New-York tribune., 1920-06-17
Smith Roo112e(l
Esv 1 an1121a11y to
Defeat NEcAdoo
Murphy Crowd al French
Lick Reported Grooming
Governor for Democratic
Nominee as Strategic Move
Cox Seen as Compromise
Gerard Coming Forward as
Probability; Indiana Still
Holds Hope for Marshall
Special Dispatch to The Trib4ne

FRENCH LICK, June l6.-The new
est arrival at French Lick, where the
Tammany bosses and political leaders
from number of ether states are
assembled in preparation for the grand
march upon the Democratic National
Convention at Frisco, was Senator
Mark A. Smith, of Tucson, Ariz. He
had hardly brushed the dust of travel
from his clothes when he asked to see
Tom Taggart, the recognized boss and
chairman Of lndiana's thirty delegates
TO the coast convention. Mr.. Smith
was informed that Mr. Taggart had
just departed for Indianapolis.
Senator Smith was anxious to get in
touch with the Democratic situation
as viewed from the French Lick angle,
but was silent AS to what his exact
mission fere. aside from a rest cure"
was to be.
The close Of the days developments
appeared to point the following:
Indiana Backs Marshall
The question of trading with Indiana
has been eliminated for the present
The Indiana delegation is found to be
III no better shape in this respect than
when the Tammany crowd arrived sew
cral days ago
They are still holding to the belief
that Thomas r. Marshall will throw
his hat into the arena when he gets
into the full excitement and enthusiasm
Of rip-roaring convention. This VII
n ,,,l f,.,. -~1; y J,,,,
behind the movement.
The iAkllng that the TammanN
crowd would get behind g move in
<behalf of Governor Smith to ftal off
McAdoo strength was further strength
ened to-day. 1t appears thai Murphy
and his crowd know that it viii be
impossible TO muster anything like
enough strength for the Empire States's
chief executive to land the nomination.
Cox Seen as Compromise
However, it is believed that q Vice
Presidential nomination is no tentircly
out of the question, although on thi.
point a number of the Independent
bosses take issue.
In most of the informal conferences
Governor James NJ. Cox Of Ohio still
holds a high ranking as a compromise
candidate and one favored by many Of
4
numbers.
Some talk went the rounds that
Gerard might be trotted out as favor
tie candidate if the Smith movement
mcnat chiefly to hold back an early de-
cision and thereby iniurc the chances
Of McAdoo, meets with too much oppo-
sition.
No little importance was attached
to the action of the Tammany leaders
to-day in making special arrangements
20 leave here Friday night for Chicago.
II is their plan to get to the Windy
City on Saturday morning just about
The time their Eastern cohorts arrive.
Murphy and Governor Smith we're in
communication with Chicago early this
morning. They will make their head
quarters at the Blackstone Hotel
The Tammany crowd viii have the
greater part of the day, all night Sat
urday If necessary, and until Sunday
afternoon to get down to brass tacks.
1t is said that the Blackstone Will be
the meeting place Saturday night Of
the most important little inner circle
sessions to be held any place in the
country.
The fun and amusement program fot
the Tammany leaders Will be packed up
with their golf clubs when they board
the train out OF French Lick Friday
night. 1t will be steady grind to
the finish from then on. Following
the Saturday night conference, it is
expected that the wire pulling Will
begin in deadly earnest and the Tam
many steam roller creased to high
speed and put in good shape to crush
ali resistance
The nose of the engine plotting the
political chieftain and Murphy out .f
the Chicago station viii be headed
direct to the Golden Gate.