Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01
TACTICS ARE LIKE
SENATE F|L|bUSTER
Wear the Other Man Out,
Then Rush in Reserves,
McAdoo and Smith Plans.
END STILL DOUBTFUL
Fifteen Ballots Taken Yesterday
in Nowise Forecast Time of
Nomination.
END STILL DOUBTFUL
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
StAff Correspondent of The Star.

NEW YORK, July 1.-The battle
OF the ballots, as it is being fought
out in the Democratic national con-
Vention. is not unlike any other
brand of warfare. The strategy is
to wear out the enemy and then
throw in reinforcements. After
fifteen ballots, taken during two ses-
sions yesterday which totaled more
than eleven hours, the delegates en-
tered the Garden today prepared to
go through with another long day Of
MI calls. Whether any choice can
- cached before tomorrow, or even
.uen, is still problematical.
To the observer this constant call
ing or the roll, with practically no
change in the vote. seems somewhat
ridiculous. But the object Of the
and file of the delegates into such
frame of mind that they will flock
to any man who seems to be showing
new strength-anything to end 1T.
in measure, it is not unlike the
tactics employed by f1libusterlng
group in the Senate, and largely re-
solves itself into test Of physical
endurance.
Fifteen Ballots Undecisive.
During the entire fifteen ballots
yesterday there was little of sig
nificance. \ few of the favorite
sons dropped out. But others are
still hanging on. McAdoo and Smith
still continue to conceal their real
strength, jockeying for the post when
the psychological moment shall ar
rive TO throw in the reserves.
When is delegate not delegate !!
Answer-When he, or she, is only
half a delegate, or even a third or
fifth. The Democrats have adopted
cfy,cp
in the convention among several so
called delegates, each with fraction
of the vote. This brings puzzling an
nouncements from the state delega.
tions. 1t makes rapid mathematical
calculation a necessity on the part OF
the clerks and occasionally furnishes
q laugh for the convention.
During the thirteenth ballot in the
convention last night, the following
took place in the District delegation;
J. w. Bryan insisted that the final
ticket selected would be Ralston OF
Indiana, and Copeland Of New York.
F. ]. Merkling, said no, the man who
is going to be nominated is Under
wood"
Real Break Averted.
At the same time, F. j. Wells. an
other District delegate. was on his
chair cheering for McAdoo- This
gives some idea of the diversity of
opinion III the ueie6dlioH SoHotoS hl6
Of twelve delegates each with half
a vote For fifteen ballots the dele
cation voted steadily for McAdoo.
however. 1t probably will continue
so to vote until there is some real
break away from the McAdoo
standard.
1t is not generally known that Sem
ator Key Pittman Of Nevada, who
lambasted Newton D. Baker for his
stand on the league of nations plank
during the debate in the convention
Saturday evening. was pinch hitting
for Homer Cummings. Mr.. Cummings
was due to take the floor in defense
of the majority report of the resolu-
lions committee providing for a ref
erendum on the league. But he was
sick. and Senator. Pittman was put
forward in his place. The Nevada
Senator is too old. and able hand at
speech making, to be clustered at such
a moment. He delivered strong ar
gument for his side of the case, al
though he was talking to an audience
which, in the galleries at large was
strongly sympathetic toward Mr..
Baker,