The Washington times., 1924-06-18
FIGHT
BEGlJNBY
SMITH
Demands That Unit, as Well
as Two-thirds Vote Regu-
lation, BE Abolished
NEW YORK, June 1.-two

NEW YORK, June 1.-two
time-honored Democratic institu-
tions-the two-thirds nominating
rule and the unit rule-are going
to be chucked into the Madison
Square Garden arena at the ma
tional convention here next week
if any attempt is made to tinker
with either Of them.
Supporters Of Governor AL
Smith made this emphatic today
in retaliation for the efforts that
are persistently being made by
William G. McAdoo's supporters
to abolish the two-thirds rule,
under which It is necessary for .
winning candidate to get 732 Of
the 1,098 delegates.
Mandate by Roosevelt.
The unit rule has. been a bone of
contention at every Democratic con.
vention in recent years, but the con-
vention has always upheld it. On.
der its provision whichever candi.
date controls the majority Of a dele.
cation gets the complete vote.
The Smith forces do not want
either rule disturbed, but il McAdoo,
whose adherents are admittedly in
control Of the convention organiza-
ton, succeeds in abolishing the
two-thirds rule then they are going
to fight for the abolition Of. the
unit rule along with II.
The attitude Of the Smith camp
was made plain today-by Franklin
D. Roosevelt. the governors pre-.
convention manager.
There is grave doubt" said
Roosevelt, whether in any con.
test. political or athletic, the rules
should be changed after the con-
testants are at the barrier and
ready to start-unless, Of course, II
can be shown that the old rule "a
operating against the best interests
Of the party"
Want Both or None.
The Smith camp, 1t appeared to-
day, might not be unwilling to trade
the two.thirds rule for abolition OF
the unit rule. because they are con.
fident that in a number Of McAdoo
delegations the margin Of control il
slight. Yet under the rule McAdoo
will get all the votes.
Already assured Of the big dele.
cations Of New York, Pennsylvania,
most Of Illinois and the smaller
delegations Of New Jersey. Wiscon.
sin, Maryland, Rhode Island, Con.
necticut and at least part Of Massa.
chusetts, they figure that save for
the unit rule, Governor Smith could
pick up enough delegates in West.
ern States, now controlled by Nc.
Adoo, to put the Governor on even
footing with McAdoo, IL not eive
him an actual majority. Hence
their answer to McAdoo:
! BOTH"
Smith Managers Figure
Smiths managers demonstrated
by actual figures today that II
would be mathematically possible,
under the unit rule. for fourteen
delegates to nominate a candidate
ana cited this as one Of it's inioui.
ties. Fourteen Of the largest state
could poll a majority OF the con.
vention, 6hA vote. Suppose. said
the Smith rteJple, McAdoo controled
each delegation by the narrow mar.
gin Of one vote. then fourteen dele.
gates would decide the issue.
With this preliminary sI<irmisl,
on between the McAdoo and Srniti,
camps, the older leaders Of fine
party predicted that neither r,,Is
would be altered. But that the
skirmish 10 on is indicative of how
closely the two leading candidates
are figuring. =
Both sides received encoura gins
news from the front" today
While McAdoo managers who came
east with him dropped in to assure
headquarters that the receptions
accorded McAdoo across the. country
were magnificent" Senator Royal
8. Copeland returned from several
days tour OF New England and
reported to Smith headquartaF1
Continued On 1ssa- \ Column q