McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, July 07, 1932, Image 5
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Thursday, July 7, 1932
McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA!
PAGE NUMBER FIVfl
Roosevelt and Garner
Named by the Democrats
New York Governor Wins on Fourth Ballot in National
i r Convention at Chicago—Platform Advocates
' Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment—•
Lively Scenes in Stadium.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
m
Chicago.—^Thousands of unterrified
Democrats barged into this citfr by the
lake; 945 of them nominated Franklin
D. Roosevelt of New York for Presi
dent ; 1,154 of them selected John N.
Garner of Texas for second place on
the ticket; practically all who were
delegates adopted a platform that in
cluded a plank declaring for repeal of
the Eighteenth amendment and for im
mediate legalization of . beer and wine.
Then they uproaringly greeted their
Presidential nominee in tlie Qhicago
Stadium, and departed for their homes,
confident of victory in November.
It took the delegates six full days to
do the work of the national convention,
and in the doing they put up as pretty
a political fight as one could wish for.
Several fights, in fact, enough to make
a real battle. That was what the spec
tators wanted and expected, and what
the Democrats always seem willing to
supply. They enjoy it themselves as do
the participants in the traditional
Donnybrook Fair.
Why the “stop Roosevelt” effort
failed was easily seen. In the first
place the New York governor had ob
tained a running start by corraling a
majority of the delegates, in many in
stances having had no opposition in
state preference primaries. Then the
anti-Roosevelt groups did not center
their efforts on any one man. Finally,
after three ballots had failed to bring
, Roosevelt the required two-thirds, his
managers made a deal with the Garner
forces that put him over on the fourth
ballot with ease. The accretion of 44
California and 46 Texas votes made
his band wagon irresistible for most of
the other delegations that had been
holding out.
Alfred E. Smith of New York, the
standard bearer four years ago, was
the only other aspirant who received
any considerable vote, and his sup
porters nearly stood by him to the bit
ter end. He started with 201% votes
and wound up with lOOVfc votes.
First Session Not Eventful.
Opening their proceedings with dig
nity that was tinged with buoyancy,
the Democrats put on a show the first
day that was so uneventful that the
spectators might have thought the late
Republican convention had reassem
bled. With considerable difficulty but
infinite patience. Chairman John .7.
Raskob of the national committee
managed to obtain order about one
hour late. He then delivered a brief
but pithy introductory address in the
course of which he spoke satirically of
the Republicans and took occasion to
give unstinted praise to .louett Shouse,
chairman of the executive committee,
later a central figure in the most im
portant test contest between the
Roosevelt and anti-Roosevelt forces.
Mr. Raskob also paid high tribute to
Charles Miehaelson, probably the inoxi
astute and resourceful director of pub
IIcity that any political party in Amor
lean has ever had.
Evangeline Booth, commander of the
Salvation Army in the United States,
now came forward and delivered «n
I Impressive Invocation which had the
effect of humbling her hearers, for
there was no slurring over of the
faults and sins of the people.
Then, in a great glare of flood lights
Mme. Rose Zulalian. an Armenian from
Boston, sang “The Star-Spangled Ban
nor.” in full, rich voice and with dra
matic gestures. The audience tried to
Join in. but as always rather feebly.
The first stanza over, the accompany
ing bpnd stopped and the crowdi ap
plauded. but Mme, Zylalianjiada sur
prise. She knew -the woHs ‘of another
stanza—which is more than most
Americans know—so she went right,
ahead with them, and the band and its
leader had a hard time catching up
with her.
Cermak Does Some Keynoting,
, Mayor Cermak being introduced
made the customary welcoming
speech on behalf of Chicago, and, be
ing himself an eminent Democrat, he
then continued with a miniature key
note speech all his owm, earning a
cheer when he declared : “The Presi
dent who is to assume office next
March has not yet been named.” Yet
louder cheers greeted this:
“The American people believe that
we shall have more respect for the
Constitution . with the Eighteenth
amendment out of it. . . . Let It
be recorded in history that in this
convention America was reborn.”
As the mayor stepped back to his
seat, there was a wild yell from the
galleries, and the entire Massachusetts
delegation arose to its feet cheering.
All necks were craned in the effort to
see what was causing the excitement.
