New-York tribune., 1920-06-29
Clash An1ono
N. Y. Delegates
On the Floor
F. ID. Roosevelt, Assistant
Secretary of Navy, Wrests
Standard from Judge Ma.
honey to Honor Wilson
Called SSOnly a ScufAe''
Empire State Members Are
Silent as Convention
Loudly Cheers President
By Charles T. White

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2S-Assist-
ant Secretary Of the Navy Franklin D.
Roosevelt and eX-Judge jeremiah T.
Mahoney, two prominent members of
the New York delegation, sitting in the
opening session Of the Democratic Ma
tlon Convention this morning, staged a
spectacular scurfle for the possession of
the New York standard, which has kept
the delegates to the convention specu-
lating ever since as to what it all
meant
The episode occurred early " the
convention, after J. Bruce Kremer, vice
chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, had called the convention
to order and made brief speech.
A draped oil painting of President
Wilson, decorated with the national
colors, back of the platform, attached
to the pipes of the great organ in the
auditorium, was suddenly disclosed
after q huge American flag had been
lowered and raised 1t was a planned
demonstration in honor of President
Wilson, and it touched off the latent
enthusiasm of several hundred post
masters, United States marshals, office
holders and aspirants for political
honors at the hands of tAe people.
Salvos of cheers greeted the disclos-
urc of the painting.
New York Delegates Unmoved
After five or eight minutes of cheer
ing and flag waving the applause began
to weaken, at which time certain
TRUSTEES" in the various delegations
started a procession of the state stand
ards, devices used to designate the
location of the delegates by states
conventions for the politically en-
thusiastic to start such professions
and it is always expected that the
states will join, especially if the
tribute is to the head of the nation.
The New York delegates during this
Wilson demonstration sat stolidly.
Their esponsiveness reused the ire
of the faithful Wilson men all over
the convention hall and scornful
glances were bent toward the dele
gates from the Empire State.
Here it was that the militant blood
of the Roosevelts asserted itself. With
Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels
gluing his keen eyes on the New York
welt seized upon the moment to hero
ically figure as an undaunted champion
Of President Wilson.
A few minutes before when the pro-
cession began, w. w. Farley, Chairman
of the Democratic State Committee, was
asked if the New York delegates should
Join in the procession with the New
York standard held aloft. Chairman
Farley shook his head and said "No."
His order was transmitted along the
line to Judge Mahoney, whose muscular
For the time being the standard stayed
where it was.
Meanwhile the manufactured enthu-
siasm waxed hotter, and Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt and Mayor George R.
Lunn of Schenectady, both of whom are
hostile to the iron rule of
Tammany Hall in the state, shouted an
inquiry to Chairman Farley about join
ing in the procession. This time the
state chairman, who really is a good
latured and accommodating man, nodded
his assent. But mis- assent did not
reach down the line to the guardians
IF the state standard.
Mcssrs. Roosevelt and Lunn, imbued
with zeal and clothed with authority,
AS they thought, swooped down upon
The standard, and in the melee jerked
t away from Judge Mahoney. There
vas sharp interchange and more or
ess jostling, but no blows were struck.
Roosevelt and Lunn, through sheer i'm
oetuosity, bore away the New York
in triumph and joined in the
procession Of standards, much to the
10y of the Wilson men from the
Southern States.
Within five minutes the tale was
circulating outside the Auditorium that
he first session of the national con-
,ention was treated to fist fight be-
ween New York delegates.
Stories, like shrubs in the ideal at
nospherc of California, grow nightly