Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-07-18
THE TICKET
CHARLES W. BRYAN
Of Nebraska
RY WRIGHT a. PATTERsoN

BY WRIGHT a. PATTERSON
Convention Hall, New York.-"Ala-
bama casts twenty-four votes for
Oscar W. Underwood" One hun.
dred and two times the great hall had
rung with that shout. Seventv-seven
times up to Saturday night, and It
started again on Monday morning,
for the committee that hal been
named on Saturday for the purpose
OF effecting some sort Of a compro-
mise between the contending candi-
dates had been unsuccessful. and
there seemed to be no hope for a
solution of the difficulties in which
the Democracy of the nation found
itself.
But the break came at last, and
on the one hundred and third ballot
John w. Davis OF West Virginia was
named as the standard bearer of the
party. The nomination was made
unanimous by acclamation. His Sc.
lection marked the conclusion Of the
greatest fight in American political
history. II was followed by the Sc
lection of Gov. Charles W. Bryan of
Nebraska for second place on the tick
ct, and the history-making gathering
was at an end, after being in session
for 16 days.
The contest in the Democratic
convention broke all records and all
precedents. The greatest number of
ballots that had ever been cast in a
political convention before was that
Of the Democratic party in 1860 at
Charleston when 81 ballots were
cast at that city, and the convention
was then adjourned to Baltimore
where two additional ballots were
taken resulting in the nomination of
Stephen A. Douglas. The recent con-
vention sets record that Is not
likely to be equaled at least not In
the present generation.
1t broke all precedents iH that the
campaigns CT the leading candidates
were conducted by principals and not
by managers. Mr., McAdoo and Mr..
Smith were both on the groun 1; they
were within one hundred feet Of the
entrance to the convention hall, and
within fifty feet of each otheI, and
from these points of vantage they
directed their own campaigns, and
were their own political stra.egists.
Back of II all lay the shadow of
the Klan. The fight over the Klan
plank in the platform had engendered
an intense feeling on the part of the
two contending factions. the one led
by Gov. Smith aud the other by Mr..
MeAdoo When on Monday, June 80,
the first ballot was taken 1t showed
Mr.. McAdoo with the greater number
Of votes, but with Gov. Smith con-
trolling directly or indirectly at least
q good third Of the delegates. Neither
Of the two leaders could be nominated
unless the other gave way. or unless
one could break the seemingly solid
phalanxes os the other. 1t waa under
such conditions thai both TOOK per-
sonal command OF their forces In
stead of leaving ths direction of the
campaign in the handg of their man.
ayers.
contenders for the Nomination
Aside from the two leaders there
were, as serious contenders for the
nomination Senator Ralston, backed
by the solid Indiana delegation;
Senator Glass. backed by Virginia;
John w. Davis. backed by West vir-
ginia; Ex-Governor Cox, backed by
Ohio: Senator Salisbury, backed by
the six votes of Delaware, Governor
Richie, backed by Maryland SEN
ator Underwood. backed by Alabama
Other favorite sons that had been
entered in the big race dropped by
the way side, but those namei above
stuck for ballot after ballot, with
their managers expecting that some
one OF them would eventually be
picked as the compromise candidate.
They realized the intense feeliog that
had arisen between the opposing
camps Of the leaders, and did not
believe it good political strategy to
side with either each one hoping
that in the end their candidate might
draw from both sides when the break
came.
Monday. July Z, was a day OF false
hopes. At the close Of the eighty
second ballot a resolution was adopt.
ed releasing the delegates from any
instructions, and that was expected
to bring about a break. 1t did, but
1t did not result In a nomination. 1t
brought the McAdoo vote tumbllng
from 5il to s3S when the convention
adjourned at night.
Tuesday afternoon McAdoo suffer
ed serious decline. his vote falling
to $40, Ralston and then ]. W Davis
were tried successively. each nearly