Evening star., 1932-06-24

CHICAGO, Ill, June 24.-Chicago is
now city Of treason, strategems and
spoils
Plots are being laid and conspiracies
concocted. Trades and deals are fever
isbly under way. There is dirty work
at the cross roads in whatever direc-
ton you look. All and sundry OF these
activities and Vaccinations reVolVe
around the fate Of Franklin Delano
Roosevelt To prevent his nomination
for President on the first ballot in the
impending Democratic National Con
yention is the paramount issue at Chi"
cago. 1t Is more than that. 1t Is about
the only issue. Other things remain to
be done. There will be knockdown
and dragout, for instance, over the per-
manent craftsmanship, whether 1t Is TO
be Jouett Shouse or Senator Walsh Oh
Montana. A platform has to be writ
ten. with some kind OF prohibition
plank in it. Somebody has to be nomi-
mated for Vice President. too. But each
and every one of these things pales into
utter tnsignificance alongside the ques-
ton of questions, can the Roosevelt
bandwagon be stopped before it is thun-
dered VIGOROUSLY across the winning
line, the goal known as fIU!
4 x x *
At this hour, the goal is ITO, repre-
senting two-thirds of the delegates IN
the convention, but before many hours
are past the number necessary 10 a
choice may be reduced to 578. 1t VIII
be II the now declared purpose OF the
Roosevelt managers can be ef1ecteo.
Rather TO the surprise of the conven-
daforf1fned lat o
last night to move for abrogation OF the
century-old rule governing Democratic
presidential nominations. They will es-
say what has often been tried before
and regularly has failed.
Militantly confident that they control
the situation, the Rooseveltians pledge
themselves to do all within their power
to bring about the abolition of the two
thirds rule and the adoption of the ma
jority rule in this convention" The
council of war which decided upon this
revolutionary attempt to upset tradi-
ton rooted in the party since Andrew
Jackson's time also proclaimed its abil-
ity to make Senator Walsh permanent
chairman instead Of Jouett Shouse.
X
Let it be thoroughly understood that
If the Roosevelt group forces the right
to nominate by majority instead OF
by two-thirds the Democratic conven-
ton will end as abruptly as last weeks
G. o. p. ratification meeting ended. 1t
will be Roosevelt for President almost
before the first roll call is half over.
Even the Smith camp admits that the
New York Governor has $40 votes in
sight, which is only short of what
Roosevelt would need for majority. SO
when an anxiollS Nation reads or hears
by radio that the convention has turned
its back on hundred years CT Demo-
cratic practice the folks at home will
know that the jig is up and that Frank
Roosevelt Is the man Herbert Hoover
has to beat in 1892.
That is all there IS 10 this Chicago
convention situation now and until
further notice.
Just how can the two-thirds rule be
scrapped? That Is the first hurdle the
Roosevelt Rough Riders have to take.
The Democratic doctors differ on the
vote question. Some say the convention
can abolish the rule by mere majority
vote. Others are as positive that 1t
takes twc-thirds to kill two-thirds.
Signaling last-ditch fight to thwart
the Rough Riders, the anti-Roosevelt
leaders insist that the historic rule cam
not be wiped out in this convention by
fewer than ITO votes. j. Bruce Kremer
OF Montana, designated by the Roose-
velt forces as chairman of the Rules
Committee, indicates what their tactics
are. He says a special rule viii be pro-
posed empowering the convention to do
away with the ancient system at any
time. Once such a special rule Il voted,