It was one Al Smith, smiling genially,
making his way to his place in the
New York delegation. With a little
encouragement from him. the conven
tion would have given him what is
called a “demonstration.” But he
quietly seated himself between Mayor
Jimmy Walker and John W. Davis.
To complete the preliminaries, the
veteran Isadore Dockweiler. national
committeeman from California, was
introduced to read Thomas Jefferson’s
first inaugural address, a foundation
stone of Democratic principles. He
read it well, but many of those in the
hall took advantage of the chance to
get out into the lobbies and corridors
to obtain a bite of luncheon. They
might well have remained in their
seats to hear such wisdom as this:
“With all these blessings, what
more is necessary to make us a happy
and a prosperous people? Still one
thing more, fellow citizens—a wise
and frugal government which shall re
strain men from injuring one another,
shall leave them otherwise free to
regulate their own pursuits of indus
try and improvement, and shall not
take from the mouth of labor the
bread It has earned.”
Barkley Rakes the G. O. P.
More to the taste of the throng was
the fiery keynote speech now delivered
by Senator Alben W. Barkley of Ken
tucky, the temporary chairman. He
talked full ten thousand words, hut
held his audience well and was fre
quently applauded. The Republican
administration and the Republican
platform were raked fore and aft and
the nation was assured that its only
hope of salvation lies in a Democratic
victory at the polls next November—
of which victory, according to the
speaker, there could be no slightest
doubt.
Chairman Barkley spoke for almost
two hours, but thirteen minutes of this
time were taken up by a genuine dem
onstration caused by his remarks on
the prohibition question. Delegations
raised their state standards and
marched yelling through the aisles;
hands were brought in from the corri
dors and blared popular “wet” airs
with the pipe organist manfully as
sisting, and banners of favorite sons
made their appearance. The oeeu-
oants of all the balconies were on
their feet throughout the demonstra
tion, and their cheering was seemingly,
unanimous. If there , were any drys
in the .crowd they were totally sub-
sverged for the lime being.
So ended the first day, with no out
ward evidences of the hot fights that
were going on in committee rooms and
delegation headquarters. “Tomorrow
we will see the battle open,” said ev
eryone. Consequently, when Chairman
Barkley started proceedings Tuesday
noon all seats were filled. The dele
gates and alternates were anxiously
eager for the conflict and the specta
tors might have been as many men
and women of ancient Rome avid for
a gladiatorial combat in the Coliseum.
After a pessimistic prayer by Rt.
Rev. Mgr. F. G. Ostrowski of Chicago
and a sentimental song by Mrs. How
ard Austin, the first fireworks wore
sot oilf, the piece being the contest be
tween Senator Huey 1*. Long of Louisi
ana and his delegation, selected by the
state central committee, and another
hunch of delegates named by a state
convention. Here was the first open
demonstration of the operations of the
Roosevelt steam-roller. The creden
tials committee, controlled by the
Roosevelt forces, reported in favor of
seating Long and his crowd, they be
ing counted as for the New York gov
ernor. A minority report was read by
W. Emery Lancaster of Illinois and
ably upheld by him and several oth
ers.
“Kingfioh” Didn’t Bluster.
The chief debater on the majority
side was Long himself, and the “King-
fish” furnished a great surprise^ His
antics in the senate and in committee
rooms since his arrival in Chicago had
led to the belief that lie would be ram
pageous. Not so. He was, on the
contrary, quite dignified and gave an
exposition of ids case that was impres
sive if not entirely convincing. Seem
ingly. to the unprejudiced hearer, he
had the law and the regulations of the
Democrats on his side, and whereas,
when lie stopped to the platform he!
was greeted by a storm of boos and i
catcalls, when lie finished there was
an equally loud salvo of cheers.
Tiie roll call on this matter resulted
in the adoption of the majority report,
seating the Long delegation, by a vote
of G3S% to 514%. It was the severest
test of the Roosevelt strength during
the day and was not unencouraging
to his opponents since It showed some
defections in delegations counted on
to vote for his nomination. This was
especially notable in the cases of
North Carolina. Iowa and Illinois. On
the other hand the Roosevelt forces
made gains in Missouri and Connecti
cut that had not been anticipated.
