New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
Ask
Why Big Issues
Were Ignored
Delegates Bewildered by
Do Nothing Convention,
and Presidential Booms
Fail to Materialize
Tammany Gains i'm Power
Snub to President De-
lights ALL; Lunn Tries
to Champion McAdoo
Prom stag Correspondent

ALBANY, May s.-The rearguard of
the delegates and alternates 10 the
Democratic national convention, who
attended the two-day conference here,
departed to-day uninstructed and for
the most part uniformed. The query
most heard among the tail enders was,
why were we here?" They took away
with them the record of conference
chiefly noted for what it did not do.
When the delegates arrived here
four-fifths of them at least expected
to participate in the formulation of
definite program, as far as the national
platform was concerned. Some even
expected to get definite tip as to the
situation in regard to Presidential can
didates Their expectations were not
fulfilled
When William w. Farley, chairman
of the Democratic state convention
summoned the delegates he announced
that the leaders probably would have
a definite program for the San ran
cisco meeting. He repeated the an
nouncement in opening the conference
IN saying that the purpose was to OBJ
tain suggestions for planks for the
national platform. At mixed gather
ing OF some of the leaders at the Ten
Eyck Hotel prior to Thursday nights
meeting ti e burden of their song was
that New York's ninety delegates
should not 60 to the Pacific Coast
without expressing united stand on
all of the big issues.
Big Issues Ignored
AT the later conference the leaders,
far various reasons best known to
themse Ives, changed front and side
tracked prohibition, the League of Ma
tions, and everything except universal
disarrament, general subject in
whlch few Of the delegates exhibited
any particular interest. Half of them
apparently did not understand what it
was all about when W. Bourke Cochran
finished his oratorical presentation of
the resolutions committee report
We were here because we were
here" said one departing delegate from
up state IN groping for a more definite
reason "In my opinion the conference
was called to allow full swing to Mr.
Cockran's oratorical temperament. We
at least looked for a keynote speech
from him. There were plenty of high
notes, but very little key to the stua-
ton"
The whole affair did not suggest to
the delegates that inviolate rule Of de-
mocracy to which Governor Smith had
referred--the rule of the majority. The
real conference took place behind the
olose!d doors of hotel rooms "Com-
missioner" Murphy and his close ad-
Vlsors from Fourteenth Street, New
York, always including Governor Smith,
participated forcefuly in all these pri,
Vate discussions. They succeeded in
tying the delegates. in the Ianmany
bag f,r future use.
The one thing, pleasing to most of
the delegates, that the conference did
develop was a cold shoulder toward
President Wilson and the Washington
Administration. Inferentially, this
attitude also ended the Presidential
boom of William G. McAdoo, so far as
the New York delegation is concernd.
Very few admirers or friends of Mr..
McAdoo were found among the dele
gates. The declaration Of Mavor
George R. Lunn of Schenectady in the
conference that he was for McAdoo
caused laugh. Mayor Lunn will have
to vote with the majority under the
unit rule at San Francisco, unless he
succeeds in getting the convention to
OloIegdTu lHe RUE. tie declared he
would cary his fight to the floor Of the
convention.
.-. Lunn Ready for Fight
Mayor Lunn and the organization
leaders were .arrayed for hostilities
prior to the conference because of the
by President Wilson of
Frank Cooper, of Schenectady, to The
position of Federal district judge for
northern New York. Mr.. Cooper was
suggested by Mayor Lunn. The organ
ization had three candidates for the
place, and such prominent leaders as
Norman f. Mack. national committee
man; Chairman Farley, Judge Abram
I. Elkus, Joe Murphy, Tammany leader
of Troy, and others, had interceded,
some of them in person at Washington,
for the appointment of one of then
men. The action of the President was
considered direct snub to the New
York organization. The leaders in the
passed the snub back. Some
OF the delegates expressed the belief