Evening star., 1924-04-27

NN top" so far as assur-
v ances Of the presiden-
tial nomination are con-
cerned. Republican interest turns
to the post-conventiop campaign
and the possibility Of third
party split but the Democrats
still are engrossed with a pre-
convention contest which grows
in interest day by day. The as
sembly at New York in late June
promises to be one of the most
memorable political conventions
of all time.
Forces are gathering for a til
tanio struggle over the rule which
requires a two-thirds vote to nom-
mate a Democratic candidate for
President. The McAdoo forces
are going to demand abrogation
of this rule, which has prevailed
In every Democratic national con-
vention since the days of Andrew
Jackson. The leaders of the anti
McAdoo delegations will fight TO
the last ditch to keep the rule in
force.
In many Democratic conventions
IT has been sought to make possi-
BILE nomination by Il majority
vote, but until the convention at
Baltimore, twelve years ago, the
contention had little point, be-
cause no candidate who had
achieved majority had failed to
win the necessary two-thirdS
But at Baltimore Champ Clark re-
ceived majority vote, yet Wood
row Wilson eventually carried off
the prize. The history of the ma
nd of Il i
foundly affected because the two
thirds rule was in force at Balti-
more.
There will be a grand dispute
over whether, my a majority vote,
the delegates at New York can
abrogate the two-thirds rule. 1t
is accepted parliamentary doc
trine that a rule requiring a two
thirds vote cannot be set aside by
the votes of a bare majority; but,
strictly speaking. the require
ment for a two-thirds vote for
nomination is merely 4 party
practice and tradition, and does
not become a rule at all until
adopted as such by each conven-
ton. Therefore. the question
would not be whether the rule
should be set aside. but whether
II should be adopted by the New
York convention. There is no
dispute that any parliamentary
body may, by majority vote,
adopt rules for its own govern
ance
The requirement of a two-thirds
vote to nominate is merely one OF
q set of rules which each conven-
tion adopts. These rules are bind
ing on that particular convention
only, and, except for the two
thirds rule. there has never been
any thought that future conven-
tions were bound by them. In
fact, the rules of no two conven-
tions are ever exactly alike, except
in this one respect.
1t would seem, therefore, that
the parliamentary argument is in
favor of permitting a majority of
the delegates to adopt such rules
as they see fit and if a majority
favor permitting a majority vote
TO nominate, it is difficult to see
how they are going to be estopped
from so specifying in the rules.
The subject is here discussed at
this length because from now on
1t is going to be paramount issue
in Democratic pre-convention
politics.
4
Dispatches to The Stars week
end political survey indicate that
assurances. or even prospect, that
the two-thirds rule would not pre-
vail at New York would tremen-
dously hearten the campaign of
William G. McAdoo. McAdoo is
approaching a point where it
seems a fair conclusion that a mo-
jority Of the delegates will be fa-
vorable to his nomination, but the
belief is deeply seated that he
never can win two-thirds, and
therefore cannot be nominated
In a number of important states
where sentiment is favorable to
McAdoo and which would like to
instruct for him, the fear of being
tied up to a loser is persuading-
the party leaders to favor unin-
structed delegations. They are
indulging in a lot Of speculation
as to second choice when McAdoo
has made his run and lost, and
that is a serious state of mind
for any mans following to be in.
1t is a phenomenon of American
politics how quickly talk has died
out about McAdoo's unavailability
because of the oil disclosures.