The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-22
TROUBLE BREAKS
OUT IN RANKS OF
The DEMOCRATS
Dempster O. Potts Walked
Around Several Bad Places.
Convention Is Wrestling Over
Many Weighty Problems.
HOUR or JUDGMENT DELAYED
First Old Time Delegate Con-
ventiOn in Sixteen Years.
Delegates in Middle as to
Methods of Procedure.

!
Methods of Procedure.
Ten minutes after the gavel fell for
opening of the Democrat state con-
vention today. trouble was strewn all
over the auditorium. Dempster o.
Potts of Wichita, who presided at the
early ceremonies, walked right around
! two or three bad holes and called re-
cess. But it only delayed the hour of
! judgment. This afternoon the con-
vention is wrestling with the problems
which kept the delegates up late
Tuesday night-the bugaboo of fol-
lowing the convention call.
Jonathan NJ. Davis of Bourbon
county began looking around to see
what made the convention tick as soon
as the meeting started. Formal pre-
liminaries were waived. Marshalls
band gave a concert while the delega-
tions got their bearings. A hundred
Wyandotte delegates-wearing blan-
kets and make believe feathers and
| war paint-paraded while their drum
corps played loudly. Then the music
stopped and the meeting was off for
the first session
Started Off OH High.
/ It is sixteen years since the Demo-
Gratis held a regular old time delegate
convention in Kansas. In the confu-
sion of starting Chairman Potts may
! have forgotten to ask some one to
pray The meeting simply started off
on high without asking Divine bless
ing. In a few minutes the delegates
were looking around for all the su-
preme and human help available.
Davis got on the floor as soon as the
pleted with Potts presiding and Carl
J. Peterson of Topeka acting as tenn
porary secretary.
The Bourbon county delegate had a
resolution. 1t was the match that was
i 10 touch off the first bit of fireworks.
So Davis walked down front and made
few Introductory remarks before
starting things. Then he read his
resolution. 1t provided in brief that
! while the convention was in town it
might as we'll go ahead and do things,
but that its action shouldn't be taken
seriously. 1t stipulated that none of
the recommendations as to can
didates should be in any way binding.
Neither was the action of the con-
vention to be considered as interfering
with or prejudicing the voters in their
decisions. In short Davis provided
! that the work of the convention should
i, have the same effect on the campaign
as a meeting of the Dorcas society
/
Maximum Placed at Seven.
Then, in order that everyone have a
free and easy chance, Davis provided
| that recommendations should not
favor any one or two or even three
possibilities for nomination for state
office. His resolution read that the
convention should recommend at least
three candidates for each office. 1t
put the maximus at seven.
/ Delegates tried to look unconcerned.
But a half dozen of them were on
) their feet. w. H. Carpenter of Marion,
: got the floor. He was up on point
! of order He said the Davis resolu-
ton. was out of order and couldn't
l come before the temporary organiza-
tion and ought to go to one of the
: regular committees. He was making
a speech about his point of order
when a Sixth district delegate called
| attention to the fact that Carpenter
himself was out of order
Chairman Potts didn't appear nearly
fas much concerned with the points of
) order as he did with the rain that had
come to save the wheat crop. He
might have overlooked them entirely
if Carpenter hadn't brought the mat
ter back to his attention.
Haven't you nerve enough to pass
! on my point of order?" shouted the
The chairman gave Carpenter a
, "narsty" look.
Sure thing he snapped back. But
, we'll let the majority rule"
Just then a Third district delegate
came along with a motion to send the
resolution to the committee on reso-
lutions. 1t was a timely motion. 1t
put an end to all the talk and the
delegates began to breathe more easily.
They voted for a motion with a whoop.
The mornings argument was at an
end. ~
: Sometime before night the issue of
, acting under the convention call will
! be fought out. OF course the resolu-
matter and effect a compromise. 1t
may dispose of the unpleasant business
of drafting a tentative state platform.
In which case lot of the open air
entertainment of the convention will
: be destroyed.
The convention delegates are in a
muddle as to methods of procedure
under the call A big faction wants
to adjourn after the speech making
their own chances in selecting a state
ticke1. Another crowd resents going
} home without making a decision. They
paid railroad fare to Topeka and be-
: lieye the convention ought to give
the folks at home a bit of advice and
a few kindly suggestions regarding
: candidates and policies.
: Rain Kept Visitors Away.
A heavy rain kept visitors from the
2 hall There were probably 200 dele
? gates and alternates in the auditorium
: when the convention got under way.
2 A considerable number of delegates
1 were marooned in hotels
Following the preliminary row to
= the purpose of the convention. re