The Colorado statesman., 1924-07-05
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Democratic Convention War
of Fighting Factions
and Mad Tumult.
BY JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN


VXTHEN the Democratic national
w convention, which opened Tues
day in Madison Square Garden, New
York city, adjourned Thursday eve
ming to Friday morning the net re-
suits were these: Two keynote
speeches; many tumultuous demon
strations a platform committee des-
perately struggling with seemingly in
superable complications, and an ap-
parent deadlock between the forces of
McAdoo and Smith, with favorite
sons in plenty and going strong. OF
the rival McAdoo and Smith demon
stratons the New Yorker staged the
longer and noisier. In the only test
vote-that Thursday afternoon on the
question of adjourning to Thursday
night or Friday morning-the Smith
forces won by vote of 5551a to 513.
The convention decided to stick to the
two-thirds rule-which may or may
not have been a victory for Smith.
There are 1,09S delegates; necessary
to nominate, 732. Each state is
law unto itself as to the unit rule.
AS to the platform the situation was
this: The subcommittee was still at
work on a draft to be submitted to
the full committee. This draft con-
tained alternative planks on several
controversial subjects, including the
League of Nations, the Ku Klux Klan
and prohibition. 1t was hoped to have
the platform ready for the convention
sometime Friday. There was every
prospect Of fight on the floor over
the League of Nations and Klan
planks.
Those who had been placed in NOM
nation we're: Senator Oscar w. I'm
derwood of Alabama, Senator Joseph
I. Robinson of Arkansas, William
Gibbs McAdoo of California, Gov. AL
fred e. Smith of New York, Willard
Salisbury, former senator from Della
ware; David f. Houston, cabinet Off
rer In the Wilson administration
Samuel NJ. Ralston, former governor
Of Indiana; Gov. Albert Q. Richie of
Maryland, Gov. Jonathan M. Davis of
Kansas, Senator Woodbridge N. Fer
fis of Michigan.
TIME feature of Tuesday, the open
i ing day, was the address of Sen
ator Pat byron Patton) Harrison of
Mississippi, temporary chairman and
official keynoter. In congressional
life he is "chief bear-baiter" of the
Republicans party duty which he
cheerfully performs with his tongue
In his cheek. But nothing like that
here. His tongue was hung in the
middle with both ends working. He
iambasted. He fayed. He blistered.
He charged the Republicans with re-
sponsibility for pretty nearly all the
evils Of the day, except the World war
and the foot-and-mouth disease. Ex-
hausted by his own eloquence, he
brought in an artful and eloquent ref
erence to Woodrow Wilson and sat
down to rest and receive congratula-
tions for 13 minutes by the watch
while the vast assemblage made DEM
onstration of regard for the dead
leader. Then he brought his keynote
to a brass-band close.
Wednesday Thomas ]. Walsh,
United States senator from Montana,
tireless hatcher beside the oil well of
Teapot Dome and a dark horse with
MANY admirers, took command of the
convention as permanent chairman
nnd made the second keynote speech.
The committee on platform not being
ready to report-for many and divers
reasons Chairman Walsh started the
nominations.
Alabama nominated Senator Oscar
Nv. Underwood, its spokesman being
Forney Johnston of Birmingham. I'm
herwood Is the original anti-klan man.
Johnston led artfully up to climax
where he named the Ku Klux klan
right out in meeting. large part OF
the convention thereupon went plumb
crazy In q long, riotous anti-Klan
demonstration marked by parades
and fist fights. Its significance was
that 1t was spontaneous and not
taged.
Arkansas nominated Senator Joseph