Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-01
DOUBLE VICTORY
FOR M ADOO SEEN
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Vote on Platform Conceded
Likely to Have Influence
On Nomination
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal.)
(Copyright, 1920


Especial Leased Wire to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1929
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN,
June 29.-The forces of William
Gibbs McAdoo won two notable VIC
tories in the most confusing and yet
dramatic sessions in the history of
Democratic conventions.
The McAdoo managers fought
against naming the Ku Klux Khan
specifically though denouncing all
efforts to breed religious hatred and
radical dissension. They won by a
narrow margin.
Similarly on the League of Ma
lions issue, the program announced
by the former secretary of the treas
ury in favor of having a national
referendum to decide the league
controversy and take it out of pol
itics, prevailed.
While the votes tonight do not
mean tat McAdoo will be nominal
ed it does mean that the friction be-
tween both the McAdoo and Smith
factions has gone to such Z point
that to attain harmony the conven-
ton may find it necessary next
week to turn to a compromise can
didate.
Notwithstanding the passionate
appeal of Newton d. Baker for d
League of Nations plank that would
favor immediate entrance of the
United States into the league. the
convention by more than a two
thirds vote declared in favor of the
league only after a national refer
no y, ;oI,
would differ from the election of
1920 in that it would be divorced
from all issues and candidates. and
would be conducted by special act
of congress.
Bakers Effort Fails
Now the former secretary Of war
made great oratorical effort but
most of the delegates left before the
debate started and returned only
during the closing minutes of his adj
dress so that much of it's effective
ness was lost.
Tie chief difference between the
Baker proposal, which represented a
minority of the resolutions commit
tee, and the plank sponsored by
Homer S. Cummings, was not clear
~ srasped by most of the delegates.
They brushed aside arguments that
a referendum meant endless delay
and accepted the theory that by
calling for a referendum the ques-
ton would be lifted out of party pol
ltics. forgetting, of course, that the
republican party. without waiting
for referendum, has declared def
nitely against American participa.
ton in the league. The Democratic
leaders who favored the referendum
went on the assumption that the is
sue would be kept out of the cam.
paign, though Newton d. Baker re-
minded the delegates that the press
WOULD not hesitate to insist upon
direct and specific answer as to
whether the Democratic candidate
favored American entrance into the
League.
Whether the vote against Mr..
Baker constitutes a reputation of
Woodrow Wilson, as was proclaimed
in the argument for the minority re-
port, is open to question, as men
like Homer S. Cummings and 9TH
ers who stood beside the late presi-
dent said they were interpreting his
wishes by asking for real referen-
dunn and that such a process would
mean earlier entrance into the
league than a prolongation of the
struggle between parties. The diff
ference was not on whether Amer.
lea should or should not enter the
league. for all factions agreed on the
objective-Anerican membership
but disagreed on the best method
of accomplishing the result.
Performance Unprecedented
AS for the debate on the ku Klux
Kan issue, the performance in to-
nights session was unprecedented
in the history of conventions. Re
ligious prejudice was freely ex-
pressed and the bitterness of the
Protestant struggles of CEN
turtles came to the fore, though re-
GREETED by all. The issue came on
whether the khan should be specifi-
cally~denounced by name or whether
a set of principles denouncing Sc
cret political orders should be adopt
ed. William Jennings Bryan plead
ed with the delegates not to divide
the Democratic party, but to reunite
the Christian church. His eloquence
was Of the same fiery sort that won
a nomination in 1886. He said the
ku Klux Khan did not deserve adj
vertisement by a Democratic ma
tional convention. Speaker after
speaker for the other side insisted
that if the plank proposed by the
majority meant the Ku Klux Khan,
it should say so.
AS the roll was called it was APP
parent that the vote would be close.
The galleries insisted on showing
their feelings and expressing their
opinions. The crowd favored nam
ing the khan, just as the galleries
sided with Newton Baker in his plea
for a league plank meaning imme-
date entrance into the Geneva or
ganization.
The accuracy Of many votes un-
der the unit rule in vogue in many
states was challenged again and
again, requiring the polling Of indi
vidual delegations and delaying the
i-vh