The Washington times., 1920-06-26
D..C..DELEGATES
SPLIT ON VOTE
Small Wants Local Self Govern
ment-Harper Seeks Con-
stitutional Amendment.
WILL CAUCUS ON QUESTION
Washington Democrats viii
Back Palmer on First Ballot,
Then Go to McAdo0.
BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.


SAN FRANCISCO, Calf. June
26.-District of Columbia delegates
planned a caucus for late today, at
which the delegation will be organ
lied, convention officers designated,
and the plan for the District suf-
frage fight formulated. TT.
The caucus has" been postponed
until today because Of the lateness
in the arrival of Bainbridge Colby,
a member of the delegates.
Col Robert N. Harper and John F.
Costello early today were talking
with leaders on the proposed suffrage
plank. There is difference of
opinion on the nature of the plank
that will have to be ironed out at the
conference. Colonel Harper is In
favor of a Constitutional amendment
giving the District full suffrage with
two Senators and a representative in
Congress, and all the other scffrage
privileges enjoyed by the States.
saUABBLE OYER PLAN.
The other. plan. sponsored by Sam
Small. jr.. is for Presidential suffI age
with a vote in the Electoral College.
and the election of school board offi-
cials and two of the three commits
sioners. Small thinks that that Is as
much as the District should ask at
this time.
He believes that 1t will be difficult
toIget the Constitutional anne endment.
irasmuch as 1t would require first
two-thirds vote of both Houses OF
Congress and then favorable action BIZ
three-fourths Of the States,
Small holds that the States. would
take little interest in District suf-
frage. even were the amendment sub
mitted by Congress. He cites the de-
lay in the ratification Of the woman
hsuffrage amendment. matter in
which the whole country Is Interested
in showing how reluctant the Etates
are to act on a change in the Ccnsti-
tuition.
TO VOTE FOR PALMER.
The differences in opinion are likely
to be quickly composed. once the
twelve District delegates have gath
cred around table and compare
notes. The District will have as
signments for six men. or half Of the
delegation. The six places are; Mem
Der resolutions committee, before
which the suffrage plank for the Dis
trict, the wet plank. and the Irish
matter will be settled: a member OF
the credentials committee; a member
of the permanent organization COM
mittee: a member of the committee
to notify the Presidential nominee.
and a member Of the committee to
notify the Vice Presidential nominee.
there
might be some question about election
of Bainbridgc Colby as a member OF
the committee on resolutions. but this
should be passed today. However,
members of the District delegation
said that If Colby went on the COM
mittee, he would go as representative
of the District Of Columbia and not as
an Administration spokesman.
1t also seemed probable that the
unit rule would be applied and the
Districts six votes cast as one for
Presidential candidate. This, OF
course, means that for a few ballots
the District will support A. Mitchell
Palmer.
No one here. however, believes Pal
mer has a chance of nomination, and
a switch to McAdoo is probable. Nc
Adoo's name was heard oftener than
any other today, and predictions were
made that he would be nominated
anywhere from the fifth to the ninth
ballot.