Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-26
LAWRENCE REVEALS
INSIDE WORK Of
N. Y. CONVENTION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921

(COpyrlSnt, lJ-4)
NEW YORK, June 23.-Although
the battling for nominations will
not come till Thursday or Friday,
a number Of things are developing
as the delegates of the Democratic
national convention assemble which
give an interesting line on what is
going to happen.
First of all, William Gibbs Nc
Adoo and Governor AL Smith to-
gether control more than 500 of the
1,09S delegates. The so-called dark
horses" of whom there is an album
dance, depend entirely for their OPP
portunity on a breakup of the Smith
and McAdoo forces. But preconVen-
ton strategy does not move as fast
as it will when the balloting begins
and only if every leader could ap-
praise at it's true value the promises
of support he has been given would
it be possible to form a definite es
innate of strength.
To date there is a growing COM
bination which has for its primary
object the defeat of McAdoo because
until he is eliminated there is little
chance for Smith or any of the dark
horses. So the entire field has been
cornbed for working coalition which
will operate constantly against Nc,
Adoo in as many ballots as shall be
necessary.
World Supports Smith
The hand of the anti-McAdoo
forces having been shown, his sup
porters have re-doubled their efforts
to hold their lines and even McAdoo
himself has been receiving delegates
for the last "a hours, arguing with
them in person about the need for
a progressive candidate. McAdoo's
speech denouncing certain New
York newspapers for alleged unfair
treatment is also a part of the pre-
convention strategy, the same rep
resenting an effort to win friends
on the ground that the cards are
stacked against him.
In the middle of all comes the
New York World with an editorial
supporting AL Smith, furnishing
more ammunition for the anti-Mc-
Adoo combination, for while there
are a number of delegates who are
by no means converted to the idea
of nominating Smith, they have first
to be convinced that McAdOo should
be deserted
There is no doubt that McAdoo
has lost several delegates since last
Saturday but there is also every
reason to believe he has picked up
several he did not ha before.
Whether there is a net loss or net
gain is difficult even for his own
managers to determine, but this
correspondent knows of at least two
delegations held for McAdoo under
the unit rule which will break away
after two or three ballots.
Band Wagon Popular
This is, to great extent, "band
wagon" convention. Many delegates
are looking cautiously about, refus-
ing to commit themselves definitely
in any direction, but aiming to cast
their support where it will stand the
best chance of being rewarded by
the winning candidate if he should
be fortunate in the autumn cleo
tons. Some of the anti-McAdoo
leaders can show you on paper that
they have more than one-third of
the delegates assured to prevent Nc
Adoo's nomination, but it would APP
pear that the coalition is not as
strong as it was four years ago in
San Francisco as the leadership OF
the anti-McAdoo forces is not vet
tuctioning smoothly.
Ihere are ever so many delegates
who will wait to see if McAdoo can
cross the majority mark before civ.
ing him any support and the effort
OF the McAdoo managers Just now
Is to make as big a showing on the
tlrst five ballot as possible so as to
keep the anti-McAdoo forces from
becoming too strong. In order to do
TINS, he would cast his strength in
TINS or that direction. A number
or the states which have favorite
sons are kept in line by such tactics
indeed the McAdoo forces are estah.
nshlng an entente with every state
they can in the hope at least of IRE.
venting the Smith vote from ever
passing McAdoo.
recognition of PSYCHOLOGICAL
FACTORS and a skillful handling nj
oeleSates can change anv IRE.
conceived plan and can even defeat
loSlc. The McAdoo camp has in If
many able generals who know Dem.
ocratlc politics from "A" to ~"
Can Deadlock Convention
Many of his delegates are last
aLtch men. And while it may be true
that one-third group has been or.
9anlzed to defeat McAdoo. if is also
true that McAdoo can deadlock the
convention by a one-third groun of
ms own before yielding. Should the
NcAdoo boom collapse after several
pallots, one promise to which MANY
McAdoo men testify is that Senator
carter Glass, of Virginia, would be
Favored. Glass is acquiring much |
strength in this respect, especially as |
many anti-McAdoo men have been
talking of John w. Davis so much |
that the West Virginian may truly |
De said to be a strong third.
10 weaken the McAdoo votes, the |
antl-McAdOo sleuths are whispering |
praise of Davis. In fact, it looks |
now as If the opposition to McAdoo |
may even try to crush him by start |
ing the balloting for Davis early |
enough to bring him up close to the |
former secretary of the treasury and |
even perhaps permitting him to pass !
McAdoo. Davis is not an active can |
dldate here, but he is being use as |
a weapon Of attack He has the |
strong and diSinterested support of |
several delegations, but this is one |
of the reasons why he is being held |
by the anti-McAdoo forces as means |
of 1iSintnol-n ir,c~ he NT1AIo1 boo,,, |