Evening star., 1924-06-25
RITCHIE JOINS
DARK HORSES
Stock CoesUp-Ral-
stOn Still Is
Near Top.
BY N. o. MESSENGER,
STAFF Correspnndent Of The Star

VI" ioiNN, JuiS iiNiS -
the most important development of
the forenoon: The anti-ku klux
forces have served notice on the
McAdoo managers that if the COM
mittee on resolutions brings in a
plank which fails to dcnounce the
klan in unequivocal terms they will
offer minority report and go to
the floor of the convention with the
fight
This report will be signed, it is
said, by New Hampshire, Massachu-
setts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New
Yoa1, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois,
Minnesota. Wisconsin and possibly
other states.
The disposition of those states is
TO put the responsibility of ku klux
action squarely up to McAdoo. If
he wants to evade the issue, it is up
to him, and he can take the risk Of
losing those states in the November
election, along with the nomination.
McAdoo Is Slipping.
McAdoo is slipping. Gov Smith is
gaining slightly, but not enough to
vision a two-thirds majority. This
increases the prospects of the neces-
sity of a compromise candidate being
decided upon and Ralston, and John
w. Davis and Gov. Ritchie of Mary
land loom in the order named
This was the situation in the early
hours of the morning, after a night
or constant conferences among the
leaders of the party, who have the
delegates in leash. McAdoo's hopes
are considered to have gone on the
rocks when the committee on rules
refused to substitute majority
vote on the nomination for the time
members of the committee favored
the change.
Taggart Tactics Good.
Good politics in behalf of Ralston
is being played by that astute old
compaigner, Thomas Taggart of In
diana. He has avoided friction with
other candidates, allowing the situa-
tion to ride easily and biding his
time to urge his candidate He keeps
sounding one note persistently,
you mus. have Indiana's electoral
vote and Ralston can give It to you"
The friends of Gov. Smith say that
by the same token the party must
nave New York's electoral vote,
which he- probably could supply. but
they are unable to convince the lead
ers- that the party would not lose
other states by reason of Gov
Smiths wetness and the religious is
There is no question but that Nc
Adoo's prospects have been damaged
by the intensity of the feeling over
the ku klux issue. for his name has
been persistently linked with the
to dissociate it.
The east and the central west are
dead set in favor of vigorous de-
nunciation of the Klan in the plat
party will experience serious results
i fthis is not done.
No one in authority here is able to
forecast. the probable length of the
esnNsiis eenUe1tion; sans With some some twenty
nation and voted upon for a few
ballots at least the speech-making
and balloting will consume much
time before the convention gets into
the death struggle over the voting
upon the candidates who may show
some real possibility of being nomi-
mated
This morning none of the big lead
ers would undertake to hazard a sim
nee will be, but could only discuss
the possibilities and potentialities
There are infinite possibilities of COM
binations, of sudden switching of
front some ether compromise candi-
date than the ones mentioned.
Handicaps Apparent.
The handicaps of McAdoo and Smith,
the recognized topliners in the list
of possibilities, are discussed over and
over by the delegates as the convic-
ton seems to be growing that they
have stopped" each other and that
the convention must look elsewhere
for its choice.
There was a significant feature of
ator Harrison which caused general
comment. 1t was observed that the
audience did not rise" to his excoria-
tion Of the Republican party for its
asserted responsibility for the oil
whether the people are not tired of
the whole oily smear and disposed to
think that 1t is water gone over the
wheel. 1t was noted, however that
MS reference TO w OOQIO" wilson
caused unbounded enthusiasm, which
may influence the convention in deal
ing with the league of nations issue.
Delegates Are Weary.
1t was a wearied and tired-eyed
crowd of delegates that filed into the
hall today, after a night of caucuses
and conferences. The heat of the big
city has had a debilitating effect upon
everybody, and the constant friction
with the crowds kind of takes it
out of you" Notwithstanding the en-
tertainment provided for the visiting
delegates, there is evidence that they
are well aware Of the seriousness of
their mission in New York and not
oblivious of the vast responsibility to
the Democratic party resting upon
them.
In talking with the delegates one
cannot but be impressed with their
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