Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-01-02
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

OOIS1E,C / N AE T AANaS
Politics consumed q vast amount of
time and energy in the United States,
as is the case every four years. There
was little doubt from the first that
the Republicans would nominate Pres
ident Coolidge TO succeed himself. Both
Senator Hiram Johnson and Senator
Robert NJ. LaFollette Were candidates
in the preferential primary states, but
the former won almost no delegates
and the latter only those from Wlsc0n-
sin. The convention was held in Cleve-
land, opening on June 10 with Frank
W. Mondell as chairman. The Wis
consln delegation presented LaFol-
lettes substitute platform, which had
no support outside that delegation,
and it also cast It's vote for the sena-
ter. Coolidge was nominated on the
first ballot, the vote being: Coolidge.
1,065; LaFollette, "a; Johnson, 10.
Frank o. Lowden of Illinois was nomi
mated for vice president, but declined
and the place was given to Gen.
Charles Gates Dawes of Chicago.
The Democrats convened in New
York on June "a and did not complete
their work until the early morning of
July 10-the most protracted national
convention in the history of American
politics. Nearly a score of names
were presented for the presidential
nomination, with William G. McAdoo
and Gov. AL Smith of New York lead
Ing. The former was credited with
support from the Ku Klux khan and
the latter Is Roman Catholic, there
fore the religious issue became de-
plorably prominent. The committee
on resolutions struggled over two
points specially-whether or not the
khan should be denounced by name
and whether or not the party should
declare itself definitely in favor of
American membership in the League
of Nations. Both questions went be-
fore the convention in minority reports
and many fiery speeches were made.
The delegates decided not to name the
khan and not TO declare for league
dental nominee began June 80 and 1t
was Immediately apparent that there
was deadlock, for neither McAdoo
nor Smith would give way unless the
other would do the same. Day after
day the voting went on, most Of the
other aspirants dropping out one by
one. As the one hundredth ballot drew
near the vote for John w. Davis be-
gan to grow. On the one hundred and
third ballot the break came and Davis
obtained majority. The nomination
was then made unanimous. Out of a
dozen names put up for the vice pres
idency, Mr.. Davis selected that of
Charles w. Bryan, governor of Ne
braska and brother of William J., and
he was nominated.
While this was going on Senator La
Toilette became the candidate of a
third party that called itself the Pro
gressiye. He was Endorsed by the
chiefs of the Federation of Labor,
and, apparently against his will, by
the Socialist party. Senator Burton
K. Wheeler of Montana was given sec
ond place on the ticket. There were
several other candidates, as usual.
who cut no figure in the results. The
evident plan of the LaFollette follow
ing was to cause a deadlock In the
electoral college and throw the cleo
ton into congress.
When the votes of the nation were
counted on the night of November 4
1t was found that Coolidge had carried
35 states, with 3S2 votes In the cleo
toral college; Davis had carried II
states, all In the "Solid South" with
136 electoral votes, and LaFollette
had won only the 10 electoral votes of
Wisconsin. Coolidges popular plural
ity was nearly 100000. The Re
publicans also won complete control
of the next congress
Among the interesting results of the
day was the election of two women as
governors of states. They are Mrs
Miriam Ferguson of Texas and Mrs.
Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming. al Smith
gave an impressive demonstration of
his popularity by overcoming huge
Republican plurality in New York
state and defeating Theodore Roose-
welt, Jr., for the governorship.
Scandal resulting from the leasing
of naval oil reserve lands furnished
material for bitter attacks on the ads
ministration and for long investiga-
tons by senatorial committees. Albert
B. Fall, former secretary of the In
terror, was badly involved. and others
were smirched. Secretary Of the Navy
DENLY resigned under pressure Presi-
dent Coolidge and congress took steps
to bring the guilty to justice and to
recover the reserves. Court proceed
ngs are still going on. Congress gave
considerable time to bill for tax re-
duction and passed measure that In
Guided many features urged by the
Democrats and insurgent Republicans.
A soldiers bonus bill also was passed
The President vetoed 1t, but both
house and senate OVERRIDE the veto.
An immigration bin before congress
contained clause that would exclude
the Japanese. The ambassador from
Tokyo protested against this, and SO
yexnd c0ngrew That the measure- uss