The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-17
CHOICE
CONTESTS At
NEWY0RK
Battle Over Two-thirds Rule
Started Smith on Ground.
McAdoo Due Tomorrow
(Continued from first Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
and in the end they see a dark
horse come galloping from, some
Middle Western box stall and get the
oats, just as Harding at Chicago
four years ago came forth and
captured the Republican nomination
after Lowden, Wood and johnson
had figuratively kicked each other
to death for ballot after ballot.
History Recalled.
1t might be pointed out that in
other famous Democratic deadlocks.
! one of the leaders has come
through-Wilson at Baltimore, for
instance, or Cox at San Francisco.
But it is also pointed out that is
sues and conditions govern this con-
test which were completely lacking
in other conventions-religion and
Ku Klux Klanism, wet and dry,
the League of Nations and a score
of lesser issues that spawn rigid
beliefs and unyielding positions.
This belief in the destiny Of the
second choice-it amounts almost to
conviction on the part Of many
shrewd party prophets-constitutes
the sole stock in hope Of the Ralston
managers, the John w. Davis
boosters, the Glass people, the Cum
minis crowd, the Copeland forces,
everyone, in. fact. whose name has
been drawn into this Democratic
melting pot.
Contests Are Started.
Their representatives and friends
are already on the ground here.
They ask the new arrival with OBJ
vious casualness concerning his pre-.
dictions toward the leading trium-
virate, and then almost beat their
first question with their second:
.'And who is your second choice?"
The McAdoo managers, led by
Judge David Ladd Rockwell, and
the Smith managers, whose spokes-
man is Franklin D. Roosevelt, are
apprehensively cognizant Of this
situation.
1t Is responsible for the revival
of the quadrennial discussion about
abrogating the two-thirds nominal.
ing rule. 1t is described as archaic,
musty, undemocratic and undefensi-
ble-by the McAdoo forces particu.
larly for they are serenely confident
that some time within the first ten
ballots McAdoo will poll a majority
of the 1895 delegates.
The effort of the McAdoo people
to force q rule through the rules
committee, abolishing the two-thirds
law, will be savgaely opposed by not
only the Smith contingent, but also
by the adherents of every dark horse
in the stable. The two-thirds rule
is one of their chief assets, and they
will not lose it lightly.
Opposed By Veterans.
Even the McAdoo managers them.
selves are not unanimous on the
question Of fighting for. its abro-
cation. In the McAdoo camp there
are. many Wilsonian Democrats,
men who battled with the late presi-
dent at Baltimore twelve years ago.
They recall in that convention had
1t not been for the two.thirds rulee
Champ Clark and not Woodrow
Wilson would have been the nom
inee, for the late Missourian polled
majority over Wilson at one stage
Of the convention.
1.-THE two.thirds rule gave us Will
son without it we would not have
had him." said one veteran leader
today. Incidentally, he Is Identi-
fled with the McAdoo forces. I've
have had il q century. 1t should
not be abolished now" He pre-.
dicted, too. that it would not.
Pre-convention- activities began to
pick up today. Governor Smith
took personal charge of his head.
quarters in Madison avenue and
greeted newcomers.
Tomorrow, McAdoo headquarters
in the Vanderbilt Hotel will be
taken over by McAdoo in person.
He will be accorded a demonstra.
ton upon his arrival here from
Los Angeles.