There was another contest, in Min
nesota, the decision in which meant
much to the Roosevelt army. It, too,
was decided ns the credentials com
mittee had ruled, and by a larger ma
jority than in the Louisiana case,
after a debate had been, in the word
ing of Chairman Barkley, “perpe
trated.”
Walsh Made Permanent Chairman.
For the third time the Roosevelt
tactics were now put to the test, the
committee on permanent organization
reporting the selection of Senator
Thomas J. Walsh of Montana for per
manent chairman, and a minority re
port recommending that the place be
given to Jouett Shouse of Kansas,
ally of the Raskob-Smith group, who
had been picked tentatively last spring
by the arrangements committee of the
national committee. To the satisfac
tion of the party leaders, though per
haps not that of the blood-hungry gal
lery occupants, the debate developed
no unpleasant personalities. The
nearest to this came in the speech of
Mrs. Bernice S. I*yke of Ohio, who
participated in the selection of Shouse
by the arrangements committee and
who declared Franklin Roosevelt had
given the choice his approval at that
time. Aside from this it seemed the
only argument was over the propriety
of the sub-committee’s action. Those
who spoke on behalf of Shouse lav
ished their praise on Senator Walsh,
and the advocates of Walsh were
equally laudatory of Shouse’s services
to the party. The best speech was
made by John W. Davis, the party’s
Presidential nominee eight years ago.
He was witty, eloquent and suave,
and while he insisted Shouse should
be chairman, he had all kinds of nice
things to say about the Montana sen
ator, who -presided over that New
York convention of 1924. Chief orator
on the Roosevelt side was Senator
Clarence C. Dill of Washington, who
was not quite so pleasing to the gal
leries, receiving once an outburst of
boos and hisses.
The decision of the states was closer
here than before. Senator Walsh was
made permanent chairman by a vote
of 626 to 528, and everyone stood and
cheered as the veteran was escorted
to the platform and given the gavel.
The organist played “When It’s
Springtime in the Rockies” and the
photographers leaped around like a
lot of goats.
Back-Down by Roosevelt.
Throughout Tuesday the Roosevelt
forces maintained their claims that the
New York governor would be nomi
nated on an early ballot, perhaps the
first, hut they made two significant
surrenders. Even before the conven
tion opened their manager, Farley, an
nounced that they would undertake to
have abrogated the century-old rule
requiring a two-thirds vote for nomi
nation, and being in control of the
committees, he was sure this could be
carried through. A storm of disap
proval arose at once, and among those
protesting were some of Roosevelt’s
most prominent supporters. To change
the rules in the middle of the game
would be disgracefully unfair, they ar
gued, and furthermore, would be taken
as a confession of weakness by the
Rooseveltians. The governor was no
tified of the dangerous situation his
managers were creating and promptly
wired them not to try to have the rule
abrogated. However, he included a
suggestion that led his followers on
the rules committee to slam through
a rule providing for optional abroga
tion of the two-thirds rule after the
sixth ballot. Again revolt broke out
in Roosevelt delegations and this plan,
also, was abandoned. Farley now In
formed the press that Roosevelt stood
for the traditional procedure and the
regular order of business.
The Roosevelt forces also hacked
down on their scheme to adopt the
platform after the nomination of the
ticket, the purpose of which was to
allow the candidate to shape the plat
form and perhaps to hasten the nomi
nation.
Wednesday afternoon’s session was
a washout so far as the transaction
of business was concerned, for the
ccmniittee on resolutions was still
wrangling over the prohibition plank.
So Chairman Walsh, after a prayer
by Rev. Duncan H. Browne, turned
the gavel over to Eddie Dowling, a
stage comedian, and Eddie put on a
very good impromptu vaudeville per
formance. The delegates and guests
showed they enjoyed it immensely.
Came then the evening, full of tu
mult and oratory over the prohibi
tion plank. Some 25,000 men and wom
en were packed into the Stadium and
many more thousands wailed outside
when the doors were ordered closed.
Mayor Cermak had been giving out
vast quantities of “courtesy cards”
and when it was discovered those had
been counterfeited no more of them
were honored. Many of those ex
cluded from tiie hull held purchased
tickets.
