Evening star., 1923-12-30
Democrats Talk of Dropping
wO-Thirds Convention Rule

possible vote-getter as their candi-
date. They are not counting on a
factional split among the republicans
this time. They are hopeful, of
course. that there will be some dis
satisfaction and dissension among
| their opponents. but they do not want
to have to depend upon that for their
assurance of victory at the polls.
And recalling the events OF 1912, they
say that the two-thirds rule. il ad-
nomination Of a democrat who would
be comparatively as weak a vote
getter as Woodrow Wilson proved to
be in his first race.
n 4 4 =
1t 10 argued that the candidate for
the democratic nomination who makes
| such a showing in the presidential
primaries and in the other contests
for delegates that he Is able to COM
mand a majority OF the votes in the
national convention is logically the
man to head the ticket. This does
not mean that tho man who receives
the most votes on the first ballot
should be nominated, but 1t is con-
tended that when a candidate receives
q majority vote he has demonstrated
party strength that should not be
denied.
There Is the further consideration
that in event a minority should de-
feat a majority candidate in next
years convention a serious and dis
astrous split in the democratic ranks
might result. Followers of the ma
cept the leadership of the nominee
forced on the party by the minority
This did not happen in 1912. Champ
Clark and his friends gave woodrow
/ Wilson their loyal support. However
that might not be the aftermath OF
Dental nomination is in prospect. and
II Is recognized that in such strug-
giles disastrous bitternesses are more
easily engendered than avoided.
It has been said that the two-thirds
cratic national convention as a meas
ure to prevent the nomination OF
John C.. Calhoun for Vice President
but this fs denied. 1t Is pointed out
that the 1882 convention was COM
pletely dominated by Andrew Jack
it would be because the call specifi-
cally limited representation to those
friendly to the election Of Gen. Jack
son." and stated the object to be ito
nominate q candidate for Vice Presi-
dent and take such other measures In
SuppOTI VI the Ec-clcCIlOn OI eW
jackson as may be deemed expedi-
emit" The two-thirds rule was
, , adopted without controversy. Cal
houn was not candidate before the
convention. jackson was named for
tho presidency without the formality
Of ballot and Van, Buren, was nom
mated for second place on the ticket
by q vote Of 20S to ~ for Philip p.
Barbour OF Virginia and rs for Rich
ard M johnson OF Kentucky.
+
The rule was contested in 1870 and
again in 1914, when 1t received las
votes to 118, the closest margin by
which It has ever been affirmed. In
1s4S. with 253 delegates in attendance
and voting. the opposition, mustered
only seventy-eight votes, although
there were 12S delegates who did not
vote on the first ballot for Gen. Cass,
who was ultimately the presidential
nominee. In 1850 the rule was sus-
talned and applied so a9 to require
two-thirds OF the whole number of
delegates elected to the convention,
sos, although forty-nve votes were
not represented after the withdrawal
OF many OF the southern delegates. It
, postponed their nomination Of Doug
las. but 1t 10 claimed that II did not
cause the dissension In the party that
John c. Breckenridge.
Since 1850 there has been no for
midable opposition to the two-thirds
rule. II remains to be seen whether
there viii be more than mere talk of
II In 1874