The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-28
The South Dakota Contest,
Which Had Been Decided
for Champ Clark,
Is Reversed
NEW YORK VOTES
SOLIDLY AGAINST
CLARK'S FORCES
Great Surprise Is Caused by the
Shift-Alabama Delegation Splits
on the Issue-Great Con-
fusion in the Hall During
Wait on the Vote

Baltimore, June 27.-The democratic
national convention at the first session
today overturned the credentials COM
mittee and adopted the minority re-
port in the South Dakota cases which
seated the Wilson delegates who had
previously been unseated by the COM
mittee, The OFFICIAL vote was eS91s to
4s7-55s not voting.
The Wilson adherents hailed the re-
suit of the fight with great delight
and made many claims on the strength
of the vote. New York cast 80 votes
against the Clark delegates which was
the occasion of much surprise. The
Wilson men had been claiming that the
cause of the speaker was losing ground
among the New York delegates.
Mrs. Taft Sees Convention
Baltimore, June 27.-Mrs. William H.
Taft. wife of the President, was visi-
tor at the convention today, having a
prominent place in the guest gallery. She
was entertained by Mrs. Hugh Wallace,
wife of a delegate from the state of
Washington.
At IL o'clock Chairman Parker had not
taken his place on the platform. A big
appeared in every aisle. A double row
of policemen were placed in front of the
press stand.
Despite theseNadded forces the sergeant
at arms was unable to prevent crowdiag
In the aisies.
Chairman Parker reached the platform
at 1910 and conferred with Parliamentary
ian Chrisp and Senator John Sharp Will
liams of Mississippi. leader of the Bryan
Wilson forces
Before the convention was called to or
der there was an excited conference In the
Missouri delegation.
Senator Luke Lea, leader of the Bryan
forces; former Senator Dubois. Senator
Stone and former GOV. David Francis were
gathered in a group discussing what Sem
ator Lea termed ''the South Dakota
steal"
Lea, in no uncertain terms, took the
Clark Missourians to task for their atti-
tude toward the South Dakota contest,
where the Wilson delegates were dis
placed by Clark men by the majority re-
port of the credentials committee. When
the group broke up, Senator Lea hurried
to the platform to plan the fight on the
credentials majority report
The South Dakota case was being dis
cnssed in every delegation.
The 10 Wilson delegates had been I'M
seated by the credentials committee. and
IHb OldIk QclcSdAAol subSllluAcd dllfi tue
national committee had put its seal of
approval on the Wilson delegates.
The credentials committee based its ac-
ton upon the claim that two Clark tickets
had together polled more votes than the
Wilson ticket. The Clark delegation seat
ed by the credentials committee appeared
on the South Dakota ballot under the
head ''Wilson" and k-Bryan." 1t
secured about 400 less votes than the Will
son ticket straight ticket headed
''Clark for President voted about 200 less
votes than either of the others. The Gre
dentials committee turned out the Wilson
delegates by a narrow vote of % to %, and
the Wilson men on the committee an
nounced at once their Determination to
carry the vote to the floor.
Confusion During Wait
There was much confusion in the com
vention hall during the wait for the pro-
ceedings TO begin. The band kept up a
lively racket. Dixie was played many