Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-08
ALL PEACE: PLANS
AIMED At GIVING
SMITH ADVANTAGE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal }
DOWNRIGHT 1921

NEW YORK, July 7.-Defiance
and not a sign of weakness, indeed
absolute confidence of victory-this
was William, Gibbs McAdoo's answer
last night to suggestions that he
withdraw from the presidential nom
mating contest.
And the McAdoo delegates cheered
their leader, pledging anew their de-
termination 10 stand by him to the
bitter end. over in the Smith camp
there was talk of compromise, the
name of Senator Robinson, of Ar
kansas, being suggested repeatedly
as the best nominee. When the idea
was rJn down, however, it was found
that the plan was to have the Nc
Adoo delegation swing from McAdoo
while the Smith forces stood pat.
Analysed, it was merely a strategy
to weaken the McAdoo lines.
Another ingenious scheme devised
to batter down the McAdoo lead was
put up to the former secretary of
the treasury by the conference COM
mittee. 1t was that instructed dele
gates be released to vote as they
pleased. 1t so happens that McAdoo
has most of the instructed delegates
in the convention. To agree to such
a proposition means a loss to him
without corresponding gain. Such a
compromise was rejected not only be-
cause it seemed to the McAdoo men
unfair, but Mr.. McAdoo himself in
h nnr.I, n L.n 1n1ncr1 tnc, n a CT
night pointed out that he had actI-
ally entered primary contests in sew
eral states and had won out, and
therefore, the delegates represented
a mandate direct from the people.
Favorite Sons Hurt
There was no doubt, after the Nc
Adoo speech, that the convention
would resume balloting today with
little change. The McAdoo camp has
polIed $50 votes and the leaders feel
the elimination should not start at
the top. They will re-enter the con-
vention convinced that the deadlock
Can only De broken by the favoritc
son delegations.
CuriousIy enough, the favorite
sons states are not pro-Smlth but
most of them have held apart from
the former secretary of the treasury
by arguments that when the break
up comes the benefits Will be in
herited by the individuals who have
stayed in the race and have helped
to break the McAdoo delegates down.
These tactics are not reactlng to
the benefit of the favorite sons and
if a compromise candidate is selected
it would not be surprising to see the
McAdoo delegates swing to some one
VINO has not blocked their chances
of victory.
MCAloo last might put the fight
on TIE basis of principle rather than
personality, insisting that the states
which rarely go Democratic and
which are boss controlled are trying
to dictate the choice Of candidate
who will satisfy reactionary inter-
ests. He declared the fight must be
Continued for a progressive. HIS
delegates applauded and pledged
themselves again to stick if it takes
all summer.
The deadlock continues on and on
with no end in sight unless one size
or the other surrenders.
1t's no longer a question of COM
promise. The conference commit
tee. Mr.. McAdoo said, was not to
usurp the functions of the conven-
ton but simply to devise a plan of
procedure. He told his delegates
fatty he would not withdraw and
that he would consult them before
taking any such step. He denied
it was in contemplation.
Broadly speaking the conference
committee is trying to work out a
plan whereby the favorite sons would
be drawn away from their policy
of obstruction so that the strength
of all the minority candidates can
he divided between Smith and Nc
Adoo. The idea of having all in
structed delegates released did not
carry with it the abrogation of the
unit rule, though in two or three
states it might mean a change in
the majority Of the delegation which
would mean that the whole vote
would be cast differently than it has
been before.
The plans thus far made public
appear to be simply strategic ma
neuvers to diminish McAdoo' s
strength and increase Al Smith s
number of delegates. But the con-
vention has had rest over Sun
day and maybe the stubbornness of
some of the delegates who have held
back from the two leaders will be
melted today. The atmosphere is
hopeful without any concrete rea-