RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA. CHIEF
I V
I
I
li
t t
1
V
,1
r
HOW DEMOCRATIC DEADLOCK WAS
BROKEN AND J. M. COX NOMINATED
Story of National Convention at San Francisco and the
Fight Over Credentials, Platform and Ticket.
SECOND PLACE GIVEN TO F. D. ROOSEVELT
Battle Between Cox, McAdoo and Palmer, Surged Forward and
Backward, Until Attorney General Released His Delegates
and the Three Times Governor of Ohio Won on 44th Ballot.
jBy EDWARD W. PICKARD.
For President James M. Cox of'Ohlo
For Vice President Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York.
F.niorglng from u struggle Unit 1ms
iuul few If any equals l:i American
political history, tliu Democratic party
assembled In convention In tl.u Golden
.-Gate city, litis placed the ahove ticket
before the voters of the country. Gov
ernor Cox was nominated on the -l-ltli
ballot, at 1 :45 o'clock In the morula;
of July 0. Tim vice presidential nom
inee was selected at the closing ses
sion of tho convention which opened
at noon that day.
For ballot after ballot n deadlock
existed, the leaders being Cox, William
G. McAdoo and Attorney General Pal
mer. Neither of them seemed able to
accumulate enough votes to win and
no one of them apearcd willing to quit
tlvo Held. At last, after the USth bal
lot, Congresmun Carlln, manager of
tho Palmer forces, mounted alio ros
trum aiid announced that Mr. Palmer
was unwilling longer to tie up the con
vention and therefore he uncondition
ally released all his .delegates. Tills
left the fight to Cox and McAdoo, and
though the supporters of the latter
were still confident, the Ohloau gained
steadily on each succeeding ballot.
When tho 44th was nearly completed
It was apparent that he was the victor,
and .In the midst of wild excitement
and tumult Kansas moved that he be
declared the nominee of the conven
tion by acclamation. The motion was
carried with n mighty roar, and tho
long contest was ended.
An Unbossed Convention.
Without bosses, without real lead
era, without nny to "direct their ac
tions, the representatives of the party,
105KI In number, struggled for eight
days with tho great problem of select
ing candidates who might be expected
to command the cntlro party vote and
whose chances of defeating the rival
Kenubllcan ticket named at Chtcago
would bo best. Under the time-honored'
rule of tho" Democratic party, a two
thirds vote was required to nominate,
ahd through session after session It
seemed Impossible to find the man up
on whom so large a proportion of tho
delegates could unite. Tie tlnal result
was brought about by clever political
management, combined with the weari
ness of tho delegates and the fact that
many of them were miming short of
money und were anxious to start Hack
to their homes. Nearly all of them
had come a long way and were under
heavy expenso and several days before
adjournment some of them had tried
to break away and go home.
Iteally, .this was an unbossed con
vention so far as the nominating of tho
ticket was concerned., It is true that
tho administration forces, represented
by several cabinet olllcors and many
. other federal olllce holders, controlled
the proceedings of the earlier sessions
and tho construction of the platform
exercising this control, however,
smoothly and In a way that usually
was devoid of offense to those who
were controlled. Hut when It came to
selecting tho candidates, the delegates
had their favorites, and they stood by
them through tho long series of bal
lots with remarkable steadfastness.
Strategy of Candidates.
The strategy of the various fac
tious was Interesting. The Palmer
forces, headed by tho attorney general
himself, were active from the begin
ning, with entertainments and argu
ment and with the assistance of many
charming women, but It was evident
all along that many of the Instructed
Palmer delegates would break away
from him when their duty had been
performed and when they .saw a
chance to make a winning combina
tion. Tho Cox boosters eaiao with
music and banners and uol.se, per
vaded tho city, never weakened In
their claims that the Ohio governor
wiih the winner and never overlooked
an opportunity to Impress that Idea on
tho minds of the convention and tliu
city generally. Mr. McAdoo's methods
were declared by votorun politicians
to bo the cleverest of all. In the first
place, ho telegraphed his friends that
he did not wish his name presented to
tho convention and that he was not
seeking the nomination.., lie had no
regular organization or' headquarters
here, and tho whole McAdoo move
ment was started and curried on ap
parently quite without his consent or
desire. A fev(of Ills admirers began
it us soon ns they arrived, anil they
speedily gathered In thousands of oth
ers, nil of whom worked untiringly,
though not obtrusively for tho success
of the former secretary of tho treas
ury. Tho McAdoo boom appealed to
the galleries and tho people In tho
fitrcct, find especially to tho women,
who campaigned day and night ev
erywhere. As for the favorite sons, tho strat
egy in their behalf generally took tho
form of quiet determination to keep
on voting for them until tliu rest of
the convention, lludlng none of the
leaders could win, should come to one
of them as a welcome compromise.
