The Washington herald., 1920-06-22
REEDS CHANCES
d. LOOKING DARK AT
CALIFORNIA SESSION
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the Kansas City Democrats who re-
fused to select another in his place
after the State convention had voted
against giving him a ticket to San
Francisco. The national committee
will have to decide whether the de-
cision OF the State convention or
that of the district shall prevail.
On that decision will rest the issue
OF whether national delegates de-
rive their authority from the dis
trict convention with the ratifica-
tion power of the State body not
extending to a veto being simply a
formality or whether the delegates
derive their authority from State
conventions and represent States
not communities, and that therefore
the selections by the district con-
,ventions are nothing more than
recommendation or nominations
which the State convention may
approve or reject as it pleases.
This much is certain: The ma
tional committee men feel that they
can decide against seating Reed on
a technicality, preferably that of
vention will cheer their action. They
need no instructions on the score
of the Senator's unpopularity with
the Democratic rank and file be-
cause of his consistent and persist
ent antagonism to all things Will
sonian.
Already Mr.. Cummings has re-
ceived large numbers of kilograms
from Democrats in Missouri pro-
testing against the seating Of the
Senator. There is slight doubt here
that the body of the convention
will approve the exclusion of Reed
On any ground the national COM
mittee or the credentials commit
tee of the convention evolves. 1t
is regarded as certain that if either
group adhere to some strict tech
nicality favorable to the Senator
the convention will be inclined to
discard such a recomme ndation and
cast out the fiery opponent of the
league OF nations.
There is deeper question involved,
many leaders believe, though they
do not so state for publication. 1t
is simply of steam roller" methods
for the exclusion from the conven-
tion Of a man who would enter for
the avowed purpose of making
trouble. Senator Reed would be
expected to take the floor to de-
nounce the league of nations and
criticise the suoserviency of the
Democratic party to President Will
son. That would be his only pur-
pose in seeking a seat among the
delegates. His remarks would not
come as bolt from the blue to
upset John z. Mooney. The man
ner of their reception by delegates
and spectators, il is predicted.
would be openly and noisily hostile
to Mr.. Reed. Accordingly it is
asked:
Why not let Reed go ahead with
his little speech of thirty minutes
and let that end it? 1t could have
no effect upon the convention.
Should Senator Reed be denied a
seat. he would obtain far greater
publicity. 1t is urged. and the effect
upon Democratic chances of carry
ing Missouri this fall would be
greater. 1t would further antago-
nize the Kansas City organization
and render more violent Mr.. Reed S
expected series Of speeches through
the State in criticism of the Will
son league of nations and the Will
son administration.
Mr.. Reed let IL become known in
Washington some weeks ago that
he intended to make a series of fifty
speeches in his home State, attack
ing the league of nations. and there
was distinct feeling among some
Democratic leaders that should he
carry out that threat. the State
would be lost to the Republicans
and Senator Selden P. Spencer would
be reelected over Breckinridge
| Long. the former third assistant
Secretary Of State, who is to be the
Democratic nominee.
1t Is not felt that these consider
ations will be strong enough to
sway either the national committee
or the credentials committee for
the reason that the administration
leaders are convinced that Senator
Reed will not support the party
ticket this fall. His alternate, one
of his political heutenants, was ap-
proved by the Missouri State con-
yention and the signs point to SIM
liar action being taken by the ma
tional couyenffon