Evening star., 1936-05-08

walked out of the first convention last
night it presented an affidavit from
Is persons in the vicinity of the 900
block of Fourth street northwest. In
the district from which Wells was
chosen. to substantiate that he lived
there The Colladay group. in turn.
has challenged the credentials of sew
eral other precinct delegates.
The Rover group said last night
that 81 delegates remained at their
convention. The Colladay group esti-
mated SO delegates joined in its sepa-
rate convention. :
At Cleveland. however, the Colladay
forces will challenge the validity of
the proceedings in which the other
delegation was chosen. The local
convention is made up of 43 precinct
delegates, who a week ago met to
elect 43 delegates-at-large, to COM
plete the roster. Because of the dis
pute over the credentials of some Of
the precinct delegates. the Colladay
group is challenging the validity of
election of considerable number of
the delegates-at-large.
After the Colladay forces had pre-
sented their legal objections and left,
the downstairs meeting was opened.
Returning to their separate room. the
Colladay group also conducted an
open convention. After he had been
renominated there for national COM
mitteeman, Colladay told his sup
porters:
Il look forward with confidence to
serving you. The present administra-
ton is not to the best interests of this
Nation in policy and action and we
stand on the platform just adopted"
He had reference to a statement OF
platform and policies that had Just
been approved following its submis-
sion by Edgar C. Snyder. 1t read, In
part, as follows:
Clyde Garrett, one of the delegates
on the Colladay ticket, offered the
resolution by which that group spe-
ciflcally indorsed Gov. Landon, as
follows: This convention does hereby
recommend nomination of Gov.
Landon as the Republican nominee
for President of the United States
and does hereby heartily and emphat-
ically indorse him, believing Gov.
Landon stands for adherence to con-
structive. sound principles of Govern
ment and an efficient, economical
and honest administration of the office
of President"
Colladay issued the following formal
statement today:
1T Is stated in morning paper that
Rover revealed the convention had
offered to nominate S. j. Prescott as
national committeeman, and that
under such an arrangement Evans
would have stepped down in favor of
Colladay as delegate to the national
convention, but the Landon supporters
failed to make peace
This offer was first submitted to me
at 6:10 pm. Thursday in contingent
form, subject to approval Of the Rover
convention and likewise subject to
approval Of our convention. 1t was
first to be passed upon by our conven-
ton and when my supporters. assem-
bled in that convention, were informed
that the proposal involved giving up
all representation in the delegation to
the national convention except one
delegate out of three and no alternates,
they unanimously rejected it and in
sisted that the least they would ap-
prove was my reelection as national
committeeman, coupled with the re-
election of Mrs. Speel as national
committeewoman, the latter being in
cluded in the Rover offer.
when this occurred it was about
o'clock at night.
Il delivered this answer to Mr.. Mac
Cracken, and later he and I again met,
and he informed me their convention
had rejected the above counter pro-
posal of our convention. then in
formed him that our convention had
passed a resolution in the following
language which I read to him:
Motion made and passed that
Mr.. Colladay Is authorized, in his dis
cretion, to accept the two members Of
the National Committee; If this is not
accepted Immediately, he is to insist
upon Francis Wells for delegate to
represent the colored people
Negotiations Ended.
"Mr. MacCracken stated this was
impossible. Negotiations ended there.
MY loyalty and friendship for Mr..
Prescott, with whom I have worked in
the closest Of harmony for over 20
years, cannot be questioned. wish to
state that had Mr.. Prescott been here,
known all the facts, and taken prompt
action, I am certain no friction would
ever have arisen between Mr.. Rover
and me.
''Mr. Prescott and I have always
worked in harmony and no misunder-
standings have ever existed between
us. We have always conferred and
acted In agreement. Furthermore, had
Mr.. Prescott been the presiding ofiicer
at the recent meetings, as he was in
the past, the rulings of the chair
would have been fair and legal and the
necessity for my supporters to leave
the convention and establish for them.
selves legal convention would not
have arisen.