The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-24
OPENING SESSION FINDS DELEGATES IN NBEWILDERNIENT Observers Foresee Politi- cal History In Com
 ing Scrap MANY CAUCUSES
 FILL THE DAY Many Groups Already Laying Post-D Deadlock
 Plans

NEW YORK. June 23.-The democratic convention will assemble in Madison Square Garden at noon tomorrow with it's favorites for the presidency deadlocked, it's chief ad- visors in disagreement over party policies, and it's delegates seeking a leader to guide them out of the will derness of their own indeeision.
 In the vast arena of the storied old ampitheatre political observers expect to see enacted such stirring scenes as live forever in political history. It will be battle both of men and measures, with furnished shield and tempered steel flashing in the radiance of a mounting flame of party enthusiasm.
 20 in Field
 Despite the differences over platform declarations, the convention is looking to the contest over candidates as likely to furnish it's greatest spectacle and it's most serious difficulty. The claims of 20 aspirants for the presidency have been placed before the delegates Tn a fevered pre-conyention period but there was no clear indication tonight that the convention would find even in such a field the standard bearer it is seeking.
 In pledged delegate strength William G. McAdoo stands well ahead of all of his competitors. Governor Al Smith, the idol of the New York democ- racy, has developed a backing that will put him in second place on the opening ballot. Down the line will be ranged Q long list of others whose managers to- night were predicting that both 6E tho leaders would De eliminated in the end by the bitter rivalry between them. :,
 At Fever Heat
 Today there was rallying of strength in the camps of both Smith and McAdoO that kindled enthusiasm to fever heat and kept the hotel district of New York echoing with the cheers of marching delegates. Mir. McAdoo taking notice of fast-fying reports that some of those pledged to him were preparing to quit the fight after the early ballots, told a group of his supporters in a public speech that no delegate had been sent to the convention to- "betray a trust" Governor. Smith, appearing before a crowd of thousands to review a civic pa- rade was welcomed by roars of ap- plause and acclaimed by his partisans as the next president.
 Most of the state delegations held caucuses to compare impressions and plan their part of the big show. The tone of most of them was one of uncer- tainty, and speculation, but it became increasingly apparent that many who will have convention votes are disposed to make selections of their own after they have fulfilled their instructions to cast their ballots for this or that candi- date on the initial roll calls. Should the deadlock be prolonged, the cOnven- tion itself appears determined to take upon its own shoulders the responsibility of picking a candidate rather than con tinue the stalemate indefinitely by fol- lowing blindly the advice of state con- ventiOns and primaries.
 StilI Claim Victory
 The. days developments caused no change in the claims of victory emanat- ing from the headquarters of both Me AdoO and Smith but there was no deny ing the growing show of optimism among the supporters of the favorite sons who for the present are cast into the shadow of towering strength of the two leaders.
 The Indiana delegation, after a glance over the situation as it developed during the past few hours, reversed the previous decision of democratic lead CTS of the state and decided unanimous ly to place the name of Senator Samuel M. Ralston formally before the conven- tion. There was talk latf ut abandon ing the decision, however, when some of the senator's freinds suggested that his position would be weakened by bringing him forward at so early a stage in the fight-an opinion in which Thomas Taggart, the veteran Indiana leader, appeared to share.
 Undeniably the days hurried activi- ties saw an increase in the tide of dis cussiOn over favorite sons and dark horses, and the delegates were given plenty of advice by the campaign work CTS about both the strength and the weakness of those proposed as compro- I1niaa nandfJo Aoa