The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-25
CONTESTS FOR
SEATS FOUGHT
BY DEMOCRATS
Real Business of Convention
Begins As Big Guns Roll in
Hitchcock Will Not Be
Second.
MAY IGNORE DRY ACT
(By Associated Press)

tBy Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO, June 25- First
guns of the Democratic national con-
vention were to be fired today when
the national committee met to draw
up the temporary roll of delegates.
Three contests had been called to
the committees attention but only
one OF them, that involving efforts to
give Senator Reed of Missouri a seat
with the delegation from that state.
promised more than routine interest.
Only one contest, that from Georgia.
has been officially filed with the com
mittee.
The Georgia contest results were
expected by party leaders to be settled
IN favor OF delegates friendly to the
candidacy of Attorney General Palm
er for the Presidential nomination. the
decision carrying with it confirma-
ton of Clark Howell as national COM
mltteeman from that state
Described as Gear Case.
There appeared to be no question
as to the result in what was described
as clear case" where statutory pro-
visions in the state and party rules
dictated the course of the committee.
Inc Reed case may prove more
difficult TO deal with An effort to
place the Senator on the floor of the
convention, although the Missouri
state convention rejected him as 4
delegate at large, was expected and
because OF his attitude toward the adj
mlnlstration during Senate battles
over the peace treaty it was said 10
be possible that strong resistance
would be met before the committee,
The third contest from Oregon was
not regarded as a serious case and
might not. II was said, materialize at
all In fact, national committee Off.
Gals did not know before they assem-
bled to examine credentials what ap-
pearance was to be made in anv Of
the contest cases.
M'Adoo Has Mysterious Boonns.
Overnight developments showed two
matters that have been in a nebulous
stage since the first democratic lead
ers arrived here to be approachine
more definite shape
Ihese were the mysterious and per-
slstent boom for nomination of Will
nam q. McAdoo, even against his flat
declaration that he was not a candi-
GATE and the conflict as to a prohibi-
1on enforcement plank in the plat
form.
McAdoo adherents were said early
today TO be shaping their plans to
withhold his name from the balloting
throughout the early stages. They
nave learned that the former secre-
tary OF the treasury still has a strong
1ollo"lng but are said to feel that in
view or his attitude it would not be
exped1ent to present his name unless
the expected deadlock between the
leading candidates, Palmer and Gov
ernor Cox, OF Ohio, should develop.
In that event there appeared to be
little doubt that McAdoo would be
put forward to break the blockade with
the assurance of considerable strength
at the start
His friends are said to have put their
heads together to formulate plans OF
this nature and map out strategy Of
the subsequent campaign to obtain for
MN the two-thirds majority on which
Democratic nominations must rest
May Ignore Wet and Dry.
On the prohibition enforcement cues.
tlon heretofore the most prominent
SUBJECT of discussion in convention
circles, there developed yesterday
sudden movement TO ignore the cues.
tion entirely in the platform.
suggestions of this nature came ID
Chairman Cummings, of the national
committee from camps representing
various shades of opinion ranging
from bone dry to almost as completely
wet
These feelers toward a harmony pro-
gram were not clear enough today
among workers for various presiden-
tial candidates. The first of the large
delegations will arrive within the next
two days and preparations for mis-
sionary work among the members were
IN progress
Various combinations for the ticket
were being talked over with a view to
to secure for this or that
aspirants votes to be brought to his
standard through a prearranged agree
ment as to the vice-presidency None
Of these tentative tickets appeared.
however. to have behind il than the
speculation OF campaign managers.
WASHINGTON. d. c. June 25-
Senator Hitchcock today announced
ne would not accept the Democratic
vice presidential nomination
Efforts to incorporate a plank in
he Democratic platform declaring for
preservation of public utilities will be
made tomorrow before the resolutions
committee in San Francisco. accord
ng to an announcement by the Ameri-
AN Gas association. A committee
headed by Judge George Cook, of
Chicago will present arguments against
such plank. Shortage Of essential
materials and great increase in cost
# labor and materials necessitate
public regulation, the announcement
aid