The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-06-26
ADVANCE DOPE ON
DEMOCRATIC SCRAP
MANY FIGHTS BESIDES THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AND SMITH LEAD

(NaClOnal Editorial ASSOcldClOn Ser
vice.
Convention Hall, New York, Jun,
25.-Back of all the hubbub and ex
element incident to the opening Of
the Democratic National Convention
the predominating questions are
"Who and When?" With the jug
Cling of personalities by factions, no
body seems to know at this time just
who will receive the nomination for
the presidency. Not even the fan
fare of party trumpets sounding a
note of optimism for the coming cleo
lions and the parade of "favorite
sons" can detract the attention of the
delegates from their speculative mood
as to the "break," in the balloting
and the choice of a mar to head the
ticket.
The noise in the convention hall is
at all times deafening whenever the
name of a prominent Democrat is
mentioned. Formerly, it was a max
i'm to recognize principals, and not
men" But now the situation has been
completely reversed. The Democratic
conclave is now witnessing a test of
strength between personalities prin-
cipally William Gibbs McAdoo and
Alfred G. Smith, leading contenders
for the first honors. Students Of
political history say that it is remi-
niscent of the days of Andrew Jack
son, when personal politics replaced
parties.
DARK HORSE" HARMONY
To an impartial observer, it is be-
increasingly apparent that the
game is seesaw between Messrs. Nc
AdoO and Smith and will end when
their representatives can agree upon
harmony" nominee, and there is
where the %proverbial clark horse"
makes his appearance. Anybody fami-
with the strategy of political lea
lers knows full well that the real
business of the convention will be
transacted behind closed doors when
he enthusiasm of state delegations
or their native sons subsidies. The
Use chieftains are influenced more
y their secret polls of the various
tate delegations than the noisy DEM
nstration on the convention floor. {
he situation regarding leading can
is so complicated that every {
ody expects that a number of days |
i'll be taken up with balloting. 1t is
reelected that gradually, but surely
lie contest will dwindle down to two a
three personalities and then the !
invention program will def S
lite form. Unlike the Cleveland con- i
ention, the Democratic meeting is Y
)cused on the office of the presi-S c
ency with little attention paid to
le vice-presidential nominee. MANY f
t the old-timers are working hard C
bring about a change of attitude b
4 the part of the convention for
lis high office. References have $
made to the strong personality t.
! General Dawes, Republican nomi- {;
ee for vice-president, who, it is Ii
i'd, will be the real campaigner for Is
lie G. o. P. The suggestion has s
made that the Democrats should ii
,lect a nan of equal prominence in O
der to balance their ticket, but at O
resent nobody gives a serious though a.
the subject. il
Two-Thirds Rule
The Democrats are also faced with
lrliamentary difficulties on the man c.
Of their convention. The Il
of the convention found the II
yo-thirds rule for nominating a 2.
ghly important problem. 1t is said Il
at the candidacy of Mr.. McAdoo dl
nges largely upon the revision of
is parliamentary rule. AS a con b.
quence, it is receiving more than Ell
attention from the dele be
ties. The Smith and Underwood he
okesmen have announced their op- sh
sition to the repeal of the two
irds rule unless the unit rule, ano- DC
er controversial item, is also re- be
aled. Well-informed political OBJ ac
rvers who have talked with lea ha
rs of various state delegations say We
at there is little likelihood of the of
it rule being wiped out as it has in;
rmed the basis in the determining TT
state rights for years, and accord un
Fly recognized as a fundamental oc,
nciple of the Democratic party. he
'ong partisans insist that the two du
es cannot be considered separately lea
/, therefore, it is argued that the is
of changing the parlia- alf
ntary tactics are more or less re- ha,
tie. tw
the pro and con discussion of the ha.
sstion of rules, the claim is made Jul
t if the two-thirds rule be abroga- ha,
, while the unit rule prevails, a be
of the large states, since their sta
egations may be nearly evenly di-
ed, may, by enforcing the unit !
=, secure a majority of the con- los
ton for a candidate whom only mo
minority of the delegates really of
or. The two-thirds rule lessons qui
probability of this. These two fro
IS have been called by Becker. cut
and other political histor-