The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-25
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press STAFF Correspondent


Copyright. 1892. BY United Press
CHICAGO, June Is. - Angry
Democrats barred weapons today to
fight to the bitter end in their con-
vention opening Monday.
PeacemakerS fearing repetition
of the 1924 Madison Square Garden
debacle, counSeled harmony but
were spurned by both embittered
factions.
Roosevelt forces claimed they had
the necessary votes to drive through
their attempt to name the convenr
tons permanent chairman, to knock
out the century old two-thirds rule,
and nominate their candidate by a
simple majority on the first ballot.
Smith forces charged unfair tao
tics. They said Roosevelt was try
ing to switch the rules while the
ball was in play. They are bring
ing all of the tricks of t master
political minds of the party into
the fight.
Delegates Are Dismayed.
Delegates arriving in large num-
bers we're dismayed at the threat
ened convention fight. They fear
it may even exceed the disastrous
struggle of Madison Square Gar
den in bitterness, and wreck the
party's chances this year.
Tempers are high. Workers IN
rival factions are saying worse
things about each other than they
ever said about President Hoover.
Double croSser," Smith workers
mutter.
What a pail" Roosevelt support
ers remark as they look across from
their headquarters to the row Of
Smith placards, bearing jibes at the
man, who just four years ago next
Monday, placed in nomination at
the Houston convention the man he
warmly lauded as 'the happy war
rior."
Compromise Plan Fails
Alarmed over the fatal POSSIBLE
tiles in this thunderstorm OF anger,
Senator Pat Harrison (MiSS0 at
tempted unsuccessfully to work out
a compromise.
But neither side is in any mood
to consider peace without victory.
eve have the votes and we are
going right down the line" said
James A. Farley, manager for Gov
ernor Roosevelt.
There can be no compromise
over principles" said Smith.
First tests we're carried easily by
Roosevelt forces.
They have taken complete control
of the committee, which will draft
the party platform. Six of the nine
men in that group are Roosevelt
men.
SteamroIIer Is Working
They demonstrated control of the
Democratic national committee in
the first two Showdowns there. The
pro- Roosevelt Minnesota delegation
was recognized over the pro-Smith
delegation by vote of II to IA. The
delegation of Senator Huey Long
Ga.) prof. Roosevelt, was recognized
SIS to 80.
What the opposition politely terms
the Roosevelt steamroller did its
first tasks with perfect efficiency.
1t looked more like an armored tank
to some who saw it rolling toward
them today.
Roosevelt forces stood solidly ap-
parently in their assault on the his
toric two-thirdS rule.
Josephus Daniels IN. CO who as
secretary of the navy in the Will
son administration was Roosevelt's
immediate superior, declared the
two-thirds rule was misnamed. He
called it the one-third veto rule.
Almost Forget Prohibition
Nearly all of the eight candidates
opposing Roosevelt have declared
against changing the rule.
Roosevelt forces still claimed they
had between $50 and TOO delegates.
A simple majority of the convention
is 578 and two-thirds is ITO.
In this bitter warfare, the once
belabored prohibition issue was al
most entirely neglected. All sides
are now for recommending submits
sion Of a repeal amendment.
Governor Albert c. Richie of
Maryland attempted to inject life
into the question by moving one
step ahead and declaring for plank
recommending immediate restora-
ton of beer under the Volstead act.
Smith declared for the same thing
earlier this week.