Evening star., 1928-06-22
WRG|N|ANS AVOID
SMITH STAMPEDE
Party Leaders Force Ad-
journment of State Conven-
ton to Halt RevoItT

Special Dispatch to The Star.
| ROANOKE, Va. June 22,--With a
vociferous minority threatening to gel
out of hand. the Democratic State con-
vention came to an abrupt end late
yesterday in time TO prevent stam-
pede for Gov. Alfred c. Smith of New
York. AS result. the delegates left
/ for Houston this morning uninstructed
| and not bound by the unit rule, unless
self-impoSed
Party leaders alarmed at the growing
! demonstration for Smith arranged for
an adjournment Immediately after the
adoption of the State platform. With
the votes in favor of the platform echo
| ing from the steel girders of the large
| convention hall, the motion to adjourn
was put and carried. and the opening
! strains of This Star Spangled Banner
were heard before the dazed Smith ad-
| herents knew what was in the air.
| With it apparent that they were sit
| ting over a powder magazine. party
leaders moved through the convention
| program with celerity. Frequently
shouts for Smith would interrupt speak
ers for several minutes Even the anti
saloon leaders. who talked bravely OF
. finish fight In the morning, realized
that an overt act would lead TO q
stampede and wisely avoided the issue
Glass Reads Platform.
The party platform was read In o
husky voice by United States Senator
Carter Glass. It attacked the Repub-
lican party without mincing words.
ha.f {g0 fAA HWN. hxT 1a.r
forcement plank which does not spe-
cifically bind the party nominee, and
likewise aroused the ire of the vets by
the omission OF q religious freedom dec
laration. which was lifted almost bodily
from the 1924 platform.
While uninstructed. the general opin-
lon is that the State leaders viii hold
the delegation well III hand at Houston
and viii bring the unit rule into effect
when 1t is considered advisable; always
as q weapon against the nomination
Of Smith. whose leadership In November
is secretly considered in the light of .
calamity.
An unofhcial poll Of the men and
women going to Houston shows the anti
Smith wing holding y bare majority.
Smash Harmony Slate.
The third district caucus caused the
biggest excitement of the entire con-
vention. Scores of Richmond delegates
arrived early yesterday morning to find
Morgan r. Mills and Clyde w. Saun-
ders occupying the same bed. With
out ceremony they smashed the har-
mony slate, which was framed by the
leaders Of the warning factions, with
the hslp of Senator Claude A. Swanson,
Gov. Byrd and State Chairman j. Muir
ray Hooker.
The dove of peace, Matched the night
before, was not only killed but was
eleanly plucked. As result six OF the
old members of the third district com
mittee were dropped. only one being
retained Not only were Saunders and
Alex H. Eands thrown out but Motor
Vehicle Commissioner James M. Hayes,
jr, was ousted from Q position he has
held for more than dozen years. Mills
vas denied o seat on the committee.
Outside Of the third district upheaval
there was little of the unexpected in the
convention. AZ predicted, Gov. Byrd
was selected to succeed Senator Glass rs
member of the national committee. Mrs
Robert c. Watts of Lynchburg succeeds
Mrs. Beverley b. Munford Of Richmond
as national committeewoman, The In
cumbent declined reelection.
Eight Delegates at Large.
The electors at large number eight.
with one-hah vote each. Besides the
two United States Senator'S, the gov
ernor and the State chairman, the con-
vention picked former Gov. e. Lee Trim
kle, c. Walter Mapp. defeated Ruberna-
toriai candidate OF four years ago; w
T. Reed OF Richmond and Mrs. r. C.
Watts OF Lynchburg, The electors at
large are James II, Price OF Richmond
and Aubrey z. Stroud OF Lynchburg. To
the third district slate Of Mayor j. Full
mer Bright and Richard Crane. as dele
gates to Houston, was added G. M. Sell
Of Henrico.
The alternstes are Louis =. Powell
H. NJ Ratciiffe and Mrs. Edith M. Boil
ton, With the exception OF Crane. these
delegates are listed in the anti-Smith
column.
Representative George c. Peery Of the
ninth district was temporary chairman
and delivered . vigorous keynote ad-
dress He sounded call for return To
he fundamentals Of Jeffersonian democ-
raey and for united front against
graft and corruption In public ONCE.
In closing. he urged Virginians to
work for national platform that will
/ ring true in allegiance TO the Consti-
tuition and regard for law enforcement. =
Delegations Seated.
The eighth Virginia district will be
represented at Houston by g. G. Brittle,
| Judge Robinson Moncure Carl n
! Noting and Daniel l.. Porter. The
alternates will be s. w. Brooks, w Hill
Brown. IT,; Whit ID. Peyton and James
| Ashby State Senator Frank l.. Ball OF
| Alexandria will be the eiector from the
| district.
w. T. Oliver, Charles Pickett, John
MackuII and Harry Leigh were members
/ Of the delegation seated from Providence
/ district. Fairfax County.