Of course, In many cases the favorite
son was dropped after he had re
ceived tliu pioper number of compli
mentary ballots.
As has been said, tho administration
forces controlled tliu organization and
early dolngsof the convention. It was
called to order by .1. Hrneo Kremer,
vice chairman of the national commit
tee, nt licion Monday, June 28. and In
his address he was so voluminous that
It seemed there would be little left
for the temporary chairman to say.
That olllcial, who was Homer S. Cum
tilings, chairman of the national com
mittee, did find that Mr. Kremer had
anticipated ninny of his points, but
ho delivered a speech, nevertheless
that won the hearty praise of all who
(ward or read it. Of course, ho de
voted the usual amount of time to de
nouncing the Republican party and Its
doings, and he did It In line style.
Also he. naturally extolled all that his
own party has done. The vast audi
encc listened to all this with Interest,
but It evidently was awaiting tho
speaker's pronouncement on the great
Issue of the League of Nations. This
may be epitomized by the quotation of
three sentences:
"Wo will not submit to tho repudia
tion of the peace treaty or to any
process by which It Is whittled down
to the vanishing point."
"It Is not reservation that the pres
ident stands against, but nullifica
tion." "The trouble with the trenty of
peace Is that It was negotiated by n
Democratic president."
Lively Action in Committees.
The committee on credentials got
busy nt once, with only two Important
contests to settle. One of these was
the case of Georgia. The Palmer del
egation from that statu was seated
as regular, despite the tremendous pro
tests of the delegation representing
the Hoke .Smith-Tom Watson combina
tion. This did not fake long. Then
came the fight over the seat claimed
by Senator .lames Heed of Missouri.
For three hours the debate raged, and
a resolution was adopted that Heed
"Is not legally accredited anil Is not
entitled to a seat In the convention."
There was little effort then, or later,
to conceal tho fact that Mr. Heed was
excluded because of his opposition to
the president and his policies, hut
there were few mourning his fate. On
Tuesday, when the credentials com
mittee reported to the convention. Jo
seph Shannon, the other delegate from
Heed's district, took tliu platform to
protest formally against the "steam
roiicr" of the senator. Ho was greet
ed with a storm of hisses and deri
sive howls to which be replied with
some vigorous language, hut the com
mittee report was adopted with only
n few opposing votes. Soon after Sen
ator Heed went home, still protesting
that he was a Democrat and was un
alterably opposed to the League of Na
tions. The -second day of the convention
was again devoted largely to oratory,
for the program Included the Installa
tion of Senator Joseph T. Hohlnson of
Arkansas City as permanent chairman
and tho delivery of his address. Hoh
lnson was the administration's choice
for the position and at no time was
there reason to regret the selection,
lie presided throughout the many ses
sions with dignity, firmness and fair
ness. In his speech he went over
most of the ground covered by Mr.
Ctimmlngs, but lie put more pep Into
his denunciations of the Republicans
and aroused greater enthusiasm In the
audience.
Because tho committee on resolutions
was having so complicated a struggle
with tho platform, It was decided that
the nominal lug speeches for president
should he heard before that commit
tee reported. Therefore tho.se oratori
cal efforts began Wednesday and rnn
through a part of the Thursday ses
sion. On the roll of states Arizona yielded
to Oklahoma wherefore tho nomina
tion of Senator Hohert L. Owen wns
the llrst heard. Ills name was pre
sented by I. 11. Llnehaugh, In well
chosen phrases, hut tho small demon
stration showed Owen's following was
Inconsiderable. Next appeared U, S.
