Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-20
". J. VEREEN NAMED
COMMITTEEMAN BY
STATE CONVENTION
Smith and Watson Men
Chosen Delegates After
Palmer Men Refuse to Ac-
cept Third of Delegation

by the presidential preference con-
vention was slow and tedious in it's
progress, when reduced to writing it
is not so very lengthy. 1t consists
of three main features. to-wit:
/. The election Of William J. We
reen, of Moultrie. as Democratic ma
tional committeeman from Georgia to
succeed Clark Howell. of Atlanta,
who has held the position twenty
five years.
2. The adoption of resolutions OPP
posing the League of Nations brought
back from Versailles, opposing a
third teri nomination for President.
Wilson and making other pertinent
declarations.
8. The election of a delegation to
San Francisco composed of support
ers Of Hoke Smith and Thomas E.
Watson. after an offer by the Hoke
Smith floor leaders to divide the DEL
egation into three equal parts had
been rejected by the Palmer leaders
The convention started at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning. 1t finish
ed Tuesday night just before mid
night. A few minutes after adjourn
ment, and after the Smith and Wat
son delegates had left the Atlanta
theater, the Palmer delegates named
by the Palmer caucus Monday night,
and voted down when presented to
the convention, held short confer.
ence in the theater and decided to
II.
Smith-Watson delegation. They also
decided, if seated at Frisco, to re-
elect Clark Howell to the national
committee.
= AS everyone expected, the conven-
ton paid no attention to rule ten
passed by the Democratic state exec
utive committee n~oviding that the
delegates to San Francisco should be
selected from the supporters of the
candidate receiving the highest
county unit vote in the pri-
mary The, convention proceeded
as a sovereign in all matters
before it, and not as the creature of
the state committee. It, seated its
own members. made it's own rules Of
procedure. elected it's own officers,
adopted It's own platform, elected its
own delegates to San Francisco and
expressed its own voice in the mat
tel of the national committeeman.
Contesting Delegation
The net result of the whole mat
ter is just this: There will go to
San Francisco a delegation composed
of Smith and Watson supporters,
elected by majority vote of the con-
Vention and sent without instructions
as to the Democratic presidential
nomination, and this delegation will
claim to be the regular delegation en-
titled to seats on the floor of the ma
tional convention; while there will go
as rival delegation the one elected
by the rump convention held in the
aisle of the Atlanta theater after
the main convention had adjourned.
The convention delegates, elected
Tuesday night. will claim that they
are the regular delegates regularly
elected in accordance with custom,
precedent and law; that the state
committee was without authority to
make any rule to govern a conven-
ton, because convention is a SOW
ereign; that though rule ten attempt
ed to direct the naming of delegates
for the plurality candidate, another
rule provided that the convention
should name the delegates, and that
its authority was superior to the au-
thority of the state committee.
James J. Flynt, chairman # the
Democratic state executive commit
tee. called the convention to order at
10 o'clock Tuesday morning. The
Palmer delegates occupied the center
section of the parquet floor Of the
Atlanta theater. The Watson dele
g4tes occupied the section on his
right. The Smith delegates occupied
the section on his left. The bal
cony and gallery were filed
with spectators. Although the con-
vention avs characterized by fire.
Guent outbr enthusiasm, there
was no suggestion of an attempt on
the part of delegates or spectators
to create disorder or interfere with
Its deliberations. The presiding Off
GERS insisted upon order and en-
forced it.
Zebulon Vance Peacock, of Haw-
kinsville, a former state senator and
a prominent lawyer and business
man, was elected temporary chair
man, and L. B. Moore, clerk Of
the George house of representatives
vas elected temporary secretary at
TIE morning session. A committee
on credentials, consisting Of one
from each congressional district, was
named by Chairman Peacock to pass
upon contests. The convention then
took a recess until 2 o'clock while
the credentials committee held it's
hearings.
Chatham Delegates Seated
Thomas E. Watson contested Chat
ham county. which went for Pal
mer, on the ground that his name
was scratched off the ballots. He
contested Wilkinson county, which
had no primary and was awarded to
Palmer as the plurality candida re
He contested Bulloch county, which
went for Palmer, on the ground thai
his supporters were given no oppor-
tunity to vote in one country pre-
cinct. where no ballot box was pro-
vided. Senator Smith contested
Murray and Atkinson counties, which
went for Palmer, on the ground that
the county executive committees had
arbitrarily excluded certain pre-
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