Evening star., 1951-12-02

August Belmont or any other mem
ber of the privilege -hunting and
favor seeking class"
Ryan, although he was New York
financial power. attended the con-
vention as a delegate from Virginia.
Belmont. also fabulously wealthy, was
allied with Tammany Hall. particu-
larly the Tammany Boss, Charles F.
Murphy.
Bryan's resolution was so adroitly
drawn and ably presented that the
New York and Virginia. delegations
voted for it. It was adopted, 883 to
20lha.
Clark led on the first roll-call with
4401a votes: Woodrow Wilson, then
Governor of New Jersey was second
with 1924; Harmon, with the 80 votes
of New York, got 148, Oscar w. Un-
derwood of Alabama received 1l7R.
The rest were scattered.
The MiSSourian continued to lead
. on the early ballots. Then came the
dramatic moment during the tenth
roll call when Boss Murphy aroused
the hall by slowly announcing the
delivery of the entire New York dele
CATION to Clark. Most so-called polit-
ical experts thought this clinched
Clark's victory. The count on this roll
call was 556 for Clark. 35012 for Will
son. Theugh Clark had II more than
majority, there was no convention
stampede, thanks mostly to Alfalfa
Bill" Murray of Oklahoma, who roar
ed that I'VE shall not join Tammany
in making the nomination.
The sensational development came
on the 14th ballot. A poll of the
Nebraska delegation had been de-
manded. Bryan demanded recogni-
ton to explain his vote. When the
pandemonium died down. Bryan read
statement. which, among other
things, reminded the delegates they
had voted four-to-one for his Nor
gan-Ryan-Belmont resolution. He
asserted that New York's vote, under
the unit rule. represented the will Of
one man-Charles F. Murphy.
II shall not" he declared. "be a
party to the nomination of any man.
no matter who he may be j.. who
will not, when elected, be absolutely
free to carry out the Morgan-Ryan-
Belmont resolution and make his ad-
ministration reflect the wishes and
the hopes of those who believe in
government of the people. by the
people and for the people"
He then announced he would cast
his vote for Nebraska's second choice.
Wilson.
Wilson Took 46 BoIIots
The balloting continued. with the
convention in recess over Sunday.
Wilson passed Clark on the Both roll
call On the 43rd the Clark strength
began to dissipate. Wilson got the
necessary two-thirds on the 46th bal
lot. when Underwood withdrew and
Senator Stone of Missouri released all
the Clark delegates except those from
Missouri. Wilson polled $50 votes.
Stone freed the Missouri delegation
and moved to make the nomination
unanimous.
Clark, who up to that time had
served "a years in public life. had
been defeated by man who had
been a governor of small State for
less than two years.
The parallel of Charles Evans
Hughes of 1916 and Eisenhower of
1851 is provocative. Hughes had
been appointed to the Supreme Court
in 1910; two years later he refused
to consider the Republican nomina-
ton when he was assured that only
he could prevent the splitting of the
party by Roosevelt and Taft. He said:
mo man is as essential to his coun-
try'S we'll being as the untainted in
tegrity of the courts"
He wrote to Elihu Root, chairman
of the convention that "even If NOM
mated I should decline"
Gen. Eisenhower in 1948 made
similar declaration. His argument
was that a military man should not
be President except in the most
extraordinary circumstances. He
wrote to Leonard v. Finder, New
England publisher: II could not &C
cept the nomination even under the
remote circumstances it were ten
dered me-"
Hughes Was Adomont
Hughes was more adamant against
political opportunities in 1915 than
Eisenhower is in 1851. In May. 1915,
the Associate Justice wrote to Gov.
Edward c. Stokes of New Jersey that
"he had no right to be candidate.
either openly or passively." He threat
ened to sue If his name were entered
in the Nebraska presidential prefer
ence primary. After Roosevelt had
sent an emissary to tell him that he
was the "best equipped" and the only
man able to unite the regular Re-
publicans and Progressives, he de-
clined to see any other political per-
SonageS.
Nevertheless, Eugene Meyer. now
a Washington publisher, and Frank
H. Hitchcock went ahead with a
Hughes-for-Pre headquarters
and started rounding up support.
Hughes, who had given no indica-
ton he would accept the 1916 nomi-
nation, led on the first roll call with
253h votes. There were 16 other
candidates. John w. Weeks of Mass
achusetts received 105; Elihu Root of
New York, 1903; Theodore Burton Of
Ohio, n. and Roosevelt, IS. Hughes
again led on the second ballot, with
32812. He was nominated on the
third ballot with only 18 Roosevelt
die-hards refusing to cast their votes
for him. He Immediately accepted the
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