The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-07-06

have told them. he did mol tell them
that the magnificent hall In which
they were meeting, with seating
capacity of better than 25,000 had
been built specially for the convention
at cost Of about 100000. but he
might have done so. He did not tell
them that Houston had spent better
than one-half million dollars, includ-
ing the contribution to the national
committee, In preparing for and en-
pertaining the convention, but he might
have done so. What he did tell each
John and Bill, each Kate and Mary,
was that Houston was mighty glad
they had all dropped in, invited them
right out to the kitchen to have a
cup Of tea and a piece Of cake. That
little speech was very typical Of Hous-
ton hospitality. =
It was not until the evening session
that old time Democratic enthusiasm
really showed itself It came when
Claude Bowers, the gifted keynoter,
sang the praises Of Democratic heroes,
and Democratic achievements, but
more especially when he paid his COM
plimepts to the ertswhile enemy, the
Republicans. 1t was a brilliant ora
torical effort, well worthy of all the
thunderous applause it received.
That. first evening session, and
the session on Thursday night that
marked the actual choosing Of Cover
nor Smith as the pagty standard bear
err, were the really notable sessions
of the convention. Beside them other
sessions seemed tame, but at these
two there was no lack Of Democratic
red fire, andsno whence of Democratic
discord.
In the Wednesday forenoon session
at which the permanent chairman,
Senator Robinson, Arkansas, was Sc
lected, a real demonstration was started
by the chairmah's reference to that
clause in the Constitution which pro-
yides that religion shall not be q bar to
political preferment. New York sat
quiet until many other states had
joined in the demonstration. Georgia,
Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee, either
refused to join in the demonstration.
or did so after much persuasion. I'LL
nois, like New York, waited until
other states had led the demonstrs-
ton.
Party Harmony Prevails.
1t was q convention over which
there had been much talk to what
the dry South would and would not
do, as to what the wet East would
and would not do, but when it was all
over all had agreed to the few compro-
misses that were necessary to produce
party harmony. AS to the candidate
it was best expressed by half dozen
delegates on Tuesday morning. They
were from dry Kansas. Two of them
were arguing that Governor Smith was
not a proper candidate to represent
the people of Kansas. The other four
agreed that that was true but they
lwere going to vote for his nominal
tion. "Why?" asked one of the OPP
ponents. Because we want to win"
replied the four in chorus. And that
tells the story of the nomination. DEM
ocracy wants to win If 1t is possible.
and Democracy believes AL Smith can
poll more votes that any other candi-
date that could be selected. With
Smith AS the candidate the delegates
could not build a platform which the
candidate could not accept, and SO the
South and the dry West were willing
to accept compromise on the pro-,
hibition plank.
Everything was so harmonious that
it did not seem like Democratic con-
vention. II the delegations represented
the rank and file Of the party It can
safely be said that Democracy goes
into the fight to d feat the ticket
nominated at Kansas City as united
party. 1t will take count of the votes
next November to tell the rest Of the
story.
Naming the Candidates.
The speeches placing the names of
the several candidates<for the Presi-
Dental nomination before the c0nven-
ton were listened to with intense in
terest. Franklin Roosevelt named Gov
ernor Smith, as he did four years
ago at New York, but the Smith forces
did not make an effort to carry the
convention by storm as they did at
New York. It was not needed, and It
would not have been good politics.
Others named the favorite sons, and
each received a full measure Of ap-
plause and q demonstration.
Z While there was never any doubt as
to the result of the balloting the Smith
forces were specially anxious that all
the favorite sons be placed before the
convention, and each receive one or
more complimentary ballots. The diff
Guilty was in keeping everybody from
climbing onto the Smith sbandwagon
on the first ballot, or at least before
vote had been cast for other candi-
dates. The effort was to prevent any
appearance of steam roller tactics.
Texas Hospitality.
Houston and all Texas gave the
Democratic hosts a royal welcome,
and extended the very maximum Of
that brand of hospitality for which