Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-06-26

James A. Reed. who claimed a seat
as delegate from the Fifth Missou-
ri district, were also busy lining UP
their forces. The national committee
plans to hear the Reed case after the
Georgia contest was decided.
X X X X X X X X 4 X X X X X X
X Palmer Delegates Win. X
X Auditorium. San Francisco, X
X June 26.-The democratic ma X
X tional convention voted today 4:
X to place the Palmer delegates *
X from Georgia on the temporary X
X roll of the national convention. X
X X x X X X X X 4 X X 4 X X X
28 Votes Involved
Although only % votes were In
volved in the Georgia case, the Pal
mer delegation is compose or Sc
men, each with one half vote. The
Opposition, known as the Hoks smith
Tom Watson group, brought a dele
Igation of 80, of whom "a were dis
trict delegates with one vote each
and eight delegates at large with one
half vote each.
81 j. r.,
Montana, each side was given 80 min
utes to present its case. 1t was agreed
that the committee go into executive
session to vote on the contests after
the public hearing
State Law Cited
+ H. H. Dean, Gainesville, Ga, open
ed for the Palmer delegates. He ex-
otx.a i., .,A,
.ically covering presidential preferen-
tial primaries and in such absence
the rules of the democratic state ex-
.ecutive committee should prevail. He
said the executive committee unani-
|mously agreed that the national del
egates should be chosen from among
the friends of the delegates who re-
ceived the largest county unit vote.
This agreement, he added, was known
1ished, and none of the presidential
candidates objected to it before the
primary.
Opposition Heard.
Opening for ahe anti Palmer group,
III. H. Perry, Gainesville, spoke of
Clark Howell's long service in the ma
tional committee and OF the high re-
gard in which he is held by its mem
bers. He spoke of Mr.. Howell's fair
ness and said he hoped the committee
would not be swayed by personal con-
siderations but would consider the
case on its merits.
Mr.. Perry argued that the election
of the Smith-Watson delegates was
regular. They were chosen by the
state conventions, which, he claimed,
was the parent body. The credentials
of the anti Palmer men, he said. were
inaccurate in stating that these dele
gates had been elected in pursuance of
the results of the primary. He pointed
out that the credentials of the Smith
Watson men were certified by the
chairman of the convention, while the
credentials of the opposition delegates
were certified by the secretary of the
executive committee.
Hardwick Opposes Palmer.
Former Senator Hardwick, also op-
posing the Palmer delegates, declared
the state convention was supreme and
that the state executive committee had
no power to instruct the state conven
tions what it should or should not do.
The state convention. he said, held the
same relative position to the state com
mittee as the national convention holds
to the national committee.
Senator Hardwick said he always
abided by the results of primaries.
"Why didn't you abide in this pri
mary?" asked a Georgia delegate
because we beat you in that pri-
mary" shouted back Senator Hard
wick.
He claimed that Palmer received
less than one-third of the popular
vote in the state, though he had the
most county unit votes, ami argued
that ii was against democratic prin
ciples for a man receiving less than a
third of the total vote to tie the hands
Of the other two-thirds.
Compared to Poker Game.
Albert Howell, Atlanta, closing for
the Palmerites, said that the execu-
i've committee exercised the functions
Of the state committee between con-
ventions. He claimed the executive
was the creation of the
and it's functions were lim
ted to those prescribed by the body
creating it. Mr.. Howell was applaud
I'd when he humorously illustrated
he case of poker game in which
1ne set of players wanted to change |.
he rules of the game after the chips
we're on the table.
This closed the Georgia case and
he committee Immediately proceeded
% hear the Reed Case.
Francis w. Wilson. United States
attorney for the western district of
Missouri, presented Senator Reeds
,ase. He said it was his understand
ng that there was no contest in Mis-
iouri but that the only question for
by the national committee I
vas mot the man or the measure"
,ut rather whether the fifth Missouri
district was toYbe permitted to name
lot once but twice, a delegate of its
,wn choosing.
Reeds Title Held Clear.
He explained under Missouri rules
he congressional districts are permit
ed to select their own national dele
,ates who are passed upon by the state
The state convention re-
ected Reeds selection and referred 1t |
,ack to the fifth district without any
qualification or restrictions. The state