The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-10
BALLOT RECORD IS ONE OF FAITH OF SMALL GROUP Davis Friends Follow De- vious But Constant x Course
 -------- HIS NATIVE STATE IS SOLE CONSTANT Landslide End Hed No Forecast In Weary
 Roll Calls
(By Associated Press.)


 NEW YORK, July 9.-ZThe story of the nomination of John w. Davis, as told by the official figures, is a. record of the unwayering support of hand sfui of men and women from far and near, who never lost faith that he could and would be the choice of his party.
 Throughout the long deadlock, the backbone of his strength was the little delegation of his nItive West Virginia, but there never was time after the first ballot when the 16 votes of the West virginians were not at least matched in the Davis column by those that came in driblets from other dele gations.
 Louisiana Sticks
 Almost from the first, Porto Rico's six went in whole or in part to Davis. From many weary ballots Louisiana stood solidly behind him when the pressure to leave his trailing banner was strongest. And it was the united voice of the delegation from Maryland. sspeaking through Gov. Albert O.. Ritchie that signalized today the final turning of the tide. On the opening ballot more than q lweek ago only 15 votes beside West sVirginia's were cast for the future nominee. Of the total of >S1, Porto Rico contributed five, Hawaii one, Pennsylvania four, Minnesota and Illinois 4. Gaining by ones and twos, his total stood at 34 on the fifth, and on the sixth it went to 55 by the ad- dition of Louisiana. Then for 13 roll calls 1t almost stood still.
 By this time the deadlock between Smith and McAdoo had become a grim tug-of-war, but Mississippi refused to be a party to it, and after compli: mt ary votes to her own favorite son, Sena- to- Harrison, and those of neighboring states, went to Davis on the nineteenth. With smaller gains elsewhere, it lifted him to S4. Missouri, tiring of the deadlock. left McAdoo on the twentieth swelling the Davis total to 1G2.
 Peak On 120
 On the twenty-third, with votes picked up here and there all over the convention floor, came a peak of 129. For a ballot the total remained sta tionary and then tn. ugh nine roll calls 1t dropped slowly to 121 as the McAdo0 and Smith managers began q simultaneous asfault all along the line. On the thirty fourth Mississippi went to McAdO0 and on the thirty ninth, Missouri followed suit. The Davis total stool at 71.
 Then for another period of IS bal. lots there were narrow fluctuations with West Virginia and Louisiana and the five from Porto Rico standine 3lrms but at times standing almost alone. The total reached 73 on tks 1orfy-6fth, dropped to 50 on the fifty. second and stood at 5S on the fifty seventh when Thomas Taggart put Ra1ston actively into the race and claimed for him the major share of attention from those who had become hopeful of | break to dark horse.
 Only Ssth
 On the 6Sth Louisiana wavered and east q complimentary vote for Mayor Bherman of New Orleans leaving Davis only 39. That was his lowest point be- fween the opening ballots and the end, for on fhe fifty-ninths Louisiana'g 2C came back again and despite the RaI. ston opposition Davis climbed from 60 on the dfty-ninth to 76 on the sixty. seventh, and 7S on the 74th. After a few more ups and downs within a margin of 15 votes he had 6S on the 1linety-third.
 At that point Ralston had reached his highest total, and his sudden with drawal from the race proved a wind. fan to the Davis boom. On the ninety. fourth, seven North Carolina votes and several others that had belonged to Ralston went to Davis and he had S1. On the ninet1-fifth he got back Mis. sourfs 36 and 19 from Michigan and had q new high total of 139. Mean time he had lost one of West Virginia a's 1 10 fin the final drive of the McAdoo forces but he got it back later.
 ! When the roll was called for flie