Evening star., 1932-06-27
Have Way onAll
Convention
Groups
PARTY LEADERS
GIVEN OVATION
Dropping Fight on
Two-Thirds Rule
Considered.
BY BYRON PRICE,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

CHICAGO STADIUM, June ~.
True to the promise Of months
of tumultuous preparation, the
Democratic party opened its con-
vention today keyed high with
partisan enthusiasm, but torn by
internal strife over the bid of
Franklin D. Roosevelt for the
presidency.
In the saddle temporarily, at
least, the Roosevelt men took
complete charge of temporary or
ganization, having their way with
out opposition on every conven-
ton committee. The troubles
stirring underneath were scared
over for the moment by outward
harmony as the big party conclave
went through the prearranged
motions of getting its work under
way.
One Continuous ovation.
1t was a cheering, seething conven-
tion, nevertheless, in old-time style. 1t
almost started parading and demonStrat-
ing before it came officially into being.
On the floor the banners of nearly a
dozen candidates recorded the rivalries
which will come to their decision later
in the week.
Filled galleries were swept with roar
ing applause again and again as many
of the most colorful figures of the party
got up on the floor and platform. 1t was
almost one continuous ovation as they
came in one by one-William @. Nc
Adoo, John w. Davis. Albert C. Ritchie,
Alfalfa Bill Murray, Huey Long, James
j. Walker, John J. Raskob and many
besides.
Senator AIben Barkley Of Kentucky,
the temporary chairman. was greeted
with an ovation Of his OWL as he
appeared on the fiag-draped platform
to deliver the party keynote, the high
peak of the largely cut and dried pfc-
gram Of first-day preliminaries.
The real work Of the convention be-
gins late today when the committees
meet to hear credentials contests, write
platform and take up many other
party troubles, including the much
embattled subject of the two-thirds
rule
May Drop Rule Fight.
Although the Roosevelt managers took
temporary control of every convention
agency the crumbling of their support
on the proposal to do away with the old
two-thirds nominating rule led some
of them to consider abandoning the
project.
Conferences on this question pro-
ceeded among knots of delegates on the
floor and behind the scenes as the con-
vention went through a previously
agreed on program of preliminary or
ganization. The only change seemed
to be a steady growth of insurgency
in the Roosevelt ranks.
Meantime. as one speaker after an
other, including Rsskob and Senator
Barkley. the keynoter, asked for a pro-
hibition change, it developed that a
floor fight on that question, too, was
in prospect. Senator Walsh of Massa-
chusetts, an Al Smith supporter, said
he would take to the convention itself
plank committing the party to repeal,
not merely submission.
Raskob Makes Surprise Speech.
Raskob's espousal OF a repeal submis-
sion plank was contained in a surprise
speech. preceding that of the keynoter
He declared the time had come to dc
away with the reign of the dry laws.
Barkley long a prohibitionist, made
almost the same recommendation in the
course of keynote speech.
Only a few formalities, aside from
that, were before the convention at its
opening session.
Out of a whirl Of week end develop
ments had come unquestionable signs
Of swing toward the Roosevelt can
didacy, putting him within striking dis
tance of the nomination unless his or
ganization is wrecked meantime by the
mounting dispute over the vital issues
Of permanent convention organization
and rules. So serious were the defec-
tions on these issues, however, that
even telephone appeal by Gov. Roose-
velt himself last night apparently had
failed Of conclusive results.
Split on Changing Rule.
The major split was over the pro-
poSal of the Roosevelt captains to ig-
more the hundred-year tradition of the
two-thirds rule and nominate by 9
plain majority.
Opposed solidly by the non-Roose-
velt delegations, whose strength al
least approaches half of the conven-
tion, this departure also had come
under the displeasure of many Roose-
welt delegates. Kentucky. North Caro-
lima, Utah, New Mexico, Mississippi
Maine and Alaska all had either de-
clared against the majority proposition
in caucus overnight, or had showr
signs of wavering. At caucus OF the
big New York delegation the Roose-
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