Repeal Versus Rssubmission.
After the big guns had made their
entries to appropriate tunes from the
organ and tiie delegates had all found
their seats. Chairman Walsh called
on the tall, handsome former senator
from Nebraska, Gilbert Hitchcock, to
present tiie report of the committee
on resolutions. Mr. Hitchcock said
with pride that he was about to offer
the shortest and clearest platform
ever produced in a national conven
tion, and it was just that. Though so
concise that it scarcely requires sum
marizing, tiie main features of it are
given in an adjoining column. Nearly
every section was heartily applauded,
hut the throng was saving up its
voices for the climax that came as
the speaker uttered the portentous
words:
“We advocate the repeal of the
Eighteenth amendment.”
Then bedlam broke loose. Bands
blared, the great organ pealed, cow
bells jingled, delegations marched
John N. Garner
shouting and singing through the
aisles, state standards waving ahead
of them, and in the packed balconies
there did not seem to he a single
person who wasn’t screaming ut the
top of his lungs. Delaware, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia dele
gates sat tight, keeping their standards
in the sockets, but Texas was split
and its liberals paraded with a ban
ner of their own. The tumult lasted
nearly 15 minutes, and Mr. Hitchcock
then had a chance to finish reading
the platform. •
Cordell Hull, senator from Tennes
see, presented, to an accompaniment
of boos, a minority report, a prohibi
tion plank that recommends resub
mission of the question to the states
but does not declare the party in
favor of repeal. Also, it omits the
recommendation for immediate legal
izing of beer and wines. Alfalfa Bill
Murray and Willi°m G. McAdoo also
offered minority reports on other top
ics, which didn't have a ghost of a
chance.
At this point Chairman Walsh an
nounced that the proceedings, be
tween 7 and 9 o’clock, had not been
broadcast to the country, and asked
if the convention were willing to have
the platform and proposed amend
ments read again. This idea was
vetoed at once with a mighty roar
of noes.
Wild Demonstration for Smith.
Two hours of debate on the wet
plunk followed, most of the speakers
favoring tiie majority report, though
the resubmissionists were not badly
represented by such men as Senator
Hull, T. A. Walters of Idaho and W.
C. Fitts of Alabama. For tiie re
pealers came forward early in the
debate Al Smith, and the demonstra
tion that was made for him was ex
traordinarily spontaneous and noisy.
For 15 minutes Al stood smiling and
actually blushing, waiting for it to
subside. If all the delegates who were
standing and shouting their heads
off had voted for Smith later he would
have been nominated on the first bal
lot. His talk was humorous and
snappy.
GoS^rnor Ritchie later took the
platform to urge adoption of the ma
jority plank, and his welcome was
only a little less tumultuous than
that accorded SmiJ'h.
On the roll call the moist resuY
SUMMARY OF DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM
PROHIBITION—Urges repeal of
Eighteenth amendment . . . im
mediate action by congress to
submit repeal to state conventions
called to act on that sole question
. . . the states to enact such laws
as will promote temperance and
prevent return of the saloon . . .
federal government to protect dry
states from shipments . . . imme
diate action by congress to modify
the Volstead act to permit beer
... to provide revenue.
ECONOMY—Urges immediate and
drastic cuts in expenditures by
abolishing useless commissions,
consolidation of departments and
bureaus to bring at least 25 per
cent reduction.
CURRENCY—Urges sound cur
rency and calling of international
conference for the rehabilitation
of silver.
TARIFF—Urges competitive tariff
for revenue only . . . reciprocity
by agreement with other nations
. . . international conference to re
store trade and credits.
RELIEF—Urges extension of fed
eral credit to states . . . extension
of federal public v/orks, such as
flood control and waterways . . .
soread of employment by reduc
tion of hours . . . unemployment
and old age insurance under state
laws.
AGRICULTURE — Urges better
financing of farm mortgages
^ through reorganized farm agen
cies at low rates of interest . .
preference to credits for redemp
tion of mortgaged farms . . . ex
tension and aid to co-operatives
. . . control of surpluses.
VETERANS — Urges full justice
for all who suffered disability or
disease caused by or resulting
from actual service in war and for
their dependents.
