Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
.DEM0CRATSFAvOR
TW0-TH|RDS RULE
Smith Backers Reported for
Custom as Giving Strength
to Race.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The two-thirds rule will not be ahol-
ishcd by the Democratic national con-
vention so far as it affects the selec-
ton of candidates Of the Houston con-
vention. but it may be changed with
respect to future conventions.
This is the concenSus among out
standing leaders of the Democratic
party who have been canyaSSed on the
subject And the interesting fact Is
that the friends OF Gov Smith who
would be expected 10 benefit by the
abrogation Of the two-thirdS rule are
not at all anxious Ia have II changed
and feel that their chances Of winning
are equally good under the old rule
as they would be under change.
Would Lose Club.
The principal argument advanced
againS; any change is that those who
want 10 use the one~third veto power
would reliDQuiSh an important weapon,
while those who want to win the noml-
nation for particular candidate realize
that any Democratic nominee who goes
before the country as majority choice
of the convention instead of two
thirds will be criticized IN the main
lis iIatiIiS ~ ACASANS
the traditional two-tll!rdS support OF
his party III convention assembled.
The supporters Of Gov. Smith eSpe-
cially. If he is nominated. will be an
swerlng questions as 10 the extent to
: which the nominee really has his party
behind him, and il the rule were
changed to a majority instead OF two
thirds. the argument is made that this
would confirm the skepticism as to
party unity.
Recalls 1912.
There IS. on the other hand. sort
OF unwritten law among the politicians
that once candidate receives major
ity. Of the ballots in a convention he
should be given the nomination by ac-
clamation. The outstanding case i'll
which the unwritteu law was violated
was in 1912. when Champ Clark re-
ceived majority. but the Woodrow
Wilson adherents refused 10 bulge and
thus turned the tide in their own direc-
ton.
In both 1920 and 1924. however. good
Use was made Of the majority idea as
9 means Of forcing twothirds. and the
Smith leaders have every hope that
they can do likewise when once their
candidate passes a majority. In the
1924 campaign. incidentally. the McAdoo
managers were openly promised the
support of many delegations If the for
mer Secretary of the Treasury could
reach majority, but he never did,
largely because some of the favorite
son delegations would not rally to him
when he needed the necessary ballots
Tor ma lority.
May Affect 1882.
So to all intents and purposes the
fight viii be to get a ma jority, but the
actual rule will not be changed be-
cause OF the psychological disadvantage
OF change. Il is within the power
OF majority Of the delegates before
the rules are actually adopted to put
IN majority instead Of a two-thirds
rule Tor the selection OF candidates.
oue no effort IN that direction now is
Planned. II would not be surprising
however. II after the. nominees are
chosen resolution is offered to amend
the rules SO that the national conyf.-
ton IN 1882 will be governed by a ma
lorisy rule. though each convention can
maze rs own rules and can accept or
reject the recommendations of a pre-
Tious convention.
II the majority rule is adopted long
before any candidates. have deyeloped.
however. The assumption is that the
democratic convention would then
realiy adopt the same practice as has
peen IN vogue in Republican conyen-
noTas. which requires only a majority
o1 lhe delegates 70 nominate.
tCoDvf1ght 1928