Evening star., 1924-06-04
632 ON SIXTH BALLOT
CLAIMED FOR M'ADOO
Florida Primary Victory Followed
by Optimistic Estimate of
Early Nomination.
ny DAVID LAWRENCE.

Having won the primaries in F'lori-
da, Judge David Ladd Rockwell to-
day claimed that William Gibbs Nc
Adoo would have a total of 632 with
in the first six ballots in the Demo-
cratic national convention, which is
just 100 less than the necessary two
thirds
Mr.. Rockwell insists that the mini
mum number pledged to McAdoo,
either by personal preference or state
instruction. is 552, and that he is
morally certain "f the remaining
number to make up two-thirds.
The McAdoo manager was full of
optimism following the victory in Flor
ida. where he said final results would
show d two-to-one triumph. He regards
Senator Underwood AS having been Vir-
tually eliminated from the presidential!
contest. and comedies that Gov. Al
Smith is the most formidable opponent
MCAdoc will have at the New York con-
vent,
Hopes la Toilette Runs.
What do you think" he was asked.
'of the announcement that Senator La
Toilette intends to run. irrespective Of
whether McAdoo is nominated by the
Democrats
That helps our cause. lie answered.
"bacause II shows the Il, cessity of nom
mating a progressive at New York. For
If the Democrats should nominate a con-
serVatiVe to run a!ongSld" of the Repub-
lican conservative nominated at C.cve-
land the progreSSiveS would have good
chance to win.
Judge Rockwell. of course. considers
McAdoo a true progressive and az the
antithesis of President Coolidge
should McAdoo be nominated: Judge
Rockwell argues that again McAdoo
would be the beneficiary of a La
Toilette campaign. His idea is that
the Wisconsin senator would take
away all the Republican progressive
and radical votes while the Democrats
would lose virtually no strength.
Indifferent About Rule.
As for the two-thirds rule. Judge
Rockwell said he was confident Nc
Adoo could he nominated with or
without it. but that if the committee
on rules should recommend that a
majority vote is sufficient to nominate
then McAdoo would have such Il ma
Jority on the first ballot.
The McAdoo managers. however.
Will not try to have the tWo-thrds
rule abolished. as they recognize that
consideration entirely apart from the
selection Of d candidate this year
might influence the voting. and they
have no desire to make test of
strength on this issue when it is not
essential t" final success on their
part. They feel sure that a candi
date who gets the ma jority will be
given tn" necessary two-thirds, just
a. happened in San Francisco.
Only three times has this custom
failed. notably in 1874. when Martin
Nan Buren,. the original beneficiary
Of the rule in 1856 was beaten: in
1860. when thc Charleston ConYen-
ton gave majority 10 stephen A.
poucl ~. and in Baltimore, in 1912.
finally defeated by Woodrow Wilson
Utrh Votes Tomorrow.
The McAdoo forces clai they are
not SPONSORS OF the proposal to abol-
i-h the tWo-thirds rule. claiming it
origina ted with the anti -McAdoo men
like George Brennan of Illinois. 1t is
a safe assumption that the matter
will not come to climax 1t this
convention. and that If it is ever
abolished L will he under circum-
stances which do not affect the for
tGrcS OF n particular candidate
The next state IN which the Mc.Adoo
management j. interested is Utah.
which tomorrow holds It's state con-
v,nticn. There is a likelihood OF "a
about winds up the state contests. but
the battle Of personal persuasion with
uninstructcd and unpledGed dele
gates has already begun, and will
continue with intense activity in the
EeXt two weeks.
copyright, 1924,