Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-29

CONVENTION HALL, HOUSTON.
Tex. June 29.--Smith became Hoover's
opponent under convention conditions
remarkably similar In numerous re-
spects. Victory came to each on the
first ballot. Hoover was nominated on
a Thursday night at IL o'clock. Smith
was climbing toward his necessary two
thirds majority two weeks later at al
most the identical hour. Both piled up
about the same number OF votes
Hoover. 1877. Smith, 649i2. Triumph
AT Houston resulted from the Identical
circumstances that prevailed at Kansas
CITY. i.e., the favorite son OF each con-
yention entered 1t so irretrieVaoly In
the lead that no possible combination
of allied antagonists could thwart him,
THE Democrats followed faithfully In
the Republicans path by choosing vice
presidential running mate. Kansas City
nominated the @. o. P. Senate leader,
Curtis of Kansas. Houston crossed the
aisle at washington and gave second
place to the Democratic Senate leader,
Robinson OF Arkansas.
4
Wrangling in Oklahoma and Missls-
slppi delegations prevented the unani-
nous nomination OF Smith IN the
anticipated whirlwind OF trenZleo en-
thusiasm. The New Yorker had Tailed
a total score of 1913 by the time the
roll of States and Territories was COM
Melted. but not yet announced. There
llpon the expected changes In individual
state votes set in Ohio led the van,
II transferred IS OF It's 48 votes 10
Smith That gave the governor T68'
and victory, with "a to spare. Then
ensucd complications which were 10
wind uu things in a dreary anti-climaX,
Oklahoma. which was split on the roll
call between Smith and Reed, sought
to transfer its vote en~bioc To the WIN
ner, when member OF the delegation
demanded a poll. The same procedure
became necessary when MISSISSIPPI
after a complimentary vote for Pat Har-
rison. tried TO swing to Smith Senator
Robinson, stickler for parliamentary
law insisted on polling both Oklahoma
and Mississippi, though Smith was IN
fact now over the top and the con-
vention was yearning TO let itself go,
Even when Missouri, with Jim Reeds
assent. tried to name the New YORKER
bv reclamation Robinson ruled the mo-
ton out of order
II was an unprecedented and en-
vention which had just expressed Itself
nv tremendous and Overwhelming ma
iority In favor of AL Smith, yet pre-
vented from giving vent To It's emotions
, Robinson was obdurate, He refused 10
proceed even with the polling OF OKLA
homa and Mississippi until the con"
vention Is In order" Time and again
he threatened to have the sergeant-at~
arms do his duty unless delegates
took their seats and remained seated
-
The result of II all was Is minutes
Of dreadful dizziness BY the time the
final and official count was ready Tor
announcement thousands OF people IN
the galleries had deserted their places
and gone home, Even among the dele"
gates there were scores of empty seats,
ii was now nearly midnight Smiths
friends had achieved their ambition TO
nominate their idol before the dawn
of Friday but triumph came In a blaze
of indifference The inevitable eonse-
uuence was that the last grand demon
stration In the conqueror's honor was
desultory affair "Al' deserved bet
ter things OF the convention he domi-
mated from beginning to end
After midnight two OF the Democratic
party's oratorical champions John w,
| Davis, 1924 standard bearer, and Sen
at0r Jim" Reed took the platform
Each did his utmost to rally the tagging
spirits Of hot, tired and worn~out con-
vention, or what was left OF IT, but sig
nally failed 10 do so. II must have been
! a brand-new experience for Davis To
have part OF al audience walk out On