Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-17
u III I TIT . 4
Continued
Crisis in the BaIlO,-ng


The candidacy of the New Jersey
governor gained with each ballot
only slightly, however-but he was
the only candidate who showed an
increased vote at each stage OF the
convention proceedings. The crit
ical period of the convention was
reached on Thursday night. In the
early afternoon we had received in
timaticns from Baltimore that "on
that night the New York delegation
would throw its support to Champ
Clark, and our friends at Baltimore
were afraid that if this purpose was
carried out, it would result in
stampede to Clark. We discussed the
possibilities of the situation that
night after dinner, but up to 10
o'clock, when the governor retired
for the night, New York was still
voting for Harmon. left the Sea
Grit cottage and went out to the
newspaper mems tent to await word
from Baltimore. -.
The telegrapher in charge of the
Associated Press wire was a devoted
friend and admirer of the New Jer-
sey candidate. There was no one
in the tent but the telegrapher and
myself. Everything was quiet. Sud
denly the telegraph instrument be-
gan to register. The operator look
ed up from the instrument and l
Gould tell from his expression that
something big was coming. He took
his pad and quickly began to record
the message. In tone of voice that
indicated it's seriousness, he read to-
me the following message: New
York casts it's seVentysiX votes for
Champ Clark. Great demonstration
on. And then the instrument stop
ped recording. 1t looked as if the
zig was up" Frankly, l ALMOST
collapsed at the news. [ had been
up for many nights and had had
only a few hours sleep. 1 left the
tent, almost in despair, about IL
o'clock, and returned to the Sea
Girt cottage, preparatory to going
to my home at Avon, New Jersey.
AS I was leaving the cottage the
governor appeared at one of the up
per windows, clad in his pajamas
andS looking at me in the most seri-
Gus way, said: "Tumulty, is there
any news from Baltimore?" I re-
piled: Nothing new. governor"
When we were breakfasting togeth-
er the next morning, he 1aughingly
said to me: "You thought you could
fool me last night when l asked II
there was any word from Balti-
more; but / could tell from the seri-
Gus expression on your face that
something had gone wrong" This
was about the first evidence of real
interest he had shown in the Balti-
more proceedings.
AS will be recalled, the thing that
prevented Champ Clark from gather
ing the full benefit which would
have come to him from the casting
of the New York vote in his favor
was a question by Alfalfa Bill"
Murray, a delegate from Oklahoma.
He said: us this convention going
to surrender its leadership to the
Tammany Tiger" This stemmed
the tide toward Mr.. Clark and chang
ed the whole face of the convention.
In a Deadlock
1T was evident that on Friday
night the deadlock stage Of the con-
vention had been finally reached.
1ile Wilson vote had risen to 354
and there remained without percepti-
BILE change. 1t began to look as
if the candidacy of the New Jer-
S6y governor IldQ TSdCilSd IT'S LUZ
strength. The frantic efforts of the
Wilson men to win additional votes
We unavailing. Indeed, Wilson s
case appeared to be hopeless, On
Saturday morning, McCombs tele,
phone Sea Girt and asked for the
governor. The governor took up the
telephone and for a long time listen
ed intently to what was being id
at the other end. l afterward learn
ed that McCombs had conveyed word
to the governor that his case was
hopeless and that it was useless to
contlnu~ the fight, ana asked for in
| structions. Whereupon, the follow.
ing conversation took place in my
.>sence: $50 McCombs, you fefl it
is hopeless to make further endeaV-
ors?" When McCombs asked the
governor if he would instruct his
| friends to support Mr.. Underwood
Mr.. Wilson said mo. that would
| not be fair. I ought not to try to
influence my friends in behalf OF
another candidate. They have been
mighty loyal and kind , me. Please
say to them how greatly I app1 eciate
| their generous support and that they
are now free to support an candi-
cate they choose"
| In the room at the time of this
| conversation between McCombs and
The New Jersey governor sat Mrs
Wilson and myself. When tha gov
ernor said to McCombs: $50 you