The Omaha morning bee., 1924-06-30
May
Choose Davis as
Compromise Man
Governor Bryan Slated fol
Second Place on Ticket in
Case of McAdoo-Smith
Deadlock.

New York, June 29.-on the eve OF
balloting in the democratic national
convention. leading candidates for
the presidential nomination were
busy tonight consolidating their posi-
tions and issuing pronouncements OF
their confidence in the outcome.
Meantime, those seeking the nomi
nation, but admittedly without any
thing like the numerical strength on
the first ballots that will be mustered
by either William G. McAdoo or AL
fred E. Smith, were continuing their
quiet campaigns and laying plans
against the time when, they predicted
both the former treasury secretary
and the New York governor.
Wherever leaders or delegates con
gregated today there was discussion
OF the possible effect upon the for.
tunes Of this candidate or that. result.
ing from the action of the conven.
ton early today in rejecting the anti
klan plank. Both the McAdoo and
Smith managers claimed that the re-
suit. 1 fanything, strengthened their
positions, but other candidates or
their managers were in disagreement
with that view.
Much Dark Horse" Talk.
With balloting only a few hours
away, there was more than the usual
crop of dark horses" talk. Leaders
grooming such "horses" expressed the
opinion tonight that 40 ballots would
be taken before the Smith and Nc
Adoo forces would turn to a compro-
mise candidate.
Those interested in the candidacy
of Senator Samuel NJ. Ralston Of In
diana heard that In the event OF
Smith. McAdoo deadlock. the adher.
ents Of these two candidates would
swing their votes to John w. Davis
of West Virginia.
It also was stated that either Gov
ernor Charles Bryan of Nebraska or
Governor Jonathan NJ. Davis of Kan
sas would be second on such a com.
promise ticket.
Some of the Ralston supporters
have suggested a Ralston-Homer s.
Cummings, or a Ralston-Governor
Silzer ticket to Offset such a nomina-
ton, but Thomas Taggart. the Indi-
ana leader, who is backing Senator
Ralston against the field, has agreed
to neither 80 far as has been made
known.
Final Conferences.
Both McAdoo and Governor Smith
held final conferences with their chief
lleutenants today for discussion OF
the opening phase of the battle of
ballots. McAdoo spent much of the
day quietly in his suite in an uptown
hotel, but in the afternoon he visited
William Jennings Bryan, and tonight
he addressed a rally of the delegates
who are counted in his column.
Predicting that McAdoo would re-
ceive mot less than 400 votes on the
first ballot" David Ladd Rockwell,
his campaign manager. declared Nc
Adoo would make gradual gains until
he would receive a majority OF the
convention on the fifth or sixth ballot.
1--WE will hold that majority" he
added, "and the delegates. most OF
whom are in no temper for a long
drawn.out fight. will realize that a
minority cannot block the will Of the
majority. Then they will start &c
Jump on the McAdoo bandwagon."
While less specific in statements a.
to the number of votes at any stage
OF the contest. Governor Smith and
his manager. Franklin ID. Roosevelt
were no less optimistic.
Smith Takes Usual Swim.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the delegates
ARE confidently coming to the con
cluslon that duty TO the party die
tates the nomination of Smith foi
victory" In November.
Governor Smith followed out hii
usual Sunday program. attending
tTurn to Page Two. Column six.l