The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-28
Here is the record. 1t is important.

one.
Here is the record. 1t is important
At other conventions, Roosevelt has IA
vored the rule requiring two-thirds vote for
nomination Now that he is a candidate, he
has sought to ditch this rule. That could be
explained away as a legitimate change of
opinion-except for the fact that he has
tried to change the rule in the midst of the
game.
This ruse was not advanced until the
delegates began to arrive at Chicago, and
until there was doubt of Roosevelt's ability
to get two-thirds vote-the test met by
every Democratic presidential candidate in
the last 100 years.
Roosevelt decided to abrogate the two
thirds rule, effective on the first ballot. But
the trick exploded in his face. Not only his
opponents, but some of his own leaders,
such as Senator Pat Harrison, denounced the
unfairness of the proposal. The convention
reaction was bitter.
Roosevelt did a characteristic thing.
Under fire, he turned and ran. Many of his
supporters refused to believe the press re-
ports of his Albany statement, until, several
hours later, it was confirmed by his Chicago
headquarters.
Then many of these same supporters
were angry because he had deserted the
fight into which he had dragged them. But
they were not quick enough to see that this
merely was another trick.
Perhaps if the reader will study this
statement, he will understand how the Chi
cago convention was led for several hours
into believing that Roosevelt actually had
called off his fight on the two-thirds rule.
The statement said
at is true that the issue was not raised
until after the delegates to the convention
had been selected, and l decline to permit
either myself or my friends to be open to the
accusation of poor craftsmanship, or to the
use of methods which could be called, even
falsely, those of steamroller.
81 accordingly am asking my friends in
Chicago to cease their activities to secure
the adoption of the majority nominating
rule at the opening of the permanent or
ganization.
81 ask this of those delegates who are
honoring me with their support, and who
number many more than majority. | trust,
however, that the committee on rules may
recommend some rule to insure against the
catastrophe of deadlock or prolonged bal
loting.
If thereby, greater emphasis on har-
of
the party is attained, we will have served
best our party and our nation"
If you read it a second time, you will find
the catch. You will see that, after closing
the door on Pie plan, he opens it again by re-
queSting a rife to ENSURE against the catas-
trophe of a deadlock"
In other words, abrogation of the two
thirds rule if Roosevelt fails to get two
thirds of the votes.
Then, four hours later, Roosevelt ap-
peared to reverse himself again-again
closing the door, and again leaving another
crack to slip through tomorrow, if necessary.
He announced through his Chicago head
quarters that the rules committee had acted
spontaneously" and without consultation
with him. He disavowed responsibility for
the new rule. !.
But at the same time he reaffirmed his
afternoon statement, which requested some
such rule.
What Roosevelt will do tomorrow, what
new ruse he will attempt in his desperate
effort to grab the nomination, no one knows
least of all his followers.
But it doubtless will be in line with his
record as Governor and as a candidate for
the presidential nomination. That is record
of vacillatiOn and trickery.