Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-05-29
CHEERS FOR WILSON
BUT NOTHING MORE
Virginia Democratic Convention
Met in Norfolk
THE TWO SENATORS n0OTED
State Machine Dominated Against
Friends of Wilson

convention, but he will not get the
votes at Baltimore when the final
showdown comes.
This view is accepted on all sides
following the close of the couveu-
ton and after the Wilson militant
followers had a chance to analyze
the result, the real result OF the con-
vention followiug a compromise to
sidetrack fight for Wilson instruc-
tions between the Wilson leaders
and the organization leaders.
Eight delegates at large we're
elected with half vote each. Four
OF these are for Wilson and four re-
present the organization. The Will
son delegates are Harry ST. George
Tucker, Richard E. Byrd, r. Tate
Irvine and Editor A. B. Williams OF
the Roanoke Times. The organiza-
ton delegates are Senators Martin
and Swanson, Governor Mann and
Congressman Flood.
The convention at times ran riot
with Wilson enthusiasm. On sew.
eral occasions it looked like it would
stampede for Wilson from the way
that the hundreds of delegates
cheered every mention OF the New
Jersey Governors name, but the
grip of the machine" was strong
and all the Wilson sympathizers
could do was TO cheer.
The compromise which side-track-
ed big fight on the convention
floor over Wilson instructions was
accepted by Mr.. Byrd upon the
suggestion of Wilson national cau.-
paign managers. Mr.. Byrd was
willing to force the fight. He knew
the Wilson instructed delegates
we're not in the majority. He count
ed, however, on the Wilson sympa-
thiZers but not Instructed delegates
to help out. William McAdoo and
others representing Mr.. Wilson
feared q fight might result in
the loss of all. Acting upon their
suggestion Mr.. Byrd agreed to the
plan by which the Wilson people
should side track the instr uctions
fight in return for half of the dele
gates at large and leave district
do 70 hn al.
present the Congressional district
at Norfolk. II the compromise had
stopped there all would ha 9 been
well. but it contained that fatal unit
rule clause which places in the
hands Of the Organization" lever
to block Wilson in the final show
down ut Baltimore. There were
two or three hundred Wilson sym
pathizers in the convention besides
the Wilson instructed delegates.
These men were for the "organiza-
ton" first and Wilson second. They
helped the Wilson instructed dele
gates with their lusty cheers to
make Wilson the lion OF the hour in
the convention, but would go no
further. The, grip of the machine"
was too strong for them to do more
than cheer the man they really favor
for Presidentt
These delegates. loyal to the "or-
ganization" first and Wilson second,
named organization delegates to rep
resent the districts. The agree
ment is that Wilson shall receive at
least one vote from each district ex
cept the Fifth and Eighth and two
at large after the first or second
ballots. Then comes the unit rule,
il the Organization decides to slam
it down on the delegation and choke
the Wilson delegates.
On all sides 10 is frankly admitted
that the State Organization" lead
ers were masters OF the convention,
but could not check its enthusiasm
for Wilson, and that Senator Martin
and Congressman Flood will con
troll the Virginia delegation to Balti-
more at the final show down.
Mrs. Anna e. PitZer will cast the