Evening star., 1924-06-22
ALL OTHER ISSUES
CAST into SHADOW
Contest Breaks Into Full
Bloom, RivaIing Famous
Ones of Other Years.
UkPLEDGED VOTE SOUGHT
Both Sides Lay Siege to Arriving
Observation-Disclosures
Are Busy.
By the Associated Press.

Adoo and Smith, with partisanS of a
dozen favorite sons looking on with
an apparent air Of grim satisfaction
over the prospect.
Three days before the national con-
vention begins in Madison Square
Garden the McAdoo and Smith camps
both are making unqualified claims
of victory already won; but none
the less the groups Of unpIedged dele
gates who hold the whip-hand are
hesieged by scouts and outrunners
from the two contesting groups as
they arrive in increasing numbers to
swell the convention crowds already
here
The activities of the field forces of
the two leading candidates today cast
into shadow every other feature of
the big quadrcnniaI show of the
Democrats. The Ku kluN Khan issue,
which Is promising the most bitter
and spectacular OF the contests to he
Waged over platform policies. was
thrown for the moment into the back
ground. and all the other jealousies
and disputes that always charac-
terize the final pre- convention period
were all but ohliterated from the pic
-i1.h'l'p ana STlitn ana their
political lieutenantS not only hold
the center of the stage. but almost
may be said to constitute the show
itself
klan Issue to Come Back.
There IS Complete realization. of
course that the Khan question and
some of the other problems before
the convention. are submerged but
temporarily. They are expected later
on TO kindle into flame the rivalries
they have created. and to add MANY
a colorfuI moment TO the convention
before 1t is over But for TODAY. and
probably for two or three days or a
week TO come, the delegates and their
leaders are engrOsSed in the much
more personal and human grapple of
TWO now outstanding Democrats for
the greatest honor the party can be-
stow.
In its nature the scrap over the
hian must proceed up to a certain
point without much outward manifes-
tatlon. At the present stage it is an
under-the-cover issue, to be discussed
quietly but none the less gravely by
party counselors in the seclusion Of
thelr conference rooms. 1t is no less
real because of this quality. however,
and when the time and consultation
have crystallized opinions the fire
WORKS are expected to begin.
Matches Old Fights.
With the Smith -McAdoo fight it is
different The time for the fire.
works already is here. and the po-
lltical sky over Manhattan is iIlu-
mnled tonight with a display of pyro-
technics that long has been in the
process of careful preparation The
contest has become a struggle match
ing in its intensity the most cele-
brated in party history, and with the
added modern qualities of feverish
haste and perfect organization. Dis
trlbuted everywhere, the missionaries
for Smith and McAdoo are carrying
their gospels into every nook and
corner where delegates are to be
found.
There are hand-shakes and welcom-
ing smiles for the uninstructed as
they step from their trains; candi-
datorlal literature, badges and SOU
VensfS are thrust into their hands as
they pass through the lobbies Of their
hotels and are slipped under their
doors; their ears are assailed with an
unceasing paean of praise for the
qualities OF the favorite candidate.
And they are assured solemnly by the
Smith men that Smith is certain to
be nominated and by the McAdoo
men that McAdoo is the only possible
winner.
Enthusiasm iS IIigh-Pitched.
At the McAdoo headquarters high
In an uptown hotel private elevator
Is provided to carry callers to the
easy -chaired conference rooms where
the inner circle of the McAdoo man
ayers use their best persuasive pow
ers on possible converts. Negro door
keepers go to and fro with ffyinC
messages from one lieutenant to an
other, with reports from listening
posts out before the enemy, and with
orders and advice from those in com
fhnCn IN vi III
air of driving enthusiasm and of or
ganized determination is inescapable.
The Smith forces are quite as busy
and their convention machinery is
ar-f1ung across the hotel section of
New York. The governor himself is
living at one hotel where many dele
gates and party leaders are congre-
gated for the convention and in his
suite receives constant stream of
visitors
In another hotel. where the Demo-
cratic national committee is housed,
there are two Smith headquarters
one on the street level just adjacent
to the lobby and one in a quieter
and more secluded spot several floors
above. In addition the Offices of the
Smith campaign manager. Franklin
u. Roosevelt, occupy d suite in an
uptown office building and open house
is held there. His scouts are every
where, girls are distributing smith
for President" badges by the thou
sands. and a group of women are
preparing to pass around Smith
souvenir lavaliers and vanity cases to
woman delegates.
Favorite Sons in Ofnng.
If this campaign has done more
than to close up the gaps in the op-
posing ranks there is no outward evil
dence of it except the directly con-
fiicting claims of the rival managers
No favorite son has been abandoned
and no delegation has announced any
change of allegiance since it reach ed
New York. On the contrary, those
who have the keys to the paddock of
dark horses profess to be gaining
hope hourly as the McAdoo and Smith
supporters tighten their grip on one
another's throats.
When the committee met today tc
hear contests, approve the arrange
ments of it's subcommittee for the
convention and wind up its pre-
convention laborS it found hardly
enough to occupy it for a quarter OF
an hour. There were no contests,
the arrangements were given per-
functry approval and adjournment
was taken before some of the belated
members had arrived in the commit
tee room
No action was taken on the pro-
posal to let Senator Pat Harrison
the convention temporary chairman,
deliver his keynote address Tuesday
evening so as to catch the ear of the
greater audience over the radio
That question still is to be decided
AS the program stands, the senator S
speech will follow almost Immediately
on the opening of the convention at
noon Tuesday, but some of the party
leaders are still advocating an eve
ming keynote. The decision may be
put up to the convention itself.
Chairman Hull of the national COM
n1ittee issued this statement:
- Observation-Disclosures