Evening star., 1924-06-25

udtes De mace oe1ore the report of
the platform committee. Heretofore
such a change has been made by the
convention itself; this time the COM
mittee proposed 1t. The report was
adopted without dissent Lincoln
Dixon of Indiana presented a resolu-
mittee to fix the time and place of
the next convention. 1t also was
a routine resolution. 1t was adopted.
Delegates disappointed.
Then, quite Unexpectedly, Chairman
Walsh announced that the next order
of business would be presentation of
candidates for the presidential nom
of the perspiring delegates that the
convention might recess before TAX
ing up that work.
There was an interval while the
speakers place was arranged for the
speakers who will do the nominating.
Meanwhile the band played The Old
Gray Mare. She Amt What She Used
to Be.
The clerk called the roll Of states
for the presidential nominations and
nominate Senator Oscar Underwood
The convention displayed no more
interest in the first nominating speech
than 1t generally does to any until
Mr.. johnson got along to the point
where he began to make references
to the Ku Klux Klan issue. Then the
convention began to sit up and take
notice. He drew the first prolonged
applause when he referred to the his
toric action of the party with regard
to the "know Nothing movement of
years ago.
kIan Reference Scores.
Once during the course OF his ad-
dress when Mr.. Johnson brought the
convention into a demonstration by
the most direct reference to the Klan
he had yet made, about half the
delegates stood up and cheered and
the other half remained silently in
their seats. 1t was noticeable that
most all the delegates from Georgia,
Missouri, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and
California remained seated while the
demonstration was going on.
The anti-klan element in the con-
vention openly regarded the demon
stration as an anti-klan demonStra-
tion and pointed out the delegations
which were not participating. In
concluding his nominating speech Mr..
had proposed to the platform com
mittee. When he got to the phrase
which specifically named the Ku
Klux K1an another demonstration
broke out. The band took hand in
the proceedings again and the same
seated before remained silently in
their seats while the new demon
startion was under way. After a lit
tie milling a parade started in the
usual contests over whether certain
state standards were to go in.
Near Fights Precipitated.
around the Missouri standard. John
keegan OF St. Louis, Smith dele
gate, against the protests Of nearly
all the delegation, raised the state
standard and several women rushed
to take it away from him. 1t finally
Frank H. Farris of Rolla, Mo, one
of the delegates at large.
Mrs. Milford Riggs, an elderly lady,
planted herself at the standard, de-
termined to hold it in position and
keep it out of the anti-Klan demon
stration. A 200-pound policeman
supported her In the Colorado dele
cation there was another scra ramble
approaching the proportions of a fist
fight. One delegate was determined
the anti klan demonstration and an
other was equally determined that
it should not. In the melee, in which
some clothing was torn and much
hair was rumpled. the standard was
wrecked and the contenders when
separated by the police were in pos
session of the pieces. When it got
looking a little too scrappy on the
floor the band swung into THE Star
Spangled Banner and that invariably
brought all the scramblers to atten-
tion.
B. L. Jefferson of Denver was the
Colorado delegate who led the move
ment to take the state standard into
the Khan demonstration.
Delegates Guard Standard.
A good many American flags being
used as decorations along the walls
were torn down during the parading
and scrambling. When things quieted
down again and stock was taken it
was seen that there had been about
a dozen nights and near fights in all
sections of the hall and that most of
the states whose standards had not
gone into the anti-klan demonstra-
ton had McAdoo delegates forming
little groups of guards around them.
Robinson Nominated.
When Mr.. johnson finished his ad-
oress there was an organized demon
stratIon for Senator Underwood in
which delegates from several states
other than Alabama joined. Then
former Gov. c. H. Brough of Arkan-
sas took the platform and nominated
senator Robinson, Democratic leader
IN the Senate. During his address it
was apparent that the animosities
or the anti-klan demonstration had
not yet quieted, and a buzz of contro-
versial talk kept up on the conven-
uon moor. sometimes almost drown
ing out the speaker
The Arkansas delegation led in
cheer1ng Senator Robinson after the
nominating speech was concluded,
while the band struck into "Colum.
bla. the Gen, of the Ocean Shortly
Joe" and half the convention stood
and Joined in singing it There was
no organized demonstra ton for the
Arkansas senator or to start a parade
around the hall.
California and while the band was
playing for Senator Robinson the
oalIfornia d1na DELEGATION got set for a
William G. McAdoo Small Califor-
MIA state flags were passed around
to the McAdoo supporters in many
parts of the hall and when former
make the McAdoo dominating
speeches he was greeted by several
minutes of cheering.
The California delegation and sew
eral others stood on their chairs.
their prelude to the larger demon
stration that was to come later The
band played California Here I Come"
Mrs. McAdoo in Box.
Mrs. McAdoo heard Senator Phelan's
speech from her box directly oppo-
in her hand one of the state flags
with its picture of a bear and the
legend California Republic
The senator's high pitched voice
penetrated to the far galleries, and
delegates and spectators listened at
tentatively. but at first interrupted
only now and then with handclapping.
Adjournment Assured.
During the speech the word was
passed around thet after the con-
vention had concluded it's demonstra-
tion for Mr. McAdoo the convention
probably would adjourn until to-
morrow.