G. Cherry of 'South Dakota, full of
strango language and bearded like the
purd, to offer the name of James W.
Gerard, who had the distinction of de
fying the Gerniun kaiser. Connecti
cut was the next state heard from,
John S. Crosby, offering the name of
that state's "greatest son," Ilnnier S.
Cummlngs. Mr. Cununlngs' popular
ity Is unquestioned, and ho was giv
en a flattering ovation,
Two Days of Speech Making.
As Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska
had won the preferential primary In
bis state It was necessary that ho bo
Democrdti(tI, Nominees J
JAMES M. COX.
placed. In nomination, and this was
done by Governor Shallenherger, after
which the heavier guns, enmo Into ac
tion. Frorlda yielded to Pennsylva
nia and Palmer was presented by
John II. Hlgelow In a vehement speech
which was frequently Interrupted by
the friends and the opponents of the
attorney general. He emphasized es
pecially Palmer's successful work ns
alien property custodian and defend
ed him against the attacks of a section
of the labor party because of ills
course during the coal and steel
strikes. The demonstration that fol
lowed was long continued and fairly
well sustained through the efforts of
cheer leaders, but It lacked genuine
spirit. Cox enmu next on the list and
the supporters of tho Ohio governor
fully sustained their reputation ns
noise makers. Simeon M. Johnson
was the nominator, and after he had
told the Hue points of bis statu and
Its chief executive the Coxites began
their hullabaloo. Tliu band they hnd
brought from Ohio was stationed In
one gallery and a group of singers In
another," and whistles, hells nnd other
nolso producers helped tnnke bedlnm
In tliu hall for more than half an
hour whllo the statu standards were
carried through the aisles In endless
procession.
One of tho Cox seconding speeches
was made by Senator Pat Harrison of
Mississippi and tho crowd liked so
well his lively sentences nnd his at
tack on local newspapers which he
said were trying to dictate tho nom
ination that an Incipient boom for
Harrison for vice president was start
ed. Hourko Cockran, beloved orator
of the Democracy, now eulogized Gov.
Al Smith of New York nnd when he
closed there was a demonstration
which was rightly Interpreted as an
ovation to the speaker rather than to
Smith, and the hand plnyed "The Side
walks of New York." ."Missouri"
called the reading clerk, and Hew Har
ris Jenkins or Kansas City, stepped
to the platform In tho midst of wild
yells. Ho explained that William 0.
McAdoo has Insisted that he bo not
placed In nomination, but his admirers
had decided (hat he should be drnfteil
for the .service of the country and he
promised that If the convention saw
lit to select Mr. McAdoo that gentle
man would not decline the high honor,
all reports or telegrams to tho contrary
being false. Then he retired, iiiuhMr.
McAdoo's boom was In the hands of
his frlemR They certainly did their
part, for tho demonstration was ex
traordinary, both on the floor and In
the galleries.
It was dllllcult to get the crowd
quiet after all this riot of enthusiasm,
and Charles K. X. O'Hrien of New
Jersey found It hard to get a fair
hearing for his candidate, Gov. 1W
ward I. EdwnnR The galleries were
restive and the speaker was frequent
ly Interrupted, especially by thoo who
resented the supposed "wet" policies
of Edwards. This closed the nominat
ing speeches for tho day, hut Thurs
day morning' the grind wns resinned,
Senator Simmons of North Carolina,
Senntor Carter Glass of Virginia, Am
bassador John W. Davis of West Vir
ginia and Francis It. Harrison, gover
nor general of the Philippines, being
offered for tho votes of tho delegates.
Bryan Versus Cockran.
Tho platform committee was not yet
ready to report, so a recess until eve
ning wns taken. Again word camo
that Glass and his associates had not
completed their task, and after music
to appease the audience, the gathering
adjourned until Friday morning. At
that time the pint form was submitted
to the convention and the great bat
tle betwen William Jennings Hr.an
on tho one hand and those, who op
posed his Ideas on the other was
staged. Mr. Glass read the platform
entirely through and moved its adop
tion, and at once Mr. Ilrynn took tho
platform to present a minority report.
