Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1920-07-15
Story Of National Convention at San Francisco and the
Fight Over Credentials, Platform and Ticket.
Battle Between Cox McAdoo and Palmer Surged Forward and
Backward Until Attorney General Released His Delegates
and the Three Times Governor Of Ohio Won on 44 Ballot

or them as q welcome compromise.
OF course, In many cases the favorite
son was dropped after he had re-
ceived the proper number Of compli-
mentary ballots.
As has been said, the administration
forces controlled the organization and
early dOings Of the convention. 1t was
called to order by J. Bruce Kremer,
vice chairman Of the national commit
tee, at noon Monday, June %, and In
his address he was so voluminous that
1t seemed there would be little left
for the temporary chairman to say.
That official, who was Homer s. Cum
mings, chairman Of the national COM
mittee, did find that Mr.. Kremer had
anticipated many Of his points, but
he delivered speech, nevertheless
that won the hearty praise Of all who
heard or read 1t. OF course, he de-
voted the usual amount of time to de-
n0uncing the Republican party and It's
dOiBgs, and he did 1t In fine style.
Also he naturally extolled all that his
own party has done. The vast audi
ence listened to all this with interest,
but 1t evidently was awaiting the
speakers pronouncement on the great
issue of the League Of. Nations. This
may be epitomized by the quotation Of
three sentences:
1--WE will not submit to the repudia-
tion Of the peace treaty or to any
process by which It is whitfield down
to the vanishing point"
ut is not reservation that the pres
ident stands against, but nullifica-
tiOn."
"The trouble with the treaty Of
peace is that It was negotiated by
Democratic president"
Lively Action In Committees.
The committee on credentials got
busy at once, with only two important
contests to settle. One Of these was
the case Of Georgia. The Palmer del
egation from that state was seated
as regular, despite the tremendous pro-
tests Of the delegation representing
the Hoke Smith-Tom Watson combina-
tion. This did not take long. Then
came the fight over the seat claimed
by Senator James Reed of Missouri.
For three hours the debate ragged, and
a resolution was adopted that Reed
''is not legally accredited and is not
entitled to a seat in the convention"
There was little effort then, or later,
to conceal the fact that Mr.. Reed was
excluded because of his opposition to
the president and his policies, but
there were few mourning his fate. On
Tuesday, when the credentials COM
mittee reported to the convention. Jo-
seph Shannon, the other delegate from
Reeds district, took the platform to
protest formally against the steam
roller" Of the senator. He was greet
ed with z storm Of hisses and deri-
sive howls to which he replied with
some vigorous language, but the COM
mittee report was adopted with only
4 few opposing votes. Soon after Sem
ator Reed went home, still protesting
that he was a Democrat and was un-
alterably opposedto the League Of Ma
tions. Se 2, -s~ef,ss---As
The second day of the convention
was again devoted largely to oratory.
for the program included the installa-
tion Of Senator Joseph T. Robinson of
Arkansas City as permanent chairman
and the delivery Of his address. Rob
inson was the administrations choice
for the position and at no time was
there reason to regret the selection.
He presided throughout the many ses-
si0ns with dignity, firmness and fair.
ness. In his speech he went over
most of the ground covered by Mr.
but he put more pep into
his denunciations Of the Republicans
and aroused greater enthusiasm in the
audience.
Because the committee on resolutions
was having 50 complicated struggle
with the platform, 1t was decided that
the nominating speeches for president
sheuld be heard before that commit
tee reported. Therefore those orator.
cal efforts began Wednesday and ran
through part Of the Thursday ses-
ZION.
On the roll Of states Arizona yielded |
o Oklahoma wherefore the nomina-
ion Of Senator Robert L.. Owen was
he first heard. his name was pro-
,ented by d. II. Limbaugh, in well
.hosen phrases, but the small demon
'tration showed Ovens following was
nconsiderable. Next appeared U, 8.
J. Cherry. Of South Dakota, fun Of
trange language and bearded like the
,ard, to offer the name Of James w.
serard, who had the distinction Of de-
ying the German kaiser. Connecti-
ut was the next state heard from,
'ohn s. Crosby, offering the name Of
hat states greatest son." Homer 8.
Mr.. Cummings popular
ty is unquestioned, and he was Civ
n a fiattering ovation.
Two Days Of Speech MakIng.
As Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska +
ad won the preferential primary In