Evening star., 1924-01-13
TWO-TH|RDS RULE
RETENTION CERTAIN
Democrats viii Retain Nomi-
/ mating Method Despite
McAdoo Fight.
By ROBERT r. SMALL.

The democratic party Is not ready
rs yet to overturn the time-honored
rule requiring a vote of two-thirds
of the delegates in a national con-
vention to nominate a candidate for
the presidency of the United States.
That the supporters of William
Gibbs McAdoo, who Is running well
TO tho front of all other aspirants,
would like to see the rule abrogated
SO that a majority might determine
the party candidate, as Is the case
with the republicans, goes without
saying, but there is every indication
that their canvass of the situation
has convinced them such a move
would not be successful at the meet
ing of the democratic national COM
mittee which begins here on Tuesday.
Time and time again 1t has been
proposed that the democrats adopt
the majority rule, but the wiser
CounselS of the party have urged ad-
herentS to the two-thirdS scheme
which really has become a tradition
rather than a rule.
Followed Since 1892.
Tho decision to require two-thirds
vote was made away back in 1882 and
St has been adhered to ever since. The
yule was made long before the present
day republican party came into exist
ence. This really was the hrSt time
that all the presidential candidates
were selected at conventions. In 1879
there We're neither conventions nor plat
forms, the nominations growing out OF
legislative caucuses on Endorsements In
the several states. This was the year
that Andrew jackson, democrat. de-
feated John Quincy Adams. and the
famous political slogan ito the victor
belongs the spoils" was first raised In
this campaign. 1t was the battle cry
of the Jackson followers and 1t seems
TO have had Il potent influence on the
election.
In 1882 the national republicans. or
wings, adopted party platform, nut
tile democrats did not The democratic
convention was held in Baltimore ana
the adoption of the two-thirds rule was
one of the first items of business, The
rule, therefore, came into oelng Win
virtually the first of the national polit-
ical conventions held in this county,
and it was said here yesterday by the
vanguard Of national committeeman al
ready in the city that it will take more
than the political ambitions OF one man.
Or one set of men, to overturn this
ege-old plan.
The older members of the commit
tee say that few mistakes have been
made by the party through adherence
to the rule. They feel that many mis-
nomination by ii majority. The fact
that the republican party seems TO
have prospered fairly well under the
majority rule system leaves tne
democratic committeeman cold. Ihey
say that is up to the republicans.
The democrats have their own rule
and are going to stick to 1t.
Move Held Democratic.
Advocates of the. proposed change
naturally do not publicly base their
contentious on the effect the cnanSe
might have on the chances or any
one of the aSpirantS now talked OF:
They declare that the adoption of
the majority rule would be In its es-
sence more democratic than the two
thirds requ, ement; they say the ma
jority rule would shorten the con.
ventions and thereby result in great
saving of money TO the party e2-
chequer and also to the delegates.
1t is pointed out that, whereas the
republicans usually conclude their
conventions within four or Ave days.
the democrats often get into
wrangle which lasts for weeks, be-
cause no candidate can get the neces-
sary two-thirdS vote In shorter
space Of time. In 1912, when Wood
row Wilson first was nominated. the
democrats were in session at Balti-
more for the better part of fort
night. OF course, in 1915, the re-
nomination of Mr.. Wilson was fore
gone conclusion anu ene CoNNoIeioii
was brief one. In 1920, however. at
San Francisco, there was another
long deadlock before the final break
came to former Gov. James NJ. Cox.
The democratic convention this
year will be made up of 1,094 dele
gates from the states, territories and
island dependencies. Under ma
jority rule as votes would be suffi-
Cient to nominate. Under the two
thirds rule it will require 730 20
name the presidential nominee, and
as they look at the situation today
, the supporters of the various aspir-
ants agree that that Is an awful lot
OF votes