The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-29
Heading for Disaster
lMinneapoliS Tribunel

The savage attack made on Cover
nor Roosevelt by Frank Hague, vice
chairman of the Democratic national
committee and ardent Smith supper
ter, leaves little doubt that the con-
vention which opens on Monday in
Chicago will witness one of the bit
terest fights for the presidential NOM
nation that has marked the tempes-
tuous history of political parties in
America
Mr.. Hague's formal statement
warns, in effect, that Governor Roo
sevelt Is the weakest candidate the
Democrats could possibly choose, that
he could not carry single state east
Of the Mississippi and very few in the
Tar west, and that the only way for
his party to avoid certain defeat is tc
bestow the nomination on someone
other than the New York governor.
The immediate effect of this state
! ment Is to blast the controversy over
/ the tWo-thirdS rule into broad day
light and guarantee that the first real
test OF Roosevelt strength will be
made on this issue. It has foreWarnad
the Roosevelt forces that the opposi-
ton is in an ugly and uncompromis-
ing mood, and has made it plain to
them that unless desperate methods
are resorted to the prize that lies sc
close at hand may be ruthlessly
snatched from them.
| The fact that the tWo-thirds rule
may be set aside by a majority rule
does not necessarily mean that Gov
ernor Roosevelt, who probably con-
trolls a majority of the delegates, viii
see his fight for abroga ton crowne
with victory. This rule has a century
OF party tradition behind it, and it is
not apt to be lightly set aside, ever
IN favor Of the outstanding contender
for presidential honors. The feeline
is strong within the party that abro.
cation at this time would be the shod-
diest of political tricks, and even g
sense of personal loyalty to Mr.. Roo.
sevelt may not undermine the con.
vlctlon OF some. delegates that the
rule is worth preserving at any cost
Senator Glass undoubtedly expressed
the sentiment of substantial group
within his party when he declared or
Friday that ito pull a snap play like
this in the middle of the game is no
to play the game" and that group
includes, without the slightest doubt
every convention delegate who is no
pledged to Mr.. Roosevelt.
The fight to abolish the two-third,
rule is one plainly inspired by DIES
peration, but it is one we'll worth
making. If the rule can be set aside
the nomination of Governor Roo3e.
welt, of course, should be an unexcit
ing convention Formally; but even i
1T cannot, it may not constitute thu
insurmountable barrier to victory, fol
only twice, in the case of Van Burer
in 1874 and of Champ Clark in 1912
has the choice of the majority failee
to win the necessary tWo-thirds vote
1t is certain, at any rate, that what.
ever way the tide of battle flows, the
Democratic party cannot escape thu
scorching consequences of feuc
which is already burning at whit;
heat two days before the convention
| opens. The challenge laid down b,
Mr.. Hague, a Smith lieutenant, i
openly and deliberately insulting. I
brands Governor Roosevelt as the on,
presidential candidate who has, above
all others, the brand of the weaklins
upon him and who cannot possibly
have the support or respect of hi
| party.
The wound that has been thus mad
will not heal quickly. Some pre-con
vention rancors vanish overnight, bu
not the sort that have inspired tn
anti-Roosevelt group, on the eve O
the party convention, to repudiate hi
candidacy in the ugliest Of terms
is difficult to see how Mr.. Hague, i
he had deliberately set out to wreck
his party's chances Of victory in No
vember by sowing the seeds of dis
cord and revolt, could have done ,
better job.