Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-06-20

from Massachusetts, and Governor
Cox had been chosen to succeed him.
There was evidence everywhere Of
new controlling force in the party,
and that new force, for a time at least,
is Calvin Coolidge, personally repre-
sented by William NJ. Butler. the new
national chairman of the party, and
who will lead its activities in the
Forthcoming campaign.
Vice Presidency Absorbing Topic
The problem Of candidate for vice
president was the perplexing one of
the convention. The delegates had
wished the President to indicate his
preference, but his. representatives
had stated that he wished the dele
gates to make the choice. That was
seemingly impossible The one out
standing possibility was Governor
-Lowden, Of Illinois, who had stated
he would not accept Up to the time
Of naming candidates It had been
hoped by the delegates that Lowden
would accept, and even after II had
been announced by the Illinois delega-
tioY that his decision was irrevocable.
the delegates refused % accept u. and
on the second ballot named him as
the Republican candidate for yiee.
president, and made It unanimous.
Before the convention had ad-
journed a message was received from
Governor Lowden absolutely declin-
ing the nomination and refusing to
run.
That was a bombshell 1t was the
first time in the history Of the nation
that any man had absolutely refused
to run for either president or vice
president on either one of the major
parties, but there was nothing to do
but hold another session, and elect
another candidate. This was done at
an evening session, and the name of
General Charles G. Dawes was sub
stituted for that Of Governor Lowden.
La Toilette a Thorn
The second subject was that of the
attitude of the La Toilette wing OF the
party on the question Of platform
planks. Early in the first session on
| Tuesday there was distributed to the
delegates copies of the platform pro-
posed by the Wisconsin senator and
his followers and offered to the resO-
lutions committee by Henry Allen
Cooper. the Wisconsin member of the
committee. This proposed platform
carried drastic condemnation of the
legislation enacted by both parties
during several past administrations.
1t declared for the public ownership
of water power, the public control of
natural resources, repeal of the Esch-
Cummins law. public ownership Of
railroads, drastic eurtailment of war
and navy expenditures. a tax on ex-
cess profits, the making public of tax
returns, election OF federal judges
without party designation, a reduction
in freight rates for farm products,
abolish injunctions in labor disputes,
protection for farmers organizations
and collective bargaining, granting of
cash bonus to soldiers, deep water
ways from the lakes to the ocean.
amendments to the Constitution to
provide for the direct election of Pres
ident, a federal initiative and refer
endum and a referendum on war.
There were some other less impor-
tant planks.
The whole question Of the platform
was fought out in the resolutions COM
mittee on Tuesday night and Wednes-
day, and when its report was made at
the convention session on Wednesday
night it was adopted with but little
fuss and despite the protest Of Sena-
tor La Follette's followers.
Reduce Southern Representation
Political history was made by the
adoption of the report of the commit
tee on credentials on Wednesday
morning. The party now stands def
nitely committed to a limitation OF
representation from the southern
states. This was done by providing
for representation in the conventions
of the party based on the percentage
of Republican electors elected from
each state. 1t is so worded as to rath-
er increase the representation in both
the number OF delegates and the mem
bers OF the national committee in Re
publican states instead of materially
decreasing either the number of dele
gates or national committeeman from
those states that are recognized as
distinctly Democratic.
Political history was made in an
other instance when it was voted to
give the women the same voice in
party affairs as that enioyed by the
men. The movement for this was led