes OF an entire
state delegation to the candidate OF the
forces in control.
Ninstssn in Ohio for Wilson.
They were interested In this In
stance In preserving Governor Har-
mons block Of forty eight Ohio dele
gates instructed under the unit rule.
altho nineteen of them were elected
under the direct primary law and in
structed by the voters for Woodrow
Wilson.
On the other si0e were the progress
sives led by John Sharp Williams Of
Mississippi and Robert l.. Henry Of
Texas. who proclaim the superior au-
thority of the direct primary and con-
tend that the politician shall not be
allowed to disregard the instruction
given even single delegate by the
voters. They therefore argued that the
time honored unit rule of democratic
conventions should not bind the nine
teen Wilson delegates Of Ohio to vote
for Harmon.
This class Of the opposing forces in
the convention furnished the first ex-
citement OF the second day Of the ma
tional gathering. The afternoon ses-
sion OF two hours was consumed with
fiorid oratory by various national
leaders OF the party while the resolu
tions, credentials. rules. and permanent
organiza ton committees were delib-
Grating in nearby rooms. When II be-
came apparent that the credentials
committee could not report until eve
ming. the convention adjourned Mt 2;17
p. m. until 8 o'clock in the evening.
Two Reports Submitted.
When Chairman Parker called the
evening session to order, Congressman
Ccvinston of Maryland. chairman OF
tho rule committee, presented the pro-
posed rules of the convention, one OF
which provided that the vote OF delega-
tions by units, wherever so instructed.
should prevail. as in the past.
Congressman Henry Immediately
presented minority report providing
that the unit rule should not apply
wherever presidential preference pri-
maries allowed the voters to instruct
their delegates.
He asserted. amid cheers from the
progressives that the unit rule In the
case Of Ohio would strike blow at
local elf-government, for II would
nullify the representation OF nineteen
Wilson delegates chosen by the people.
He read the popular vote in the VIII
son district OF Ohio. showing that VIII
son received therein several times as
many votes a. Harmon. and yet un-
der the unit rule the delegates from
these districts are compelled to vote
for Harmon.
Starts . Wilson Demonstration.
Delegate Beck Of Ohio followed with
q presentation OF the case for Har-
mon. He had scarcely begun when
he referred to That great governor Of
the state Of New Jersey"
At this the Wilson men In the con-
vention jumped to their feet with
whoops Of Joy. Mr. Beck looked dis
tried to proceed, ana then
gave up In despair. He had started
he couldn't stop.