This Included dry planks drafted by
himself and Hlchuiond Pearson Hob
son, Hryan's plunks on the peace trea
ty, national bulletin (a government
owned, nonpartisan newspaper), on
military training and on prolltceiing.
He spoke on nil these topics, devot
ing himself mainly to the treaty and
dry planks, and from the start he
showed he was In flnu debating form
and thoroughly In earnest. His pro
hibition plnnk called for a pledge to
enforce tliu amendment and Volstead
law In good faith, without any In
crease In tho alcoholic content of bev
erages or any weakening of Its other
provisions. In another minority re
port Hourkc Cockran offered n plank
for cider, light wines nnd beer for
home consumption. The committee
report was silent on tho subject of
prohibition. So It wns a three-sided
battle, and the committee won. Hryan's
plank got only lOa' votes and Cock
ran's got 5I."(1.
A plank pledging recognition of the
Irish republic, offered by K. L. Do
heny, was rejected by n vote of (!7.ri
to 402. Hryan's profiteering and na
tional bulletin planks nnd one In fa
vor of compensation for soldiers were
lost by vlvn voce vote. Then Mr.
Glass nnd Secretary' of State Colby
spoke at length for the committee re
port and It was nccepted with only
one opposing vote.
Balloting Narrows to Three.
This brought the convention to the
balloting, and two ballots were taken
Friday evening. There were fifteen
candidates and on the first ballots
they stood as follows: McAdoo, 200,
Palmer, 2.r0, Cox, 3.11, Smith, 100,
Kdwnrds, 4!1, Owen, J18. Marshall, .17,
Davis, :i2, Meredith, 27, Glass. 20V.
Cummings, 2,", Simmons, 24, Gerard,
21, Hitchcock, IS, Harrison, 0.
Ileforo many ballots had been taken
Saturday tho contest had narrowed
down to Cox. McAdoo and Palmer,
with about a hundred scattering votes,
but no one of tliu leaders was able
to command anywhere near a two-
thirds vote. At times efforts were
madu to start a switch to some dark
horse, hut these were futile. All day
and until a few minutes of midnight
tho voting continued, and It was nec
essary to adjourn until Monday. Af
ter tho SuHiday rest the struggle was
resumed, with tliu final results told
above.
Ldng Struggle Over Platform,
liecause there were several great
Issues on which the pnrty leaders and
the party generally were sharply di
vided In opinion, the committee on res
olution had an unusually dllllcult task
In building a platform that would, In
nil Its parts, command a majority vote
of tho convention. For several days
and nights the committee, which In
cluded an unusual number of very
eminent men, struggled and debated
and at time qunrielcd. Kvery one who
demanded It was given a hearing,
whether ho wanted to tell what to say
about tho Leagie of Nations, the
Hqnor question, the Irish republic, or
one of the ninny minor matters under
discussion. The administration forces
madu It clear from tho start that
what they desired was virtually a
reproduction of the Virginia platform,
so far as It went, and with Senntor
Carter Glass as chairman, the admin
istration forces were In control of
the committee. William Jennings
Hrynn, as chlof protagonist of the
bone-dry plnnk and the plan to advo
cate ratification of the trenty with
reservations, fought manfully through
many sessions of the platform build
ers, but got nowhere. When It was
presented tp the convention Friday
afternoon the platform represented In
almost all respects tho Ideas of Sena
tor Glass and his administration asso
ciates. League Covenant Indorsed.
Starting with greetings to President
Wilson, the platform promptly tackles
the Lcaguo of Nations, favoring It as
tho surest If not the only practicable
means of maintaining the permanent
pence of the world and terminating
the burden of great military and naval
establishments. It commends tho
president for steadfastly standing for
tliu covenant agreed to by tho allied
and associated nations and condemns
tliu Hepuhllcan senatu for "Its refusal
to ratify the treaty merely becnuse It
was tho product of Democratic states
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
manship." The words of Senator
Lodge, In 101S, condemning tho Idea
of making a separate iieace, are quot
ed to confound him In his later at
titude. The party advocutes the "Im
mediate ratification without reserva
tions which would Impair essential
Integrity, birt does not oppose the ac
ceptance of any reservations making
clearer or more sjh'cKIc the obliga
tions of the United States to the
league associates." The Insertion of
the latter clause was the only point
yielded to the opposition. It was
drawn up by Senator Walsh of Massa
chusetts. Concerning the conduct of the war,
the platform gives praise to Presi
dent Wilson for entire lack of parti
san bias and scores the Hepuhllcan
party because, notwithstanding that.