NATIONAL DEFENSE — Urges
navy and army adequate for na
tional defense. Survey to elim
inate some of expenditures now
nearing a billion dollars a year.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS — Urges a
firm policy . . . peace and settle
ment by arbitration ... no inter
ference in internal affairs of other
nations ... adherence to the world
court with reservations . . . inter
national agreement for reduction
of armaments . . . co-operation of
the western world to maintain
the Monroe Doctrine . . . opposes
cancellation of debts.
ISLAND POSSESSIONS—Urges
independence for Philippines . . .
ultimate statehood for Porto
Rico . . . home rule for Hawaii.
BANKS—Urges filing with govern
ment and publication of full facts
in regard to all foreign bonds of
fered for sale . . . regulation by
the government of holding com
panies which sell securities, rates
of utilities companies in interstate
commerce, and exchanges trading
in securities and commodities . . .
quicker methods on realizing for
protection of depositors . .. closer
supervision of national banks . . .
divorce of investment banking
business from commercial bank
ing . . . restriction of use of bank
funds in speculation.
MONOPOLY—Strict enforcement
of anti-trust laws . . . better pro
jection for labor, small producer,
and distributor . . . use of nation’s
water power in public interest . . .
removal of government from all
fields of private enterprise.
BUDGET—Urges maintenance of
federal credit by a budget bal
anced annually . . . based on a
system of taxation levied on the
principle of ability to pay.
JUDICIARY — Simplification of
legal proedure . . reorganization
of judiciuf system to mike justice
speedy and more certain.
CORRUPT PRACTICES — Pub
licity of political contributions
and expenditures . . . severe pen
alties for violation.
mUsionists wt>re completely swamped.
The repeal plank was adopted by a
vote of 1K)4% to 213%.
The other minority reports wore
still to lie acted upon, hut it was
past midnight and the overwrought
delegates wanted to go to bed, so the
convention adjourned.
Nominations and Hullabaloo.
Eager to get at the business of nom
inating. the convention on Thursday
speedily adopted the platform trs a
whole, two minor changes having been
made—home rule for Hawaii, and
“continuous responsibility of govern
ment for tinman welfare, particularly
the protection of children.”
Nominations for President now were
called for and, following tiie prear
ranged plan, Alah. uia yielded to John
E. Mack of New York state, who of
fered the name of Franklin D. Roose
velt as a starter.
This chronicler has neither the space
nor the inclination to quote at length
from the speech of Mr. Mack or from
any of the other nominating efforts.
And a description in detail of each of
tiie demonstrations would be tedious.
It is almost enough to say that every
candidate, including Governor Roose
velt, was skillfully and persuasively
presented to the convention, and that
most of them were plentifully second
ed. Senator Tom Connally of Texas
spoke for Garner and was followed by
Gov. .7. B. Ely of Massachusetts, whose
eloquence in nominating Al Smith sur
passed that of all the others. Ely
even dared to allude to the religious
prejudice that had contributed to
Smith’s defeat four years ago, and he
also gave Roosevelt some shrewd
jabs.
Recess until evening, and then the
presentation in turn of the names of
Harry F. Byrd of Virginia by Carter
Glass, Melvin A. Traylor of Illinois by
Michael Igoe of Chicago, Gov. Albert
C. Ritchie of Maryland, by Senator
Tydlngs, James A. Reed of Missouri by
Saftiti^l W. Fordyca, Gov. George White
of Ohio by Atlee Pomorene, and Gov.
William II. Murray of Oklahoma by
Henry S. Johnston.
As for the demoustrations, those for
Roosevelt and Garner were long, syn
thetic and rather tiresome, though the
latter was enlivened by the cheer lead
er, Miss Malvina Passmore of Houston,
vivacious, with a good singing voice
and the prettiest set of arms in the
Stadium. When Judge Mack gave forth
tiie name of Al Smith, that doughty
leader was accorded an ovation by thq
delegates, alternates and galleries that
was a most extraordinary personal
tribute. It lasted about one hour and
the yelling and singing and marching
were continuous, needing little stimu
lation by bands and organ. Colorful
and enthusiastic, too, was the Ritchie
demonstration, with singing girls and
waving state figs. The others didn’t
amount to much until Alfalfa Bill
Murray’s show came, at the very close.
