Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-24
Delegates
TO Vote for Dry
IN DemS Farley

candidate and for a dry plank in the
party platform.
This was the outcome Of the state
convention here which adjourned late
last night after one Of the storm
lest meetings in the history Of Texas
politics.
The Texas votes will be cast by
80 delegates from is congressional
districts and "a delegates-at-large,
~ men and ~ women. and will be
bound by the unit rule.
Governor Dan Moody, whose pro-
gram for n dry plank and a dry
candidate was overwhelmingly en-
dorsed despite bitter opposition from
factions favoring instructions for
and against the candidacy of Cover
nor Alfred E. Smith Of New York,
who will head the delegation.
To Support Nominee
The state platform pledges the
support of the nominee whoever he
may be and demands enforcement in
both the letter and the spirit" Of
the constitution. Ii asks for n plank
in the national platform "unequivo-
cally endorsing prohibition and "de-
claring relentless opposition to any
attempt to repeal it or destroy the
prohibition laws" II attacks the
republican party for its direction OF
national affairs, asks a revision or
the tariff laws, and extolls religious
freedom and liberation.
Political observers agree that Gov,
Moody accomplished in the conven-
tion what many had thought impos-
sible in that he PLAYED both ends
against the middle by holding back
the ultra-drys from i%nstructing
against Gov. Smith and by keeping
the Smith forces from ~instructing
for the New York governor.
Claim Smith Will Get Vote
Although those who wanted a dele
cation instructed outright for Gov.
Smith claimed they were double
crossed by Gov. Moody i'm that they
we're not permitted 70 choose dele
gates from congressional districts
one of the heated controversial points
in the meeting-thcy asserted that
the delegation ultimately would vote
for the New York governor. They
based this prediction on the W.
ton instructions which bound the
delegation 10 support the candidate
nominated.
In addresses shortly before the
convention adjourned, one speaker
claimed the delegation would 20 to
Gov. Smith ION the second ballot"
while speakers from Gov. Moody's
faction asserted IL would vote for
Gov. Smith only after he had been
nominated by the votes OF the other
delegations. Political leaders said
this was a promise 10 support Gov.
Smith only when 10 became a cues
tion OF making his nomination unani-
nous.
Maybe Smith Men In List
r. L. Henry Of Houston, a Smith
leader who said he was speaking for
Smith supporters throughout the
state, asserted that the delegation
includes substantially the same
states for more than nine OF the rs
congressional districts as were
recommended BY the district deleEa-
tions themselves. If this is true,
Gov. Smith will have a number OF
strong supporters on the delegation.
possibly ten or twelve.
The biggest fight in the conven-
tion was over the method of choos-
ing the delegates and ended with
a victory for the conservative drvS
who would not instruct against Gov.
Smith through the leadership of Gov.
Moody
In the midst Of a roll call that
seemed TO be going against allowing
A committee to choose the delegates
Gov. Moody took the rostrum, assert
ed that he favored committee selec.
ton. and apparently stampeded the
delegates into giving him a 2 10 1
victory on the poll.
The Smith leaders shouted that the
governor was double crossing" them
by permitting committee selection
wher they had helped him 20 defeat
the u~ltra-drys and he would not allow
them the certainty Of placing Smith
men on the delegation. Gov. Moody
admitted he was "crucifying' him
self. but stuck to his guns. and Sc
lection was left to n committee.