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

SAN FRANCISCO, June 28-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
tion Convention this morning staged a
spectacular scuffle 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 earlv j.. the
convention, after ]. 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
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
masters, United States marshas, Office
holders and aspirants for political
honors at the hands of the 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
tinco ho doll
started procession of the state stand
ards, devices used to designate the
location of the delegates by states.
1t is an old piece of stage business in
conventions for the politically en-
thusiastc 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 unresponsveness 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 Roosevelt's asserted itself With
Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels
gluing his keen eyes on the New York
delegation, Assistant Secretary Roose-
velt seized upon the moment to hero
icaly 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
right hand was gripping the Standard
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
somewhat 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
and accommodating man, nodded
his assent. But mis- assent did not
reach down the line to the guardians
of the state standard.
Messrs. Roosevelt and Lunn, imbued
with zeal and clothed with authority,
as they thought, swooped down upon
the standard, and in the melee jerked
it away from Judge Mahoney. There
was a sharp interchange and more or
less jostling. but no blows were struck
Roosevelt and Lunn, through sheer i'm
petuosity, bore away the New York
standard in triumph and joined in the
procession of standards, much to the
Joy of the Wilson men from the
Southern States.
Within five minutes the tale was
circulating outside the Auditorium that
the first session of the national con-
vention was treated to fist fight be-
tween New York delegates.
Stories, like shrubs in the ideal at
mosphcrc of California, grow nightly
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