Evening star., 1936-06-23
FIGHT UNIT RULE IF TWO-THIRDS PLAN is ENDED
FIGHTS THREATEN
CONVENTION CALM
Dozen WrangIes Boiling,
With Left Wing Detection
UppermoSt.
BY JAY G. HAYDEN.


BY JAY G. HAYDEN.
PHILADELPHIA, June 23 (N.AN.
A).-The Democratic convention Is
opening still under the tight wraps
imposed by James A. Farley, but there
are indications that the outward calm
may be of the deceptive variety that
precedes an East Indian typhoon. A
dozen fights are boiling under the sur
face and some Of them almost GER
tainly will reach the floor of the con-
vention before the week is ended.
Foremost is the question as to how
far the party should 60 In an effort
to checkmate the left wing detection.
threatened by the Lemke -Coughlin
third party, and this already has split
the Democracy of Minnesota squarely
in the middle. Mr.. Farley's first effort
to bridge this Minnesota gap signally
failed and the present indication is
that, unless some new basis of COM
promise can be discovered, one Of the
conflicting factions will walk out.
The crucial question fought out be-
fore the Democratic National Com
mittee in the Minnesota contest was
as to whether the party in that State
should surrender its State and con-
gressional states in return for support
by the Farmer-Larobites, headed by
Gov. Floyd B. Olson, of President
Roosevelt.
The faction headed by National
Committeeman Joseph Wolf, and in
cluding the Democratic nominees for
both Governor and Senator, is all in
favor Of making this surrender, while
the rival delegation, including the
States one Democratic member of
Congress. Elmer j. Ryan, demands a
straight Democratic battle all down
| the line.
Arrangement Refused.
Mr.. Farley sought to dodge the is
sue by seating both of the contesting
delegations, each with one-half vote,
but the Ryan group refused to accept
this arrangement. It is determined
to carry the fight to the Credentials
Committee and, if it is defeated there,
to the convention floor, with strong
intimation that if it fails finally to
have its way it will quit forthwith
and go home.
The strife in Minnesota had its be-
ginning in the battle between Roose-
welt and Alfred E. Smith for presiden-
tial nomination in 1882. The Wolf
delegation, supporting Roosevelt, then
was seated over the opposition fac
ton, which supported Smith. Sub
sequently, however, the Smith group
was successful in electing its candi-
date for State chairman, Joseph Moo
nan, and it also nominated John E.
Regan as the Democratic candidate
for Governor in both 1882 and 1884.
The Moonan-Regan group say that
National Committeeman Wolf in both
Of these campaigns sold out the Demo
cratic State ticket to the Farmer
Laborites, and the Wolf spokesmer
before the National Committee more
or less admitted that this was so
They argued frankly that the Demo.
Gratis could not hope to carry Mime
sofa for Roosevelt and the same time
elect local ticket.
IF 1t Is alright" said w. H. Demp-
sey, the Wolf spokesman, "for the
national administration to support
Senator Norris in Nebraska and Sen
ator johnson in California in return
for their support Of the Democratic
national administration, we feel it Is
proper for us to do what Is necessary
in Minnesota to carry the State fol-
Roosevelt"
Minnesota Minority.
Dempsey declared that the Demo
cratic party in Minnesota, standing
alone, was hopelessly in the minority
ANY one who says Minnesota Is Ger
tain for Roosevelt this year Is an
optimist," he said. II know a great
many Republican farmers who voted
for Roosevelt in 1882, but they are
back in the Republican party today
We can win only If we get the votes OF
the liberals who are members Of the
Farmer-Labor party"
The. opposition argued Just as
strongly that the idea that the Demo-
Gratis could continue to live on
Farmer-Labor votes In Minnesota was
fatuous pipe-dream. Continuation
on this road. it declared, meant the
ultimate complete ruin of the Demo-
cratic party in the State.
The situation was rendered the more
difficult by the recent primary in which
the Wolf and Moonan groups split
! almost exactly even in the matter of
nominating their candidates. The
Wolf faction nominated Patrick De-
laney. who it was charged today was
a registered member Of the Farmer
Labor party up to last April, as the
Democratic candidate for United
States Senator. and Frederick Curtis
as candidate for Governor. The Moo
nantes, on the other hand, renomi-
mated Representative Ryan and q
majority Of other congressional can
didates. To these nominees falls the
duty Of naming the new Democratic
State Central Committee.
The regular Democrats say that
Mr.. Farley's decision, seating both
delegations. In fact constitutes a COM
plete victory for the Wolf group in
that the makeup Of the delegation
insures reelection of Wolf or enc of
his satellites as national committee
man. and the unseating Of Mrs. M. M.
Lambertson, the woman member Of
the committee allied with their group.
But more emphatically, they say that
Mr.. Farley's course is a surrender Of
party principle to political expediency
which cannot fail to lose Minnesota
for Roosevelt II 1t Is persisted In.
Constitution Question.
Equally disturbing to party har-
mony are reports leaking out Of the
conference Of Democratic Senators
which has been considering the ques-
ton as to what the platform should
1 COW xrrift, rocy,oof fA %la TI,,t%nJ