Evening star., 1924-07-04
CANDIDATES SEEK
TO WIN BY 0RAT0Ry
Leaders to Speak Before
Convention in Effort to
Gain Support.
UNDERWOOD GAINS FAVOR
Denunciation of Klan and Wet
Stand With Appeal to Southern
Pride Boost His Stock.
UNDERWOOD GAINS FAVOR
DY DAVID LAWRENcE


NE" YORK, July 4.-This being a
DAY of oratory, several of the lead
ers planned to have all the candi-
oates who are in New York-Smith.
$4,000: $4,000: Glass. Underwood, Robinson.
tional convention the idea being. ~
course. that the delegates would be
alded in their Judgment by a personal
impression of each candidate.
overnight saw little change in the
oaIlot strength of the principal con-
tenders. The McAdoo men We're full
OF nght and the Smith camp exuded
confidence
The much-talke ed-of conferences to
compel compromise selection have
spent in sleeping rather than dis
cussion. Neither the delegates nor
the leaders seem to show any real
opposition to prolonged convention
and it would not be surprising IL the
conc!ave were still in session on
Monday
Disinterested leaders are aware of
the danger to party harmony which
the friction here is developing. But
the damage seems to have been done
raising of the religious issue and Ku
Klux klanism. The prohibition fight
which 1t was thought would take the
center of the stage was superseded
by the klan question perhaps design
edly. In the last twenty-four hours,
however. leading drys hav projected
the wet-and-dry issue conspicuously,
and 1T is materially hurting Gov.
Smiths chances of nomination
me feeling over the support given
McAdoo from certain klan states is
such that if he were nominated, he
would be obliged to denounce the
kian in stronger language than the
minority report on platform. in order
to hold the Catholic vote in the Dem
ocratic party. Indeed the resentment
vote on the religious issue has shown
signs of approximating the anti
league of nations vote. which was a
veritable revolution in the Demo-
cratic party in 1920.
Underwood Gains Favor.
AS a way out of their dificulties
many leaders are reverting to Sena-
tor Oscar Underwood of Alabama.
who has denounced the Klan from the
beginning and who satisfies the Smith
people because he is wet. His only
chance of burrowing into the McAdoo
strength is in the south, where there
would be disagreement with him on
the klan and the liquor issue, but
where where pride in getting a southern
fact that the south always votes
Democratic, are counted on to help
put him into nomination.
Underwood has considerable vote
getting power in the northern states
Khan and on the liquor problem, but
he would not win the western dele
gates here. combination of the big
western states, and the southern votes
nomination. especially as many would
be inclined to ned the deadlock anyhow.
With Underwood the plan would
be to run westerner for vice presi-
nor M n 80
even Gov. Bryan Of Nebraska as
way possibly of appeasing william
Jennings Bryan, though this would
present difficult decision for the
TO all the talk of Underwood. the
should be Carter Glass Of Virginia.
the nomination ultimately between
these two men.
John w. Davis of West Virginia is
standing up in spite. of the drop in
alleged Wall street influence behind
him. The Anti-Saloon League lead
ers here are not altogether satisfied
with Mr. Davis record in Congress
believe he would be for law enforce
ment and so they are not outspoken
in their opposition to him. Certainly
they prefer him to Underwood.
Baker Boom Gains.
Newton D. Baker of Ohio, together
with Davis, Glass and Robinson, are
urged upon the convention as pos
sible compromise candidates by a
leading editorial in the New York
World today Mr.. Baker made a
profound impression on the conven-
tion by the sincerity of his appeal
for a strong league of nations plank.
He denounced the Klan. But until
the Ohio delegates are released by
of support from his own state.
McAdoo managers were optimistic
today that some of the favorite son
delegations would swing in behind
them and furnish a majority. They
are counting on Indiana, Arkansas
and Virginia, but this has been their
Propaganda of criticism is being
spread by both the McAdoo and Smith
men against the favorite sons for
deadlocking the convention instead
of helping one or the other of the
leaders. Strong denunciation is heard
of the senatorial club" in which
presumably are included Senators
Glass, Underwood, Ralston and Rob-
inson. The Indiana senator is quot
ed in dispatches as saying he has re-
leased his delegates. Senator Glass
has urged Virginia to go to McAdoo.
but the delegates from neither state
seem willing to abide by the wishes
of their favorite sons. All of which
means that the anti-McAdoo and anti
trail delegations are split, and that to
hold any of them as a unit. it is nee
essary to keep voting them for can
didates other than the two leaders.
A decision may come; late today, but |
it seems improbable.