It consisted mainly of about fifty las
sies and a kiltie band, all wearing
shakos and kilts of the Murray tartan,
and of Will Rogers. The comedian had
a lot of fun parading in a policeman’s
cap and trying to steal various state
standards.
Three Futile Ballots.
By this time it was nearly 4:30 Fri
day morning, but the Roosevelt mana
gers were determined to have at least
one ballot before adjournment, so the
call of the roll of states was begun to
the cheers of the delegates and of the
spectators, about a third of whom dog
gedly sat through the entire night.
There was trouble over the Iowa vote,
and more trouble over Minnesota’s. A
New York delegate demanded that his
delegation be polled, which of course 1
consumed a lot of time. Mayor Jimmy|
Walker was absent and his alternate
voted for Smith, but a little laterj
Walker appeared and asked permis
sion to vote. This granted, he shouted
“I vote for Alfred E. Smith,” thus tell
ing the world that he was against the
governor who was soon to pass on his
fitness to hold his office. It was a bold
play and evoked loud cheers. District
of Columbia’s little bunch of six votes
caused the chairman a lot of tribula
tion, but at last the call was finished,
in one hour and forty minutes and
amid great confusion. Missouri made
a slight change in favor of Roosevelt,
and the governor’s managers were evi
dently hoping for more, for the an
nouncement of the totals was so de
layed by the chair that a New Yorker
protested. As told earlier in this story,
Roosevelt obtained 066% votes, or al
most 104 less than the required two-
thirds. A second ballot was ordered
immediately, also Indecisive although
Roosevelt showed a gain of 31% votes.
There were various shifts that meant
nothing especial. For instance, Mur
ray gave his entire 22 to Will Rogers.
“Proceed with the third roll call,”
ordered Senator Walsh wearily, hand
ed the gavel to Senator Barkely and
retired for a bit of rest.
Again, on this third call, the avail
able delegates refused to leap into the
Roosevelt bandwagon in worthwhile
numbers, the governor gaining only
about 6% votes over the second. His
total was now 682.79, so far below the
two-thirds that his manager, James A.
Farley, admitted his disappointment.
The convention adjourend at 9 o’clock
until evening, and as the delegatee
staggered out of the Stadium, Farley
and his associated generals hurried to
the hotels to attempt some more trad
ing on the basis of the vice presiden
cy. They were plainly astounded by
tiie firmness with which the stop-
Roosevelt group had held its strength.
Fourth Ballot Ends the Struggle.
“The deal has been made and it’s
Roosevelt on the fourth ballot” was
the word that passed through the
press section as the evening session
opened. When California was reached
on the roll call Mr. McAdoo took the
platform and his first words made it
plain to all that California and Texas
had taken their places on the band
wagon. The Roosevelt delegates put
on a long and noisy demonstration, but
when McAdoo tried to resume his talk
the galleries, faithful to Smith, si
lenced his voice with tremendous and
continuous booing. Chairman Walsh .
couldn’t quiet them, nor could Mayor .
Cermak who was called to the stand,
hut the tall Californian finally talked
them into comparative quietude and
completed his explanation of the Gar
ner switch.
Then one after another all the dele
gations fell into line, except the
dogged Smith adherents in Massachu
setts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode
Island and some of those in New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. A
dozen scattering votes were given to
others, but the Roosevelt total was
announced at 945, which was 175 more
than enough. So Senator Walsh pro
claimed him the nominee of the con
vention.
While Jim Reed made a political
speech communication with Roosevelt
was established and his telegram of
thanks was read. In it he asked the
convention to remain in session until
he could arrive by plane Saturday
afternoon as he wished to appear in
the Stadium and there receive the •*
formal notification. In consequence
completion of the ticket was postpone*!
until next day, when the deal that had
been made was consummated and
John N. Garner was nominated for
vice president by acclamation.
Governor Roosevelt, resting a while
after his flight, rode to the Stadium
and was assisted to the speaker’s ros
trum. The crowd that packed the vast
hall to Its limits gave him a fine ova
tion and watched with interest the
notification ceremony, that usually
takes place in the candidate's home. It
was a spectacular ending of vm inter
esting national convention.
(WNU Sorvlce)