Americus times-recorder., 1920-06-27
SMITH-WATSON
DELEGATES Lose
OPENING FIGHT
To Take Fight to Con-
vention if Necessary,
Says Hardwick

DHhAN ttNA4NClOCO, June 20 (By
Associated Press) THE Democratic
National Committee, after hearing
of thirty minutes for each side, yot-
ed to place the Palmer delegates
from Georgia on TIE temporary roll
call of the convention. The vote as
announced, was unanimous, with 40
votes for Palmer and four not re-
corded.
p Ex-senator Hardwick who led the
antl-Palmer forces, was quoted early
IN the day as saying that if the ma
tional committee should reject the
Smith-Watson delegates and seat the
ralmer group, which is friendly to
Clark Howell, he proposed to carry
the fight to the credentials commit
tee and from there to the floor of the
convention.
Some of the members of the Smith
Watson group also are said to have
expressed the opinion that If the Pal
mer delegates were seated it would
bring about a delicate situation in
Georgia this fall. Senator Hardwick
said if his delegates lost, the present
Palmer leaders in Georgia would have
difficulty in carrying the state for
Democratic candidate against the re-
publican nominee.
Howell VS.. Hardwick
The committee plunged directly in
to the Georgia contest when it met
today. Each faction was on the
ground early holding whispered con-
ferences and making last minute
plans for the battle. Clark Howell,
leading the Palmer group and form
er Senator Hardwick heading the op-
position forces. were conspicuous by
their activity.
Each side was given thirty min
utes to present it's case, the commit
tee to vote in executive session.
ID. IL. Dean, of Gainesville, open
ed for the Palmer delegates. He ex-
planned that there is no state law spe-
cifically covering the presidential
preferential primary and in such cas-
es the rules of the democratic state
committee should prevail. He said the
executive committee unanimously
had agreed that the national dele
gates should be chosen from among
the friends of the candidate who re-
celved the largest county unit vote:
that none of the presidentil candi-
dates objected to the agreement be-
fore the primary. Later, Mr.. Dean
said, Thos. E. Watson claimed he
would not be bound by the executive
committee rules and combined with
the Hoke Smith forces in naming
anti Palmer delegates.
II II Da,.~,, -
er for the anti-Palmer group, argued
that the election of the Smith Wat
son delegates was regular, that they
/ were chosen by the state convention
which he claimed was the parent
body. He said the credentials of the
antl-Palmer men were inaccurate in
stating that these delegates had been
elected In pursuance of the results of
the primary and pointed out that the
credentials of the Smith-Watson men
were certificated by the Chairman Of
the state convention while those of
the Palmer delegates were certified
by the secretary of the executive
committee.
Hardwick Takes Floor
Former Senator Hardwick, also op-
clared the state convention was su-
preme and that the state executive
committee had no power to instruct
the state convention in what it should
or should not do. Hardwick said he al
ways abided by the results of the pri-
mary.
"Why didn't you in this primary"
asked Georgia delegate.
Because we beat you in this pri-
mary" shouted back Hardwick. He
claimed Palmer received less than a
third of the popular vote in the state
/ though he most of the county unit
votes. He argued it was against dem
ocratic principles for man receiv-
ing less than third of the total vote
TO tie the hands of the other two
thirds.
Albert Howell, of Atlanta, closed
for the Palmerites. He said the exec
utive committee exercised the func-
tions of the state committee between
conventions. He claimed the execu-
tive committee was the creator of the
convention and its functions were
limited to those prescribed by the
! body creating it. Howell was applaud
| ed when he humorously illustrated
the case by a poker game in which
one set of players wanted to change
the ru es of the game after the chips
were on the table.
This closed the Georgia case and
the t0mmittee cmediatelv proceeded
! 20 near the Senator Reed case.