The Washington herald., 1912-06-28
DAY SESSION PROVES
ATURBULENT AFFAIR
Action on South Dakota Contest Starts Demonstra
ton that Throws Democratic Convention
into a BedIam


men, should be seated. The minority re-
port holds that the Wilson men should
have been seated The report set forth
that the Wilson men were elected.
There were three tickets in the field,
according to a statement by Morris,
which followed the reading Of the report
The Wilson-Bryan ticket was the first
in the field. The other tickets were the
Wilson -Bryan-Clark ticket and the Clark
for President ticket. The committee
seated the Clark men because the total
for the two tickets on which Clark's
name appeared was greater than the
vote for the Wilson ticket Morris point
ed out that the two sets OF Clark dele
gates were separate and distinct
Delegations Not Divided.
In finding for the Clark men, Morris
said. the delegations were not divided,
but the total was given to the delegates
on the Clark for President ticket.
IF We should sustain any such un-
usual ruling OF the credentials COM
/ mittee," he said, I'VE would override the
primary law OF South Dakota" the
speaker declared. He asked that no
| demonstration be started when the
name OF any candidate be mentioned.
When he spoke OF the Clark for Presi-
II
It soon died down.
Gov. William A McCorkle OF West
/ Virginia asked the right ito present the
/ right of a sovereign state to vote on
| the floor" He said that he did not
represent any faction, but merely spoke
as the representative Of the majority OF
the credentials committee.
AS the speech started a photographer
shot a flash lamp in front OF Mrs. Taft's
seat A pun Of smoke arose and the first
lady OF the land, much alarmed. leaned
forward with compressed lips TO see what
! happened.
CIarks name mentioned in McCorkle
remarks brought forth scattered cheers.
Lea Puts Question.
Senator Lea jumped to the front.
VIII the gentlemen give time for a
question:" he asked. My question is:
The day after the chairman Of the
| committee certified to the election he
read letter. from the Secretary OF State
saying that he had returns from only
about sixteen counties. How can the
committee have this certificate in the
| face Of this letter."
Il will answer that question by a
! question" replied the Governor.
| How does he stand upon a certificate
| issued upon the same day when the same
| returns were in, by a Republican can
| vasslng bOard?'
IN answer said Senator Lea.
| Your time,'' replied the Governor
going on with his speech.
Mr.. Lea replied when the Governor
finished that the certificate he bad was
| based on the figures.
NJ. NJ. Crane, Of Texas, chose next to
| speak for the minority report
! He said that the contention Of the ma
| jority that the officials should not be
/ believed was not morally right. He add
/ ed that no one should assume that
man had told an official untruth be-
| cause that Official was Republican.
Blanchard for COnteStees.
! Former Gov. Blanchard Of Louisiana
! SPOKE for the contestees. This case
ought 90 be decided upon ITS merits. ir-
1 respective the claims OF any aspirant
TO the Presidency" he began. "On its
! merits there is only one side to this
case"
The National Committee seated those
/ delegates known as the contestees. The
I majority Of the committee on credentials
I reversed their decision.
Blanchard then rec!ted the facts as
lie saw them.
Throughout the speaking the vast crowd
! packed into the bLilding was restive.
mere was confusion ana an under
! hum OF talking that made the task Of
the speakers difficult Neither delegates
nor spectators displayed interest in the
contests, and il was only when the
speaker mentioned the name Of some
candidate that they paid attention to the
| speeches.
The audience was plentituIly supplied
with noise-making instruments. Horns
! and whistles had found their way into
the hall, and at the slightest opportunity
added to the confusion.
] Ollie James, the permanent chairman
! for the convention, came in while Gov
| Blanchard was speaking. He got a po-
lite handclapping as he walked down the
1 center aisle to his seat.
Confusion Everywhere.
Gov. Blanchard went into the legal
phases Of the case at great length. While
he was talking the confusion increased
so that It was difficult to hear what he
had to say. The confusion came as much
from the seats where the delegates were
seated as from the crowded galleries.
When he finished. and when it was
seen that another speaker was to follow.
! there were cries of Vote, Vote
Chairman Joseph E. Bell, OF Indiana
said that the letter OF the South Dakota
State chairman reported that Champ
CIark nad received b per cent OF the
vote OF the State.
He proceeded to read the much-quoted
letter in favor OF the seating of the Lee
F.. delegates, who are for Clark.
only sixteen counties" called the del
egates from New Jersey
Hr. Bell added that there was a scheme
in the Dakota election TO split the Clark
vote for the benefit OF Wilson, and that
in spite Of the fact Clark got 1000 votes
to 400 for Wilson.
Somebody blew a tin horn out in the
hall.
win the gentleman kindly desfst from
blowing his horn?' asked the sergeant
\ alarms through a megaphone.
Then Mr.. Bell asked the convention to
vote for the majority report.
T. J. Knox, OF Minnesota, followed
Bell. Before he had taken his place
there were more cries of Vote, Vote
Noise browns Speakers Voice.
He started at once to tell all over
again the story OF the three tickets and
the plurality.
His story had not progressed far be-
fore handclapping and hooting began in
all parts Of the hall.
The speakers voice grew husky in his
effort to make himself heard over the
confus on. When he coupled Wilson
and Clark's name in a sentence, there
Il wassso much noise from the two factions
that he was forced to suspend entirely
while the sergeantsat-arms hammered
industriously for order.
Knox closed with the house in disorder
] vvhfla tha dale1ates and the 4aIIariaS