Evening star., 1924-06-28
KLAN ISSUE BRINGS
CONVENTION CRISIS;
WOULD AVOID FIGHT
CONTINUED from First Page.)

all-night session or of the plan to
recess the convention until this
afternoon. AS the news spread over
the floor there were many express
sio1s of disappointment and discon-
tent. Hotel bills were mounting, the
delegates are anxious to get home to
take care of urgent private affairs,
and they are anxious, too, for a
showdown on candidates.
1t was apparent that the plan to
recess without any action at this
mornings session would arouse oppo-
sition and possibly a stiff fight.
Weather Warmer.
While the political atmosphere in
side the Garden was heavy with signs
of the approaching storm the weather
band was discoursing the overture
from William Tell" as a part of the
usual preliminary concert the sun
came peeping through the high glass
roof. throwing the center of the dele
gate section into bright relief. 1t
was warmer than on yesterday, but
the heat was not yet oppressive.
baby grand piano was pushed
placed in the wide aisle. in front of
the Iowa delegation. Anticipating
the possibilities of a long wait. the
convention officials were preparing
to provide entertainment for the dele
gates and keep the hall quiet, If nee
essary. under the spell of some fa-
nous soloist. Again the big bertha
adding machine was wheeled into
place on the platform. ready to go
into action when tabulation of the
ballots began.
Few Delegates Present.
At 10 o'clock the arena still was
occupied only by a handful of dele
he ad
earnestly and gravely discussing the
plight in which the convention found
itself as a result of the row over the
Klan. No one seemed to know
would command the necessary
strength or whether majority woulo
demand that the convention go ahead
with other planks in the platform
and with a few ballots on a candidate.
New Regulations Fail.
AS the crowds thickened it became
apparent that in spite of all the best
laid plans of convention officials
something had slipped somewhere
in the machinery set up to keep the
floor clear of those not entitled to
admission. Many different kinds of
badges began to appear in the arena,
and some of those on the floor had
no badges at all. The situation ap-
suit of the new regulations.
Three-quarters of an hour after the
time set for opening the session there
was not a ghost of sign that call
to order would come at any time
soon. Chairman Walsh, who had been
taking a leading part in the all-night
effort to extricate the party from the
snarl over the Klan issue. was on
the platform in conversation with
other party leaders, but he remained
at the back of the stage and left the
proceedings to the band. which Kept
up a succession of opera selections.
walsh Calls for Order.
At 1887 Senator Walsh raped for
order.
BY that time most Of the delegates
were in their seats, but there were
some empty patches in the delegate
arena
Dr. John Roach Straton, Calvary
Baptist Church, New York city, pro-
nounced the invocation.
He prayed that the convention
would find courage to mot. com
promise with evil but stand four
square for old fashioned Ameri-
ca-niSm."
At the conclusion of the prayer
Senator Walsh presented Miss Eoitn
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" while
the audience stood.
'"The gravity of the situation that
confronts u.s." said the chairman IN
introducing her. suggests that we
have inspiration from song as well
as from prayer
Delegates Catch Meaning.
The delegates caught quickly the
mea ming of their chairman and stood
with grave upturned faces during the
song, except where little groups con-
tinued in earnest conversation over
the convention tangle. Under the
Ohio standard Edmund Moore and
Newton D. Baker had their heads to-
Eether In excited discussion.
Former Gov. William A McCorkie
of Charleston, w. Va, was recognised
after the song was over ana onereo
the customary resolution covering the
organisation of the national commit
tee 1t, was read by the secretary
and there was a short discussion,
during which q phrase or two was
added to perfect the resolution. 1t
was then adopted.
During the delay one Of the dele
gates yelled Platform" and there
were cheers.
Homer Cummings of Connecticut,
chairman Of the platform committee
and keynoter of the 1920 convention,
appeared 1T the speakers stand and
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