Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-27
Progrsssives Score VIC
tory at Baltimore That
Aids Wilson Strength.
HARMON THE SUFFERER
Eighteen Ohio Votes Switched
Might Session of Conven-
ton Exciting One.

Convention Hall. Baltimore. June 81.
A sweltering atmosphere charged
with humidity greeted the delegates
as they filed in for last nights ses-
sion just before S o'clock. thun-
derstorm that had been threatening
for an hour kept the gallery attend
ance down and at o'clock only about
half Uf the seats for spectators were
filled. The delegates also were slow
in arriving When Chairman Parker
appeared there was a scattered round
of applause He greeted Rev. 7. o.
Grouse of the Mount Royal avenue
Methodist Episcopal church, who was
chaplain of the meeting, and had a
talk with Chairman Mack.
Chairman Parker, Parliamentarian
Crisp, Rev Henry and Representative
| Covington of Maryland spent some
time in conference. They frequently
consulted book of parliamentary law.
, and were evidently pondering over an
impending parliamentary situation
At $50 Chairman Parker dropped
his gavel. the sergeant-at-arms clear
ing the aisles and secured order. while
the chaplain began the prayer.
COMMITTEE HEARD.
Immediately after the prayer. Rep
iresentatiFs= 6ovington OF ATaryIand.
chairman of the committee on rules.
was recognized to present the commit
tees report
The report placed the nominations
g. al.
the program of the convention i'm
Imediately after the report of the COM
mititee on credentials and before the
adoption of the platform.
This is contrary to custom" Mr.
ICovington said but while the COM
mittee on rules was In session today,
Senator Rayner, Governor Vardaman
and another distinguished member of
the resolution committee. informed the
committee that the resolutions com
mittee, by a vote of II to II, had de-
termned that the eXigcnCies of the
Il present democratic situation made 1t
wise to have the nominations before
the adoption of the platform. In rec
ognition of the distinguished members
of the resolutions committee the com
mittee on rules has embodied it IN
the report of the rules committee. |
now move the adoption of that report"
VOTE A SURPRISE.
The report much to the surprise of
, the convention, was adopted by viva
, yoce vote, without opposition
: Mr.. Coyington then presented the
, majority supplemental reports of the
, rules committee making the unit
, rule" rule of the convention. AS re-
! ported, the rule makes a unit instruc-
ton by state convention binding on
a delegation If a majority Of the del
egation favored any particular can
didate. Representative Henry of Texas
, presented minority report excepting
from the operations of the rule such
delegations as are elected under state
primary ruFes. by congressional dis
, triCts.
Chairman Covington opened the de
bate in favor OF the majority report.
7 arguing that as the two-thirds rule was
. true "Jeffersonian democratic doctrine"
and as without the unit rule the two
thirds rule would not be practicable.
/ the convention should maintain the
unit rule despite the popular primary
, in congressional districts.
Representative Henry then opened
the debate for the minority report
He said the report would in no way
interfere with the operation OF the unit
rule as it has obtained heretofore
> Where delegates were elected as here
, tOfCre by a state convention, Henry
/ (Contlnued on Page sevcH.)