El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-25
Democratic Contention
History
BY A. H. vANDENBEkC.


! NHTHEN the historic Democratic ma
/ w tional convention OF 1912 met
in Baltimore on June p, Bryan
/ (although not himself a candidafe)
was stil the stormy petrol Of party
I affairs.
The national committee designated
judge Alton B. Parker OF New York as
I temporary chairman - against Mr..
/ Bryan's protest that judge Parker was
not sufficiently progressive tax
ing this action by vote Of 81 for
I Parker, TO 20 for Ollie James Of Ken
/ lucky, and two for senator OiGorman
Of New York. Mr.. Bryan promptly
I carried the fight to the floor OF the
I convention, where he was defeated by
a vote Of $40 to SO. In this prelimi-
nary lineup. delegates favorable TO
I the nomination Of governor Woodrow
I Wilson OF New Jersey threw their
support solidly TO Mr.. Bryan and the
I coalition ultimately determined con-
vention destiny.
Senator James OF Kentucky-one OF
Mr.. Bryan's closest friends-became
permanent chairman OF the conven-
tiOn and senator Kern OF Indiana, who
had been Mr. Bryan's choice for tenn
porary chairman, became head Of the
resolutions committee after AIr. Bryan
had declined this honor.
The unit rule" was rejected-for
the first time in Democratic national
p
$685. to 49, This was another
Wilson-Bryan victory because it par
ticularly involved IS district dele
gates from Ohio who had been in
structed by primaries 70 cote for VIII
son. but where the state convention.
controlled by the Harmon forces, had
invoked the unit rule binding all
Ohio delegates 10 the Ohio governor.
It was apparent as the convention
progressed that the main presidential
contest would be between senator
Champ Clark OF Missouri and COVER
nor Wilson. On the fourth day. the
first ballot COVE Clark 4s01s. Wilson
324. Underwood Of Alabama 1I7l1.
Harmon q Ohio 148, Marshall OF In
diana 81. Baldwin OF Connecticut p,
Sulzer OF New York 2, and Bryan /.
Under the two-thirds rule. 72S votes
were necessary to a choice.
Subsequent roll calls up to the
ninth showed few changes. Then
came the first big break when New
York swung 80 votes from Harmon
TO Clark on this ballot the tenth,
Clark reached the highwater mark
Of 556-a clear majority. but 10
votes short OF the necessary two
thirds 70 nominate On 13 ballots the
following day, Wilson gained 81 and
Clark lost 90. When the convention
adjourned over Sunday, the Wilson
FORCES were confident and the Clark
Bryan for his anti-Clark posture.
At then end OF the forty-second bal
lot on the following Monday, the con-
vention was still deadlocked. with
4s4 for Wilson and $50 for Clark.
on the fOrty-third ballot. Illinois and
Virginia SWING TO Wilson. On the
forty-fourth. Colorado followed suit. Z
Before the forty-sixth ballot was un-
der way, senator Bankhead OF Ala
Dama took the platform and released I
the Underwood delegates, with the
result that Alabama, which lad
started every roll call with "a votes
for Underwood, changed to Wilson.
Senator stone Of Missouri took tie Z
stage and released all delegates who I
had been pledged to Clark. state I
after state then followed Alabama's 1
example, and governor Wilson was .
nominated with $50 votes to 81 for
clark and u for Harmon
a tired but finally united conven-
iton quickly completed the ticket by
nominating governor Marshall of In +
dlana lover governor John z. Burke .
OF North Carolina) for vice president Z
on two ballots. - CopyriEht. The
George Matthews Adams Service.
To be continued tomorrow with the
story OF the convention OF 1DIG.