The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-19
Deadlock of Democratic Cand1-
dates Almost Certain Now.
Would Make Nominations by
Majority Vote of Delegates.
CUMMINGS AGAINST CHANGE
Old Fight in Party To Be Re-
newed This Year.
Expect Battle Over Seating
Senator Reed of Missouri.
BY HAROLD D. JACOBS.


San Francisco June ia pro
tracted battle Of ballots in the Demo-
cratic national convention to decide
the presidential nominee was forecast
today as the widely scattered appor-
tionment of delegates on the initial
vote became apparent.
OF the 1902 delegates, only S72
had been instructed by state conVen-
tions or primaries. These were di-
vided as follows;
Attorney General Palmer 104; Gov
ernor James NJ. Cox -; Herbert
Hoover 80. Secretary of Agriculture
Meredith. 26: Senator Carter Glass.
"a; Governor Edwards. Is; Senator
simmons. "A; Senator Robert Owen,
20: Senator Gilbert Hitchcock, 16; Ho-
mer S. Cummings, IA; James w.
Gerard. 10; william J. Bryan, 10; VIII
liam q. McAdoo. 10.
Michigan For Hoover.
II presented. Hoover, a candidate
for the Republican presidential nomi-
nation, probably would get all of Mich
igan's thirty votes on the first ballot
more than he obtained at any time
during the Republican convention-by
virtue of having carried the presiden-
tial primary in that state before he re-
pudiated the Democratic party.
Palmer's lead in instructed dele
gates was threatened because OF the
contest filed BY Tom Watson over
georgia : twenty -elH ut utleSdlcS -AiAS
only Democratic contest filed to date.
owing to the two-thirds rule in
Democratic conventions, 72S votes are
necessary for a choice.
y Want Majority Rule.
A determined effort is being planned
to bring before the Democratic Nation
al convention the question of changing
the rule whereby two-thirds vote
Is necessary to nominate. it was
learned today.
Chairman Homer s. Cummings and
other national committee members op-
posed to the change. believe they can
beat It. W. J. Bryan is expected to
take a leading part in the fight for
the change.
A rule making a majority vote suf-
ficient to nominate, the same as in
the Republican convention is wanted.
The change was proposed at the last
meeting of the national committee
II was never considered. Now its pro-
poncnts think that if they can get 1t
before the convention they can win
A few Individual delegates were
struggling in today but no solid dele
cations are expected until next week.
Several are en- route.
The national committee on June rs
will hear arguments over seating con-
estcd delegations. One contest has
naterialized and another is in pros
pect. The twenty-eight Georgia seats
are in dispute between the Palmer and
Hoke Smi,h-Tom Watson factions. In
the primary. Palmer had a plurality,
but in the state convention. the Smith
and Watson delegates united and re-
fused to let the Palmer men partici-
pate in selection of delegates to the
national convention. it is alleged.
Fight Over Senator Reed.
Both delegations will be here and
the national committee must decide
which to seat. The Smith Watson
delegates are uninstructed but are sup
posed to be anti-admin stration.
one possible contest is over the seat
OF Senator Reed as delegate at large
from Missouri. Despite recommenda-
tion OF Reeds district convention, the
Missouri state convention refused to
certify him as a delegate. Another
meeting is scheduled for Reeds dis
triCt. Kansas City. today. at which it
IS forecast the Missouri senator again
will he chosen. He is expected to
come here and demand his seat This
contest also will come up June 25.
senator Reed Is Rcseated.
Kansas City. Mo. June 19-United
States Senator James A. Reed today
was reelected Fifth district delegate
TO the Democratic national convention.
at meeting of the Jackson county
delegation to the state convention.
Reed $ election was unanimous
The state convention rejected Reed
as a district delegate some time ago
because of his fight on the League OF
Nations and on the Wilson admins
tration. Today's action will transfer
the fight TO San Francisco.