The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-26
.CONCLAYE SPLIT INTO TWO CAMPS
 BY UNDERWOOD
Alabamian May Be Put
 Across When Smith Is Eliminated
(By Staff Correspondent

ONvENTION HALL, NEW YORK, June 25.-Forney Johnston to- day nominated Alabama's presidential candidate, Oscar w.. Underwood.
 The first enthusiasm displayed was when Mir. Johnston declared in ringing tone, that Senator Underwood opposed 'any secret political organization what soever." When, near the end of the address, he read the conclusions of the resolution which Senator Underwood had submitted to the committee on reso- lutions, in which the Ku Klux Klan was specified and denounced by name, the big demonstration rocked Madison Square Garden to its foundation.
 When peace was restored, MT. John ston, completing his address, named Senator Underwood. The convention greeted the Alabamaian's name with warm applause, although there was nothing approximating a demonstra- tion. Senator Underwood subsequently, stated his delight that the speech ap- pealed to at least half the delegates, and he was entirely satisfied that no attempt was made to stage a parade which obviously would have been a hippodrome. It is part of the Under wood startegy to initiate the balloting with only those votes which will be cast in the beginning voluntarily, and not with the total which he will have when he resorts to a cal on hisl friends in other delegations.
 Position Splits Convention
 It is apparent that Senator Under woods position has split the conven- tion into two big parts. When Gov ernor Smith is eliminated the indica- tions are that many delegations from the east, and Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin, in the middle west, will express with their ballots the friendship which they so boisterously and enthusiastically displayed today. In other words, it is possible to deduce that the time will come when Senator Underwood could be put across with the support of certain southern delega- tions, including those of Florida, Missis- sippi. Georgia and Texas, on which the Ku Klux Klan influence is perhaps the predominating influence. Even with the nomination of Underwood a prob- ability, it is not the general belief that these southern states, on account of Underwood's position, as stressed by Johnston today, will yield their opposi- tion even to put southern man in the White House. In that event, the nomi- nation of Alabama's candidate would not be possible.
 It is a safe assertion that Johnston, in his address, surprised. It was known in advance that his verbage and his philosophy, from his standpoint, would be good, and gracefully ex- pressed. It was feared, however, that he could not put it across" But with the assistance of the radio, his voice pentrated the most remote re- cesses of the convention hall. and his positive manner, his bold, challegenging manner in declaring himself regarding the integrity, the ability, and the cour- age of Senatore Underwood, and espe- cially in stating the position of the candidate on subjects avoided by other candidates, made his effort one of the most if not the most successful of the convention's history to date.
 The Alabama delegation was delight ed. Governor Thomas E. Kilby de- clared it was magnificent speech, and should result in the nomination of Senator Underwood."
 Gov. W. W. Brandon added "Nr. Johnston proved that he was the man. whom Senator Underwood should have invited to put him in nomination" Former Governor Stuart of Virginia, a fine orator himself, after informing Johnston that he was not supporting Underwood, warmly congratulated him on the ''straight-forward" manner in which he had declared the attitude of Alabama's candidate.
 The members of the press, in great numbers, told Mir. Johnston that he had given them the first big story of the convention, and it is learned that in dispatches tonight, that story is played up as the one big smashing story of the day.