It "lias meanly requited tho consid
erate course of the chief magistrate
by savagely defaming tliu conunander-in-chlef
of the army and navy and by
assailing nearly every public olllcer of
every branch of the service Intimately
concerned In winning the war abroad
and preservlngi tliu security of the
government at home."
Diic.udmlrntlon Is expressed for our
soldiers, sailors and marines nnd nil
men and women who aided In whining
the war.
G. O. P. and Living Cost.
The high cost of living and the de
preciation of bond values are attrib
uted primarily to the war Itself and
the Republican party Is held for tliu
post-armlstlcu Inflation through fail
ure to restore peace and peace con
ditions In Kurope. Attention Is called
to "vain and extravagant Investiga
tions" that have revealed nothing be
yond the Incapacity of Republican
politicians to copo with the problems.
"The Democratic party Is pledged to
a policy of strict economy and to tliu
enactment ami enforcement of legis
lation to bring profiteering before the
bar of criminal Justice."
The traditional policy of the Demo
cratic party In favor of a tariff for
revenue Is reafllrmed, and the creation
of an effective budget system favored.
Considerable space Is given to agri
cultural Interests, the plank reciting
the things the Democrats have done
in the way of farm loan banks, the
SmlUi-I.ever agricultural extension net,
and other legislation. It favors legis
lation to confirm to primary producers
the right of collective bargaining und
of co-operative handling and market
ing of the products of tliu workshop
and the farm.
The accomplishments of the party
for the benefit of labor are held up
to admiration, and It Is asserted that
the natlonnl security and safety de
pend on a Just recognition of the
rights of those who labor and on the
conservation of the strength of the
workers and their families. At the
same time, It Is declared, those whose
labor creates the necessities upon
which the life of the nntlou depends
"must recognize the reciprocal obliga
tion between tho worker and the
state." The party pledges Itself to
contrive, If possible, n fair method of
composing the differences that lead to
strikes and lockouts, but compulsory
arbitration In private Industrial dis
putes Is opposed. With respect to
government service the platform holds
distinctly that "tho rights of the peo
ple aru paramount to the right to
strike."
Tho woman suffrago nmendment Is
heartily Indorsed, and tho states that
havu not ratllled It are urged to do so
In time to let all tho women of tho
country vote In tho fall elections.
Federal co-operation with and assist
ance to the states for tho protection
of child lfe and tho advancement of
women In Industry Is urged.
It Is assorted that the federal gov
ernment should treat with the utmost
consideration every disabled soldier
sailor and murine pf the world war.
Tho work of tho war risk insurance
bureau Is praised, add the enactment
promised) of soldier settlements ami
Jiomo aid legislation to afford tho serv
ice men tliu opportunity to beconio
laud and home owners.
The vital Importance of Improved
roadways to commerce nnd Industry
nnd to agriculture nnd, rural life. Is
emphasized. The platform favors the
continuance of the present federal aid
plan ; It promises the use of rural free
delivery to the maximum of Its capac
ity to help reduce the high cost ol
living nnd strongly favors the In
creased use of motor vehicles In the
transportation of tho malls.
Credit Is taken for the Democratic
party for the rebirth of the merchant
marine and the policy of the party Is
pledged to Its continued growth under
proper legislation. The party Is pledged
also to stand for equality of rales for
the ports of the country so there may
he adequate and fair facilities and
ra'es for the mobilization of the coun
try's products offered for shipment.
Promise Is made of the further de
velopment of Inland waterway trans
portation facilities and the Importance
of connecting the great lakes with tho
sea by way of the Mississippi and Its
tributaries Is especially recognized.
