The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-07


discovered that some delegates
refused to obey the bosses and
were determined to attack the
khan on the convention floor.
The bosses, controlling a ma
iority Of the votes, could determine
the result but could not prevent a
fight on the floor by the sincere op-
ponents of the khan with the con-
seouent result that the democrats
would lose some khan votes in No
vember.
Catholic Bosses Scheme.
Since the issue was to be aired on
the floor despite them, the Catholic
bosses decided to kill several birds
with one stone. BY making the vote
practically tie they could accomplish
many things. ~ They could show
that half the convention was opposed
to McAdoo, the khan candidate, and
that he could not be expected to get
his necessary two-thirds vote. Every
one conceded that the worst thing
that could happen to the McAdoo
boom was a khan fight on the floor,
and McAdoo worked thruout the
early sessions to prevent this.
2. A close vote, since they could
not keep it from coming to a vote,
would be the next best thing as evil
dence of democratic neutrality neces-
sary to get khan and anti-klan votes
in November.
saIve For the Catholics.
3. A close vote would show the
strength of Smith, chief anti-Klan
candidate. 4. A close vote would
salve the feelings of the Catholic
rank and file and the sincere khan op-
ponents. 5. Brennan could trade for
nomination support by threatening
anti-klan plank. But it was necessary
that the close vote should favor the
boss-ruled resolutions committee plank
not naming the khan, because: II ex-
pediency and the November election.
p The convention would not swallow
two bitter pills, it would not accept
a plank naming the khan and also
nominate the khan enemy and Oath
Ole, Al Smith. Smiths chances are
slim enough anyway, and to make
more enemies by forcing thru an
anti-klan plank would kill him. For
while a majority vote could carry the
plank, two-thirds is necessary to NOM
mate.
Let Wrong Count Stand.
Everything went as planned, except
that the sincere opponents of the khan
swept the convention, to the surprise
of everyone. Then the Brennan and
Smith forces had to come to the
Klan's rescue. The real khan OPP
ponents were working so hard to get
votes that many votes were changed,
with the result that the secretary an
nounced a khan victory by 1 vote out
of 1889 cast. Tho it was known at the
time, and since admitted, that the sec
retary's count was wrong, the dem
ocratic bosses would not permit a re-
count After a Massachusetts, dele
gate had demanded a recount (Which
would have given sufficient time toi
get more anti-klan votes) he was
forced to withdraw his motion by his
delegation leader Senator Walsh of
Massachusetts,, altho the latter had
actually led the anti-klan debate.
Brennan himself gave the khan 13
votes, and could have changed 5 and
carried the anti-klan plank. But he
refused. So did Taggart, the Indiana
boss, who gave the khan rs votes as
against anti-klan.
Proof of Frame-Up.
Final proof of the frame-up came
when the h-Tammany boss forced
an adjournment while the real khan
enemies were demanding another
vote. No roll call was taken on the
original (pro-Klan) plank
The debate itself was farce. VIII
liam Jennings Bryan after making a
fool OF himself by supporting the khan
plank was booed down. Those who
supported the khan plank all attacked
the khan, but asked that II would not