The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-07-10
DEMOCRATS BREAK
LONG DEADLOCK BY
NOMINATING DAVIS
Former Ambassador To
England Selected as
Party Leader

Ao d COMPROMISE CduQlUdLo III one
of the most bitter political struggles
in the history of American political
parties, John W. Davis of West Vir-
ginia, former ambassador to Great
Britain, was nominated for president
at the national Democratic conven-
ton at New York Wednesday after
noon on the hundred and third bal
lot. The convention has been in
continuous session for more than
two weeks, having been called to
order Tuesday, June "a. Delegates
began balloting on candidates Mon
day, June 80, and the struggle has
continued with undated vigor since
that date with sessions being held
throughout the day and evening ses-
sions, lasting until far into the night.
Preconvention forecasts of dead
lock between the forces supporting
William G.. McAdoo, former secre
tary of the treasury and Alfred E.
Smith, governor of New York, were
proven correct on the early ballots,
and efforts since that time have
proved unavailing to reach any sort
dates. Conference after conference
were held by party leaders and man
ayers of the fifteen candidates whose
names were before the convention
but no basis of agreement could be
reached. Monday night of this week |
after the convention had been in ses-
sion for two weeks and no prospect |
appeared in sight for break in the |
deadlock, delegates took the matter
in their own hands and by action of
the convention itself the delegates
were released from all instruction
of every kind and from the operation
of the unit rule By which the entire
vote of any state delegation must
be cast for the candidate favored by
a majority of the delegation. With
this action, there was a decided
slump in the vote for McAdoo and
for the first time since balloting
started he lost the lead in the vot
ing to Governor Smith. 1t soon be-
came apparent, however, that each
Of the two leading rivals held in their
control sufficient votes to veto the
of the other. After the
first break in the McAdoo forces a
strong tide set in for Senator Rails
ton of Indiana, but for the second
the Indiana senator ordered his
name withdrawn from consideration.
McAdoo's chances were greatly in
jured by his refusal to accept the
challenge of Governor Smith that ,
both withdraw as candidates in the
interest of party harmony. The at
ftude of his manager, David Ladc
in assuming a dictotorial
position with regard to the delegates
favorable to McAdoo also reached
he point where 1t reacted against
he candidate, the delegates resent
ng the attempted czarism and intol-
rance of any suggestion of COM
The convention broke all records
or number of ballots required to \
elect a candidate. The longest pre- ,
ious record of balloting was In 1850
yhen Stephen A. Douglas of ILL :
ois was chosen on the fifty-ninth !
allot. Franklin Pierce was named =
on the forty-ninth ballot at Balti- ;,
nore in 1852. Woodrow Wilson
yon the nomination at Baltimore :
4 1912 on the forty-sixth ballot and
ames M. Cox of Ohio was chosen :.
n the forty-fourth ballot at San .
Francisco in 1920. The highest bal =
1T record in the history of republic g
an conventions was in 1852 when
le party was known as the Whig .
arty and General Winfield Scott W
as nominated as the party's can
idate on the fifty-third ballot. :,
-----l | T.