The Democratic congress Is commend
ed for passing the flood control act.
and the extension of this policy ti
other flood control problems Is fa
vored. A strong plank In favor of the
extension of the reclamation of arid
lands Is Included.
The creation and work of the fed
eral trade commission are heartily In
dorsed, and the enactment of legis
lation for federal supervision of tho
live stock tnnrkets Is urged.
As filially formulated and adopted,
the Irish plank, upholding the prin
ciple of nntlonal self-determination,
repeats, "within the limitation of In
ternational comity nnd usage, tho
party's former expressions of sym
pathy for the aspirations of Ireland
for self-government." Sympntby. this
flmo "active." Is also expressed for
the people of China. Czecho-Slovakla,
Finland. Poland nnd others who have
recently established representative
government and "deep and oan.eht
sympathy" Is expressed for the Arme
nians. Tho planks dealing with
Alaska, Porto Hlco, Hawaii and tho
Philippines nre all the people of these
regions asked.
Women in Prominent Role.
An outstanding feature of the con
vention, und one altogether delightful,
was the prominent part played by tiny
ttwomen. The Republicans at Chicago
gave the sex considerable recognition,
hut the Democrats went much further.
For tho first time a woman presided
over a national party convention when
for ii little whllo Chalrmnn Hoblnsou
surrendered the gavel to Mrs. George
Huss of Chicago. For the first tluiu u
wonluii placed in nomination a pros!-.
dentin! candidate when MIs Ressle,
Dwyer of Washington and Manila
presented the nnme of Governor Gen
eral Harrison of the Philippines.
Many of the seconding speeches wore,
made by women and almost without
exception they were good speeches,
well delivered. One of these, by Mrs.
Julln Hrown of West Virginia, was
voted the most charming speech madu
during the convention hnd It was no
great surprise to learn that the grace
ful, pretty woman was formerly on tliu
stage. She was Izetta Jewel in those
days. Another woman, Mrs. Martha
Nelson McCann, made the shortest
seconding speech, using only eighteen,
words and she was cheered for her
consideration. In all tliu demonstra- ,
tlons the women were to the fore and
the choir loft and stage wer'u always
thronged with them. Altogether tho
women added Immensely to the luier
est a:id plcluresqueness of the conven
tion. City Sets Mark In Hospitality.
No one who was In San Francisco
dining the convention will deny that
the Golden (into city set 'a mark In
the entertaining of conventions tlvut
never has been equaled and that other
convention cities will find it hard to
live up to In tliu future. Never before
had any party held Its quadrennial
gathering west of the Hocky moun
tains and tliu wisdom of tliu national
committee In selecting San Francisco
was questioned by many. Hut now
probably few of tliu delegates and
guests regret the necessary expendi
ture of time nnd money or would hes
itate to travel again to California on
the same errand.
Never were convention crowds nioro
expeditiously handled or better
housed, ami never was a convention
better handled and with so little con
fusion and fuss, Tliu visitors were re
ceived hospitably and entertained lav
ishly by tliu peoplu of San Francisco,
and, what Is more remarkable, they
were not "robbed." Hates and prices
were not advanced to take advantage
of the demand. A citizens' committee,
arranged frequent excursions to the
many points of interest in and about
the city, und kept the room of each
delegate nnd correspondent bountiful
ly supplied with beautiful Mowers and
luscious fruits. Tho main streets were
handsomely decorated with bunting
and llowers throughout the week.
As for the convention hall the Civic
Auditorium It was almost Ideal for
the purpose. Uy the addition of a
specially designed decorative ciiiiviih
celling and the Installation of the voice
magnifying device used In Chlnago, the
acoustics were inado practically fault
less. The speaker's voice was carried
to the farthest corner of the great edi
fice and did not have the phonographic
quality that was noticed In the Chicago
coliseum. Committee rooms, lunch
rooms and emergency l.uspltuls were
beyond criticism, Most of the ushers
weru young women from the L'nhe
slty of California, and they and the
other attendants performed their du
ties with cotutesy and elllciency.
All this may sound ovorcnthuslns
tlc, but It Is tho sober Judgment of one
who has seen many national conven
tions. (Copyrlsht, 19S0, Weitern Newioaper Union.
i
A
1
V
1
