Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
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81 votes on this ballot. McAdoo finally
went as high as 523 votes, but he was
never able 10 obtain a majority OF the
i,oaS votes of the convention. Smiths
high-water mark was S6S votes.
Smith stopped McAdoc.
In the convention which opens at
Houston Tuesday Al Smith occupies
much the same position as that OF NC
Adoo in the convention four years ago.
although he is expected to have more
than q majority OF votes cast on tile
first ballot. In 1924 Smith was tne
ra1lylng post for the anti-McAooo Deu-
ocrats. II was Smith more than any
other candidate who was reSponsiuae
for stopping MeAdoo, McAooo mas
faded out of the picture in the preSsne
pre-convention program. months ago
he declared that he would not De a can
oidatn There were Democrats who
hoped that AL Smith would do the
same. thus removing from the 1898
convention both of the contenders who
had made the Madison Square GARDEN
convention the SQuan6ie which forecast
a terrible Democratic defeat at the polls
in November, 1924,
The Smith opposition IN the coming
convention is confined largely to the
Democrats Of the South. plus those VINO
sre supporting Senator Jim" Reed Of
Missouri. Evans Woollen OF Indiana and
Representative Ayres Of Kansas.
The opposition to the New York gov
ernor has been unable TO center on any
one candidate. The Southern delegates
will divide between Senator George OF
Georgia and Representative Cordell Hull
OF Tennessee. Louisiana will cast It's
vote for Smith, and there may be
minority of the North Carolina delega-
ton voting for Smith also. The border
States, Kentucky. West Virginia and
Maryland, all will vote for Smith, now
that Gov. Ritchie of Maryland has
withdrawn from the race. Tennessee,
the other border State, is committed 10
Representative Hull.
Bound by Two Thirds Rule.
II the Democratic national conven-
ton operated under the majority rule,
as the Republican national convention
operatas, the Smith nomination would
be MADE in Jig time. But the Demo-
Gratis, since the days Of Andrew JACK
son. have stuck fast TO tWo-tnlroS
rule. When the Democratic national
convention assembled at Baltimore IN
1882 that convention confirmed the
nomination OF President Andrew jack
son for his second term and nominated
Martin Van Buren, for Vice President
II WIS at that convention that the
famous two-thirds rule was first adopt
ed. Calhoun of South Carolina had
been Vice President during the nrst
administration of jackson and hao
been at odds With jackson. Jacksons
choice for q running mate was Van
Buren,. The two-thirds rule was
adopted to grease the ways Tor van
Buren's nomination. 1t has stuck ever
since, much TO the grief Of some OF the
candidates who have sought the Demo-
cratic nomination for President.
Frequently there has been talk of
doing away with the two-thirds rule OF
nomination. During the 1924 ccnven-
ton q proposal was submitted after the
convention had been balioting for DAYS
without result By which candidates re-
ceiving the lowest number votes would
be eliminated on each succeeding ballot.
The convention, however. turned down
this proposition. Following the Demo-
cratic defeat in 1924, there was further
agitation for doing away with the two
thirds rule, but it came 70 nought. Both
the McAdoo and the Smith factions
talked for q time Of abolishing the OLD
rule in the 1928 convention, but early
I'm the convention campaign Smith
showed such strength that his followers
determined not to agitate for repeal
OF the two-thirds rule. This rule las
been dear to the hearts Of Southern
Democrats. who have felt that ii gave
10 the solid South q veto power to be
used against the nomination OF candi-
dates not acceptable to that section of
the country. II Al Smith Is stopped at
ft7e coming convention-aT1o 1t does not