Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-06-21
RIVAL CAMPS
| |NF|NAL MOVES
| FOR CONCLAVE
McAdoo and Smith Forces
RedoubIe Efforts to Bet
ter Their Positions
FIGHT IS BIG FEATURE
McAdoo Is Silent on KIan as
Well as Other Issues
Before Conferees
FIGHT IS BIG FEATURE.

NEW YORK, June 21.-Redoub-
led efforts to strengthen their posi-
ton today occupied the camps of
William @. McAdoo and Governor
Alfred e. Smith as the Democratic
national committee went into ses-
sion to complete final arrange
ments for the opening OF the nation.
al convention at Madison Square
Garden next Tuesday.
The fight between the Smith and
McAdoo forces easily was the DOM
mating feature of the closing days
of the pre-convention period, but
other issues. particularly that of the
Ku Klux Klan. also held prominent
places in the discussions among the
assembling delegates.
An increasing uemand from
George E. Brennan. of Illinois, and
leaders from other states that the
platform declare specifically against
the Khan added to the difficulties OF
| the platform builders who already
were divided on that point.
Meantime. Mr. McAdoo maintain
ed. silence on this and other planks
in the platform. At his headquar-
ters 1t was made known that he had
not consulted party leaders on that
or other questions which are giving
concern to the group who are under-
taking to shape up a general party
expression for presentation to the
platform committee which will be
organized with the meeting of the
convention.
Predictions that the Klan issue
would find its way to the floor of the
convention for final decision were
made today in several quarters.
There also were those who regarded
it as possible that the prohibition
question would be taken to the
floor. but the "drys". confident of a
strong expression in the platform
for law enforcement, were concen-
trating their fight against wet"
candidates.
Both McAdoo and Smith held
frequent conferences today with
delegates and leaders from num-
ber of states. Confidence radiated
from both headquarters, but the
strategy boards on each side we're
busy with their preparations and
organizations were being perfected
and enlarged.
At the McAdoo headquarters a
force of twelve to have charge of as
many zones" on the convention
floor were being formed. 1t is to
function under the general super
visoin of David Ladd Rockwell
McAdoo's campaign manager. and
will constitute something of an in
novation in national conventios.
Goveror Smiths plans with regard
to convention work are carefully
guarded, but formal announcement
has been made that Franklin d.
Roosevelt. former secretary of the
navy, and candidate for the vice.
presidency in 1920, will place his
name before the delegates.
Although the McAdoo-Smith con-
test overshadowed their activities,
supporters of other candidates for
the Presidency and dark horses"
were far from idle. Workers were
here and there about the hotels
pressing the claims of their favorites
upon incoming delegations. Some
of these candidates already are on
the ground and others are due with
in the next few days.
The force of party leaders on the
ground had been augmented by the
arrival of Thomas Taggart, the
DSHiotIdltC ltdQtI III lHQidHds anu
Joseph E. Guffey. national commit
teeman from Pennsylvania. They
conferred with party cnieftains dur
ing the day.
With the intelligence from Nc
Adoo headquarters that a decision
there respecting the abrogation of
the two-thirds rule for the nomina-
ton of a Presidential candidate
would be deferred for at least a day
or two, that question was pushed
somewhat in the background, but
leaders recognized that It was
freighted with the possibility of a
spectacular fight on the floor which
might furnish the first test of
strength between McAdoo and his
opponents.
The volunteer platform builders
resumed their work and hoped to
reach at least tentative agreements
on a number of the less controversial |
planks. The main questions to be
dealt with were fairly well agreed
upon, but there remained differ |
ence of opinion as to the language
and broadness of expression to be
employed in the framing of others.
Uoo,oxxv xIkn M