The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-04
MANY BALLOTS
WITHOUT CHOICE
Democratic National Conven-
ton Spends Days In Dead
lock At Baltimore
CLARK AND WILSON LEAD
But Both Lack Many Votes Of Neces-
sary Two-Thirds Up to Late Hour
Monday Afternoon.

Monday Afternoon.
Baltimore.-The deadlock which
confronted the delegates at the Ma
tional Democratic convention for sew
evral days was the most remarkable
in the history of modern politics.
There we're none in the convention
able to recall another instance in
which it required anything like the
number of ballots to nominate that
were taken here without result.
The Clark forces retaining lead in
the number of votes stuck stubbornly
to their candidate. After the great
Clark rally when a majority OF the
votes were cast for him Senator Stone
addressed a5telegram to the other can
didates asking them that inasmuch as a
majority Of the delegates had voted
for Clark that they release their sup
porters and withdraw from the race
for the sake of harmony and to break
the deadlock The proposition, how
ever, did not meet with acceptance.
Dropping OF CanoioateS.
Senator Stone, of Missouri Saturday
night made motion to eliminate the
candidate receiving the lowest num-
Der of votes on each succeeding ballot
after the twenty-seventh until one, the
winner was left in the race. There
was a storm of objection and the sub
ject was pressed no further.
The Harmon delegates from Ohio
threw their support to Speaker Clark
on several ballots, but they did not
materially help him toward the neces-
sary two-thirds vote because of the
gradual inroads made by Wilson.
They then changed back to Harmon.
Wilson Gains.
Beginning Saturday afternoon Will
son began to make gains and Clark to
loose ground. Wilson's supporters
were hopeful when the convention
recessed from Saturday night until
Monday. Some Of them very strongly
favored his coming to Baltimore but
he declined to do SO. Breaks to tn
Governor were coming from many
delegations when the convention adj
journed Saturday.
Bryan Sensation.
The most sensational feature OF the
convention was the statement of w.
]. Bryan explaining his change Of vote
when New York's delegation cast their
votes for Clark. As a delegate from
Nebraska he was under instructions to
vote for Clark, but In his statement,
whoch was written, he declared that
so long as Clark had the backing OF
Murphy he could not support him and
changed his vote to Wilson.
This created an uproar of approval
and disapproval. He was Immediate
ly assailed from the floor. by many
questions. He was asked if he would
support the nominee Of the convention
If same should receive the New York
vote. He stated that 1t was quite a
different thing to oppose man in a
convention and oppose him after he
was nominated. He declared that he
would support the nominee because he
believed the nominee would be q pro-
gressive.
Clark on the Ground.
Speaker Clark fastened to Balti-
more Saturday night to be on the
ground to defend himself from what
he claims was an unjust attack by Mr..
Bryan. His followers also had strong
hopes that his presence would check
the slhnp from his vote that was In
progress when the adjournment came
Saturday night
There were no session OF the con-
vention on Sunday hut 1t was a busy
day among the politicians. The
various camps were feverish in their
endeavors to make the most of the
time before the chairman's gavel on
Monday should again start the seem
ingly endless balloting.
Rumors were rife In and about the
various hotel Hobbies as to what com.
binations had been made but the CON
vention opened at eleven O'Clock Mon.
day morning with practically as much
uncertainty. at least as far as the
general public were concerned, as
when the weary delegates. were dis
missed Saturday night.
Mingled IN the varying reports was
that which circulated constantly, that
New York's ninety votes would before
long be cast for Oscar w. Underwood.
Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Missis-
sippi delegates were usually active on
the floor before the gavel fell, spread
ing the Underwood boom and claim
ing the majority leader of the House
soon would show burst of speed in
the race.
THREE EISHERMEN kuIEn