Evening star., 1955-11-18

NUnsAMucu FkUm C1fSb rage
sonnel Of their convention they
win increase interest, and will
materially increase contributions
to their campaign. They raise,
however, problem Of housing
these added delegates and seat
ing them in the convention hall.
The plan is to seat the alternate
delegates In the balcony and not
on the convention floor. The
hotels win have to find housing
for them.
Those are not the only prob
lens. If any delegate rises in.
convention and demands a poll
of his delegatior--say of the
New York delegation with 1876
delegates - trouble Is really
under way.
Thirty-five States actually win
increase their vote in the con-,
vention, as compared to 1852.
The arrangements for splitting
the district delegate votes in two
will be in the hands Of the State
Democratic organizations. Most
of them are expected to Jump
at the opportunity.
Melvin d. Hildreth, Demo-
cratic national committeeman
for the District Of Columbia, was
q prime mover In the drive to
allow the splitting of the Dis
trict delegates in two. He argued
that the District Of Columbia
Democrats are entitled to such
recognition because OF their fund
raising and loyal support OF the
national party. Addressing the
COMMITTEES. he said. too, that the
people Of Washington should
have the right to help elect the.
candidates for President and vice
President. whom they helped toI
nominate In the national con-
yention. and also to have home
rule.
Loyalty Pledge Thrown out
Frior to settling the makeup
Uf the national convention, the
National Committee approved Il
set Of new rules which viii bel
submitted to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention for its con-
sideration and adoption next
August. Most important of these
new rules was that dealing with
the so-caIled loyalty pledge
issue, raised at the 1852 conven-
tion.
The proposed new rule throws
out completely any pledge and
places the delegates on their
honor to see to 1t that the can
didates for President and Vice
President. nominated by the Ma
tiOnal Convention have their
names placed on their state
ballots under the regular Demo-
cratic designation or emblem. 1t
Il d compromise but with the
South getting the better Of it.
The new rules were drafted by
. special advisory committee. Of
which Stephen A. Mitchell of
Illinois. former chairman Of the
National Committee, was chair
man, and former Gov. Battle Of
Virginia and Senator Humphrey
OF Minnesota were vice chair
men. The vote on the new rules
In the National Committee was
unanimous.
The new rules also provide that
Il is the duty of any member Of
the National Committee to sup-
port the nominees Of the con-
yention. II any member fails to
do this, he will cease TO be q
member Of the National Com
fnittee.
s
Names Notorious Three
Mr.. Mitchell. explaining the
proposed new rule dealing with
the loyalty pledge issue, main
tanned that any delegate to the
convention has the right to rise
and protest the seating of an
other delegate as personally OBJ
noxious." II he is q member Of
the Illinois delegation at the 1856
National Convention, he said he
would protest the seating Of three
notorious Democrats who sup
ported Mr.. Eisenhower in 1852.
II they come to the convention
as delegates. He named them as
Gov. Kennon Of Louisiana, Gov.
Shivers Of Texas and former
Gov. Byrnes Of South Carolina.
Wouldn't you let them re-
FORM" Mr.. Mitchell was asked.
He replied he hoped they
would, but added: Il have q rule:
II you want to find out what q
cowboy will do when he gets
drunk, find out what he did the
last time"
Other important changes in
the rules proposed deal with the
polling Of State delegations
doubly important In the light Of
the great increases In the size
Of the delegations. One Of them
authorizes the chairman OF the
Convention to send q repre-
sentative to the delegation to
conduct the poIl. while the con-
vention proceeds with its roll
call.
The advisory committee re-
jected q proposal that a State
delegation should be compelled
to leave the fioor to be polled