Evening star., 1924-01-08
M 'ADO0 TO FACE
FIRST TEST SOON
Effort to Change Two-Thirds
Rule on Nomination Will
Demonstrate Strength.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

Presidential politics inside the DEM
ocratic party has unexpectedly reach
ed climax, which may make the ma
tional convention this year sensa-
tfonal in history.
Although the managers Of the boom
for William Gibbs McAdoo are deny-
ing it to be their intention to pro-
pose an abrogation of the two-thirds
rule whereby presidential candidates
are nominated in the democratic con-
vention, the workers in various states
are pledgfng national committeeman
and committeewomen to vote for such
change at the meeting of the demo-
cratic national committee to be held
here next week
Unless the opposition to the Nc
Auoo candidacy can rally it's forces
within the next few days, the resolu-
Ilon VIII be offered and passed
enough pledges seem to have been
secured to adopt the resolution. but
the margin is close and may be over
turned. If the McAdoo forces do
not find themselves with enough
votes they will not propose the reso-
an issue in the democratic national
committee would be a bad blow to
the prestige of the boom itself
Opponents Feel Secure.
The strategy of the McAdoo group
is prompted by the tactics Of their
opponents who have been sitting
quietly for the last few months re-
garding tho McAdoo boom with in
dlrerence because of a conviction
that one-third bloc of delegates
could prevent the nomination of Mr.
McAdoo this time as In 1920.
The opposition to McAdoo. however
mas become alarmed atN the turn OF
events. The democratic national COM
mlttee Is composed Of membership
OF onin1 hrty-three men and fifty-three
Union, the Philippines, Porto Rico
Alaska. Hawaii and the District Of
Columbia. The committeewomen are
absolutely on a parity in voting
the women are said to be almost ali
Tor McAdoo. A majority of the ma
tional committee is enough to adopt
a resolution which Will abrogate the
twoIthirds itSois n rule If the convention
the McAdoo forces in the national
committee would go far toward help
ing the cause of their candidate in
the convention.
H.
ayers are confident Of a majority of
the delegates. applying, of course; the
unit rule of voting by states If the
tWo-thirds rule were abrogated they
would have an easy time of 1t.
McAdoo "Dry.,
The opposition to McAdoo> has thus
far been unorganized. There is, of
course, bitter feeling against his
boom on the part of the VETS" for
McAdoo is dry" Big industry in
side the democratic party is largely
opposed to McAdoo, because of his
friendship for, labor when he was
director general Of the railroads.
Democratic politicians in some of
the states like Massa chusetts. New
YORK, Conn ecticut. New Jersey and
Maryland, where state organizations
are closely knit. are opposed to Nc
Adoo because he and the Wilson ele-
ments in the party are accused of
failing to recognize Organization
men" in the party.
Until now, the opponents of Nc
Adoo have depended on the one-third
bloc to beat him. Now they realize
they cannot beat Somebody with no.
BODY, as the saying goes in politics.
ana accordingly there has developed
a tacit understanding among the
II ieioS Ol the Otner candidates to
stand together as against McAdoo
The latter groups will conduct the
hght against the abrogation of the
two-thirds rule.
The friends of AL Smith of New
York are beginning to work openly
in states like Massachusetts,, New
York, Illinois, New Jersey and Mary
land.
The Underwood forces are active
in the south and the West Virginia
admirers OF John w. Davis are said
to be getting ready to open a head
quarters. Meanwhile the McAdoo cam
paign has headquarters in Los Ange-
les. Chicago, New York and Washing
ton, and the McAdoo scouts are tour
ing the country, particularly the
south. trying to stampede the dele
cations for. their candidate. The fight
on the inside of the democratic ma
tional COMMITTEE for the abrogation
Of the two-thirds rule in the nomi-
mating conventions at present looks
favorable to McAdoo, though much
can happen 'twixt now and the meet
ing next week.
Copyright. 1924